JaxLanding

The music of Surge has been described as "dynamic, cool and sweet." The five-member contemporary jazz group is based in Jacksonville and is noted for high-explosive energy balanced by sensitive ballads. Surge presents a colorful style that easily crosses all rhythmic and cultural lines.

The group has recorded two CDs, Too Hot to Sleep, which was dedicated to the City of Jacksonville, and Dreams. Surge is well known for performances at WJCT's Jacksonville Jazz Festival in 1996 and 1997, WFSJ's Florida Smooth Jazz Series, the Florida Theatre, Jazz in the Park and other venues.

Ya'Gozo specializes in a rich flavor of Latin jazz rhythms featuring known standard jazz tunes with Latin flavor.Among other rhythms, Ya'Gozo features a mix of cultural styles such as Brazilian jazz and Afro Cuban.The band is very very popular in Savannah,Gainesville,Orlando,Saint Augustine,Standford ,Palm Coast and Daytona Ya’Gozo specializes in a rich flavor of Latin jazz rhythms featuring known standard jazz tunes with Latin flavor. Among other rhythms, Ya’Gozo features a mix of cultural styles such as Brazilian jazz and Afro Cuban with a very percussive style targeted to a wide variety of audiences.

Ya’Gozo is derived from the Spanish verb "gozar". In times past, this expression meant to have already enjoyed or had a great time. Ya’Gozo wants you to have sheer enjoyment as you listen to their music.Ya’Gozo’ Has become a regular performer at the hottest Jazz Club in Savannah; Adagio Jazz Club ,where they have performed along with Jazz Celebrities such as Doug Carn .Members of Ya’Gozo’ Percussion assemble had the privilege to play with a seven time Grammy award winner Pianist! Eddie Palmieri for their professionalism and percussive creativity.

Since the very beginning, Ya’Gozo has been a collective effort, putting together the best music that the members have been exposed to since childhood. Their musical effort makes tribute to all Latin Jazz Pioneers; especially Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Mario Bauza as well as a personal friend, "El Gran Canney".

Mindwalk is a "world class" contemporary music ensemble. This five piece small group represents a "talent pool of diversity" rarely seen in the industry. From nationally recognized albums, movie scores, jingles, award winning big band compositions to recording engineering and sound design, Mindwalk and it's members deliver musicianship at the highest levels and back it up with instrumental virtuosity.

THE MUSIC

Mindwalk's original music is artfully sprinkled with Funk, Rock, Hip-Hop, Latin, Smooth Jazz, and Bebop. Their evolved musical sound and creative vocal colors are so fresh and musically palatable that Mindwalk's newly released album, "Kings For Carly," was selected to be featured on the latest compilation CD distributed by the internationally reputable Jazziz Magazine. Likewise, Mindwalk's first album (recorded in Gainesville with former Frank Zappa engineer Mark Pinske) has made the "PLAYLISTS" of over 50 radio stations nationwide as well as stations in Europe and the Far East.

Mindwalk has also performed at many music festivals in Florida including SunFest, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Jazzmataz, Disney World/Pleasure Island, the Tampa Tribune’s Friday Extra Concert Series,
Kissimmee Jazz Festival, Lynx Festival, and Orlando’s Sunset Serenade Concert Series and a feature performance at UF’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Gator Growl (80,000 people in attendance).

Teddy Washington is well known as a talented trumpet player, vocalist and bandleader, as well as a noted historian and author. He has played for and with such musical stars as Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, James Brown, Patti LaBelle, B. B. King, Frank Sinatra and Tony Orlando & Dawn.

Teddy Washington covers music from jazz, blues, R&B to big band with equal enthusiasm. He has performed at the WJCT Jacksonville Jazz Festival six times in the past 21 years.

Jazz singer Dot Wilder has developed a unique style based on the traditions of past great vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. She infuses fresh ideas and wide appeal into her performances. A graduate of the University of North Florida, Dot Wilder has performed throughout the First Coast."Dot Wilder is well known to Northeast Florida jazz fans. Her innovative sound and unique phrasings twice earned Downbeat Magazine's Student Award for "Outstanding Performance of a Jazz Vocalist", not to mention a devoted following among Jacksonville, Florida's jazz aficionados. Wilder's performances showcase her diverse influences, expressive nature and an impressive set of pipes." (Digital AOL) Whether in her inspired renditions of jazz standards in which Dot makes them fresh and new again by her charismatic performing style and using her voice like an instrument, or her own original material, Wilder's voice is a sultry mix of the past vocal legends that she holds so dear.
A summa cum laude Jazz Studies 1998 graduate of the acclaimed University of North Florida Jazz School, dir. Bunky Green, Wilder has been heard at the Florida Theater, Sea Walk Pavilion, Jacksonville Landing, World Golf Village, Jazz Corner in Hilton Head,S.C., and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, 2000. Her debut album, "Dot Wilder, Live from the Warehouse",1999, has been given airplay (grassroots) from Miami, Florida-Washington, D.C.-Eugene, Oregon-San Jose, Calif.-Bogota, Columbia- Adelaide, Australia and in-between. Wilder performs at times with her favorite Northeast Florida group which consists of Kevin Bales, piano, Ricky Ravelo, upright bass & Pete Chmielewski, drums and sometimes, Marcus Parsley, trumpet.
To conclude, Norm Vickers of the Jazz Society of Pensacola states that "Dot, an outstanding vocalist, can sing a jazz standard and improvise a jazz chorus like the best instrumentalist."