Jesse Lynch Jazz 101
Jesse Lynch, piano
Performer, composer, arranger, improviser and educator, Jesse Lynch is a New York City pianist with international touring experience in a variety of musical styles. From Beethoven to Bop, to free jazz and contemporary composition, Jesse straddles the spectrum of musical innovation and tradition. With a home base in Brooklyn, he currently tours with the Jesse Lynch Trio, and has built an educational, performance rich show of jazz evolution, "Jesse Lynch Jazz 101.”A 2004 alumnus of Oberlin Conservatory, Lynch is well steeped in jazz and classical modalities and has an extensive professional history as a vocal accompanist and coach.
Lynch has toured the United Statesand internationally (New Zealand and Europe) with multiple artists, notably with Daniel Rodriguez and with the American Tenors. He is music director and bandleader for the upcoming radio show, "Club 86,” and was the pianist for Aaron Sherwood and Kiori Kawai’s interactive movement piece “Water in the Desert,” alongside improvisers Jason Kao Hwang and Amy Carrigan. Lynch has recently collaborated with sax legend Charlie Neville and with Steve Beskerone, bassist from Ray Charles' ensemble. He plays regularly in the tri-state area with the Tom Trovas Jazz Ensemble, throughout New York City with the 10-piece band Artificial Flavor and tours worldwide in the four piece original soul band, "Sonnyboy.” Lynch has been performing seasonally at the beautiful Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park since 2005.
Lynch’s original trio album, “Intuition,” was released in 2009 and is available at He collaborated with writer/poet Gil Helmick and several improvising musicians in 2008 on the album, “Crimes Against Inhumanity,” available on Old Port Records.
Joe Michaels, bass
Based in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Joe Michaels has been performing and recording since 2002. He has performed with GRAMMY® nominated artists such as Dave Liebman and Kurt Elling, as well as world renowned artists Joel Frahm, Tim Warfield, Herb Robertson, Wycliffe Gordon, Phil Haynes, Ari Hoenig, Vic Juris, Phil Markowitz, Rich Perry, John Swana, Marko Marcinko, Jay Rosen, Michael Stephans,JoeHunt and Jim Ridl.
Michaels continues to perform extensively throughout the Northeastern United States as well as Europe. Michaels appears on three releases from guitarist Andrew Cheshire -"Silent Trees Falling,” "The Four Ages of Bob” and "Pavane Pour Une Infante Difunte." He has also recorded with Christian Latin musician Guiderman Y Claudia ("Ahi Quiero Crecer") and a new release with the Jess Lynch Trio, “Intuition.” Michaels also teaches from his home studio in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.
Matt Smallcomb, drums
He performs in a variety of musical settings, including orchestral music, chamber music, jazz and improvisation. An accomplished orchestral percussionist, he has also performed with Philadelphia hi-hop band “The Collective,” appearing with top tier groups such as The Roots, Busta Rhymes and Arrested Development.
Smallcomb is currently Principal Percussionist of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra (Duluth, Minn.) and section percussionist of the Symphony in C(Philadelphia, Pa.). He has performed with acclaimed orchestras including the Seattle Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic and the New World Symphony, and has toured across North America appearing with a variety of luminaries including Paquito D ’Rivera, Dawn Upshaw and Whoopi Goldberg.
Smallcombis also an in-demand drummer for pop and jazz acts. He performs and records with artists including Daniel Rodriguez, Jesse Green and The Indago Brass Band,and was member of the percussion show “Glank.”
In addition to his performing career, Smallcomb is an active educator. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa and a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from The Mannes College of Music in New York City. Smallcomb is currently adjunct percussion faculty at the Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and is an artist endorser for Sabian cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Pure Sound Snares and the Noble and Cooley Drum Company.