Chris Rottmayer, Kelsey Wallner, Clark Sommers,Wayne Salzmann – Madison, WI

Chris Rottmayer is a jazz pianist, composer, and jazz vibraphonist living in Madison, Wisconsin. Chris has been a freelance jazz pianist since 1990, was a pianist for Walt Disney World from 1999 to 2020, and has released three albums as a leader: Reactive Synthesis (2013), Sunday at Pilars (2019), and So In Love (2020). Chris is currently the Instructor of Jazz Piano at the University of South Florida, where he has taught since 2007, and is pursuing a DMA in Piano Performance at the University of Wisconsin- Madison where he holds a Teaching Assistantship in the Theory department.

Kelsey Wallner – A three-time Downbeat award-winning vocalist, educator, and bandleader based in Denver, Colorado, Kelsey Wallner charms audiences with intimate, soulful, and inventive interpretations of jazz touchstones while placing the history of the music front and center. Kelsey began her performance career at a young age in Madison, Wisconsin. Studying the lineage of the music she most loved led her to vocalists Sarah Vaughan, Sheila Jordan, and Carmen McRae, who would become her primary influences. While performing at local jazz festivals and venues, Kelsey earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish, Political Science, Gender Studies and Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015.

“Clark Sommers rings true and honest in tone. The golden color pours a solid foundation to the timber of the group.” – All About Jazz. Bassist, Composer and Educator, Clark has toured and performed extensively throughout the world. He has had the privilege of performing with Cedar Walton, Darrell Grant, Brian Blade, Ernie Watts, Bennie Maupin, Von Freeman, Ira Sullivan, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Peter Bernstein, Lin Haliday, Dana Hall, Jodie Christian, Bobby Broom, Jeff Parker, Ron Perrillo, Geof Bradfield, Michael Weiss, George Fludas, Kevin Mahogany, Eden Atwood, Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra among others.

Wayne Salzmann II is a Drummer, Educator, Author, and Composer who has toured and recorded extensively with Grammy winning guitarist Eric Johnson. He has also performed/recorded with Steve Miller, Kenny Rogers, Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Cross, Bob Schneider, Joe Satriani, G3, Mike Stern, Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford, Oz Noy, Chris Potter, Dick Oatts, Bill Watrous, Diane Schuur, Bobby Shew, UT Jazz Faculty, San Antonio Symphony, and many others. He has hundreds of recording credits, including a Billboard no. 1 Jazz record, a Billboard no. 1 Blues record, and feature film soundtracks.