Sara Michaels

Vocalist - Producer & Founder

For Sara Michaels, an accomplished jazz vocalist, singing comes from her soul, and her heartbeat resonates with audiences. Weaving storytelling into live performances, Sara takes listeners on a “joy journey” through her beloved musical genre – jazz. Initially singing in the church, she brings a history in spiritual music, classic blues, and musical theater to the stage. At the end of 2023, Sara released her first album of nine original songs entitled “Chapter One: Full Circle”. Going beyond the stage and the recording studio, Sara has produced various jazz series and concert events. Since 2013, she has produced the Jazz Cocktail Hour at the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester, PA, and the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences during the summer season. Sara also produced “Bill Withers: Reimagined”, a show featuring Philadelphia jazz artist V. Shayne Frederick and Lynn Riley and the World Mix. In addition, Sara is embarking on collaborations with dancers and other creatives and art forms in concert settings, videos, and film. This compassionate artist has a goal to spread awareness of “music as medicine” and the power of music therapy in hospitals, schools, and workplaces.

Sharon Sable

Vocalist - Co-founder

Sharon Sable is an award winning vocalist whose musical journey has taken her from recording with international pop stars as a teenager, to performing regularly with the region’s finest musicians. As an in-demand vocalist, Sharon’s voice can also be heard on original material penned by some of the greater Philadelphia region’s most illustrious songwriters. Her repertoire is varied and includes gems of the Great American Songbook as well as other timeless music from the 20th century. Sharon is known for a presence and delivery that demonstrates exquisite vocal prowess.

“… a truly miraculous vocal artist, made of glorious warmth and intimacy.” - Raul DaGama (Jazz DaGama)

E. Shawn Qaissaunee

Guitarist / Arranger / Co-founder

Berklee College of Music Alumnus (Jazz Composition/Music Education) E. Shawn Qaissaunee has been in demand as a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger and music instructor for over thirty years. Sought out for his talents on guitar, bass, piano, percussion and the rubab and dutar, two instruments from his native Afghanistan, Shawn is known for his musical virtuosity, sensitivity, lyricism and spirited creative energy in the jazz tradition. His constant devotion to musical traditions, while at the same time striving to bring new energy and relevance to his live performances has made him a beloved and admired artist in the greater community and beyond. 

Victor North

Tenor and Alto Saxophone

Victor North is a Philadelphia-based jazz musician who relocated from Alaska to immerse himself in the city’s rich jazz tradition. He has performed with Mickey Roker, Charles Fambrough, Orrin Evans, John Swana, Jimmy Bruno, and Elio Villafranca, and toured extensively with legendary organist Joey DeFrancesco. North leads his own groups, including the Bacon, Lettuce and North Organ Trio and the Future Tense Quartet.

jason fraticelli

upright bass

Jason Fraticelli is primarily an upright bassist, and has been immersed in the Philadelphia and New York jazz and original music scene since the early 2000’s. He has been performing  at concerts, shows and all manner of gigs on average of five nights a week for about the last 15 to 20 years.

jeff knoettner

keyboards

Jeff is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, with a degree in Piano Performance.
Jeff plays piano, Rhodes, synthesizers and Hammond B3 instruments.
He is a private piano teacher with over twenty-five years teaching
experience starting with the NJ School of Music. Jeff is also an experienced

church Worship Leader.

adam shumski

drums/percussion

Adam has performed across North America and Europe with musical projects ranging from jazz to punk. He has recorded and/or toured with finalists and winners of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, VH1’s Make or Break: The Linda Perry Project, NBC’s The Voice and The Voice of Ireland. Adam is currently a member of New York’s post-punk group BODEGA and Philadelphia’s art rock collective Planette Automatic.