THE BAND
Now Hear This is comprised of musicians with extensive professional experience, playing music of various styles including with jazz greats Ignacio Berroa, Benny Golson, Jeff Coffin, Tim Hagens, Fareed Haque, Charlie Hunter, Jeff Hamilton, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Terrell Stafford, Conrad Herwig, Warren Vache, Don Braden and with local popular groups including Ray’s Music Exchange and The Blue Wisp Big Band.
Bradford Myers
Performer and teacher at the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Brad played with the band Ray's Music Exchange which was featured in Downbeat magazine in 1999. He recently released his own critically acclaimed duo album.
Jason Smart
A member of the band Ray's Music Exchange which was featured in Downbeat magazine in 1999 and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey with whom he toured internationally and garnered him a feature in the April 2005 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. Jason has also played with organist Robert Walter's 20th Congress and guitarist Fareed Haque's Flat Earth Ensemble.
John Zappa
An educator at both the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and Northern Kentucky University where he teaches jazz trumpet and composition and a performer who has recorded his own album, “Moon and Shadow” with famed drummer, Ignacio Berroa.
Mike Darrah
Mike has a vast knowledge of musical styles which has served him well as a sideman for Warren Vache, Ignacio Berroa, Jeff Hamilton, Barry Ries, Randy Sandke and Ray's Music Exchange to name a few. He also co-leads the award winning (CEA, 2009) Northside Jazz Ensemble, an electric jazz quartet, playing original arrangements and compositions.
As a highly respected and in demand freelancer around the Cincinnati region, Aaron has performed with numerous international artists, including Roland Vazquez, Benny Golson, Conrad Herwig, Tim Hagans, Alex Norris, Ignacio Berroa, and Lou Soloff. He also teaches at Cinicnnati's College Conservatory of Music.