Jason Marsalis

Son of pianist, music educator and Grammy® Award winner Ellis Marsalis and his wife Dolores, and the youngest sibling of Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo. By age six, Jason was taking lessons from the legendary New Orleans drummer James Black, and by 1984 his father was using him consistently on engagements. 
Jason plays in New York and internationally with many bands, among them his brother Wynton's ensembles, with Marcus Roberts, and with the Lionel Hampton Band for which he was asked by the Hampton Estate to play vibes. He co-founded the Latin-jazz group Los Hombres Calientes, teaches at  William Paterson, and tours in the US and internationally. In 2009, the Marsalis Family received the NEA Jazz Masters Award and were honored at the White House and the Kennedy Center. 

Matt King

Matt is a pianist, organist, vocalist, composer, arranger and producer based in the NYC area. He studied classical piano at the University of Illinois, and on moving to New York to study jazz, enrolled in the internationally-renowned jazz program at William Paterson University, where he studied with classmates including Bill Stewart, Doug Weiss, Peter Bernstein, and Eric Alexander. His musical versatility is extraordinary—jazz, latin, fusion, funk, gospel, rock, blues, pop—which he plays to rave reviews: "Matt King’s piano playing is always stellar...his solos sparkle"..."beautiful grooves and inspired improvisations"..."get ready to party!  BRAVO!" Matt was leader and arranger for his latest recording, “Monk In Brazil”, which reviewers called "A brilliant triumph". He is a founding Faculty Member of Sitka Jazz Week and plays major jazz venues and festivals in the US and internationally. 
 

Christian Fabian

Christian was born in Sweden and studied at Maastricht Conservatory in Europe. He recorded three albums there with his band Time Design, and performed throughout Europe. He was studying at Berklee College on full scholarship in the ’90s and Lionel Hampton selected him as bassist for the Lionel Hampton Big Band in 1996. For the next two decades, he studied with Ron Carter and Mike Longo, played bass in Mike’s NY State of the Art Jazz Ensemble. With Jason Marsalis and the Native Jazz Quartet, he toured in 2013 & 2014 as US State Department Jazz Ambassadors. As Co-Leader of the Lionel Hampton Big Band, he accepted the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award for Hamp at the 2023 Grammies®. 
Christian has produced Sitka Jazz Week, the Sitka Jazz Tour and Jazzmas! since 2022. He is a 2025 Grammy® Nominated contributor.