De'Sean Jones, Conductor

Confidence and talent have taken De’Sean Jones far in the last decade and a half, a long road that started with a casual bet between De’Sean and his father.

Just 12 years old at the time and having only dabbled in music up to that point, De’Sean heard the music of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Intrigued but not intimidated, his reaction was, “I can do that.”

To his surprise, the elder Jones called his bluff by purchasing a saxophone and gave the 

young man six months to prove himself. The rest is Detroit music history, still in the making.

A prodigy on tenor sax, Jones participated in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's civic jazz program, attended the Detroit School for the Fine and Performing Arts, and the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory. He also studied under renowned jazz bassist Rodney Whitaker both through the DSO and Michigan State University.

His mentors entered his life early, leading him into the folds of Detroit’s weighty jazz scene at the age of 15. As a teenager, Jones played with such notables as the late-great Gerald Wilson, Donald Walden, and Lawrence Williams. But it was Detroit jazz icon, Marcus Belgrave that left the deepest imprint on his musical soul.

“He was much more than a force from the bandstand,” says De’Sean. “He was my role model. He helped groom me into a man.”

Over the years, De’Sean has evolved to become much more than a jazz musician. His originality and unique sound fuse a multitude of influences, including funk, hip hop, bebop, and soul. He has been an active member of the legendary Detroit electronic music collective Underground Resistance for several years and has toured and co-produced alongside techno pioneer Mike Banks and keyboardist Jon Dixon.

He’s toured the world with numerous acts, including Stevie Wonder, The Clark Sisters, Yolanda Adams, and Faith Evans.

Not yet 30 years old, De’Sean Jones is making music beyond his years, and if “Knomadik Reverence” is any indication, his talent and confidence aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. “[A] roarin’ young lion,” according to music writer and jazz aficionado Charles Latimer, who says De’Sean “…can make his tenor swing and sing at the very same time.”

Josiah DeNooyer, Drum set

Josiah DeNooyer is a drummer, composer, and educator from Grand Rapids, MI. Under the guidance of Keith Hall, he recently graduated from the acclaimed jazz studies program at Western Michigan University, where he received multiple DownBeat awards in the school’s top ensembles.

Beyond the academy, DeNooyer performs around west Michigan with various groups ranging in style from New Orleans second line to singer-songwriter and straight ahead jazz. He has recorded drums for two recently released albums, Planets by producer-saxophonist Stratøs and Datum by producer-saxophonist Kyle James.

He is currently composing a poetry-inspired suite for jazz and string quartet with support from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and WMU’s College of Fine Arts, a work that reflects his vision to engage with the community and create music that crosses traditional stylistic boundaries.

DeNooyer also works as an educator, bringing music into Kalamazoo communities through afterschool programs and workshops.

Rufus Ferguson, Piano/Celeste

Rufus Ferguson is a multi-genre pianist and organist raised in Flint, Michigan, and based in Detroit, Michigan. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz piano from Western Michigan University under the mentorship of Roger Jones, Jeremy Siskind, and Matthew Fries. He began his musical journey at a young age as a gospel pianist and organist and later began playing jazz piano at age 13.

His commitment to being well-versed in multiple genres of music has afforded him many unique opportunities, such as playing with Grammy-nominated and award-winning artists and groups of all genres. Ferguson is an experienced performer who actively shares the stage with such artists as Bishop Marvin Sapp, Rodney Whitaker, Dwight Adams, Brandon Williams, Wycliffe Gordon, and so many more. He is also an experienced arranger, composer, and teacher, specifically in the jazz and gospel music genres. His compositions and arrangements were most recently showcased by his 9-piece ensemble at the 2018 Gilmore Keyboard Festival, and his orchestral arrangements have been presented by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.

Ferguson has served as a class piano instructor at Western Michigan University, where he also directed the University Jazz Lab Band. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Jazz and Popular Music at Albion College. 

Michael Hudson-Casanova, Alto Saxophone

Michael Hudson-Casanova is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, improviser, and educator from Sterling Heights, MI, currently residing in Chicago. He holds degrees in music education and jazz studies from Western Michigan University and Temple University, and has studied with jazz artists Andrew Rathbun, Dick Oatts, and Edward Simon. He developed a passion for jazz at a young age through listening to music with his father, who was an amateur drum set player. In high school, Hudson-Casanova became involved in Detroit’s Civic Jazz program, which rehearsed and performed at the city’s Orchestra Hall.

Hudson-Casanova has performed extensively across the Midwest and the east coast. While living in Philadelphia, he led his own groups regularly at Chris’ Jazz Cafe and South Jazz Kitchen. In Chicago, his trio was featured as part of the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective at the Green Mill, the oldest jazz venue in the city. He has also performed his own music at clubs like Cliff Bell’s, Merriman’s Playhouse, and Cafe CODA.

Hudson-Casanova’s first album, Echoes of Thought, received positive reviews from jazz publications like All About Jazz and Jazz Trail. Richard Salvucci wrote, “Full disclosure. This is an exceptional recording by a killer band.” The album presents a collection of sextet music written while Hudson-Casanova was in graduate school, and features many longtime collaborators who all have their own unique projects.

As an educator, Hudson-Casanova has maintained a studio of saxophone, clarinet, and flute students of all ages for over 10 years. He is fascinated with how others learn and what drives them to delve deeper into the music that they love. He feels that teaching others makes him a better musician himself, and forces him to adopt new perspectives as a performer and composer.

Hudson-Casanova’s closest artistic collaborator is his wife, Sarah Rot, who is a dancer and movement therapist. Together they have released several video projects of improvised music and dance, and performed improvisations in live settings. They live together in Chicago with their dog, Clementine. The three of them enjoy hiking, long walks, and cookouts.

Philadelphia saxophonist and composer, Norman David, wrote in May 2021 “A distinctive jazz artist will reflect the ingenuity of the tradition while presenting a fresh voice that is current, relevant, and exhilarating. Michael Hudson-Casanova succeeds in every respect.”

Brandon Rose, Bass

The protégé of legends Marcus Miller and Rodney Whitaker, contemporary jazz musician Brandon Rose harnesses his gospel roots to create rhythm and blues, and soul-inspired compositions. His music seamlessly and effortlessly incorporates elements of jazz, funk, hip hop, and R&B into a full-bodied sonic experience. In the 2000s, Rose achieved early notoriety on Michigan-based television programs and online streaming platforms as a child bassist. 

At the tender age of five, Rose began playing the bass guitar for his Detroit-based mega-church and soon became sponsored by the highest-selling bass guitar brand in the industry. Rose has since traveled the world performing with the likes of Etienne Charles, Diego Rivera, his mentor Marcus Miller, and many other talented artists. 

As a writer, Rose's compositions are inspired by his experiences with love and love lost and by various social protests regarding the African-American community and other efforts for equality.