Four Amazing Concerts!
Sunday February 4th and 18th & March 3rd and 10th - 4-6 pm
All profits benefit Refugee Ministries
The perfect antidote to a chilly Sunday afternoon in winter!
February 4: Dominique Bianco & José Andre
Known for previous stunning performances at St Dunstan’s, Dominique is joined by pianist prodigy José Andre
February 18: Tibyron Quinn & Joey Arkfeld
A St. Dunstan’s favorite, jazz pianist Joey Arkfeld joins soulful baritone Tibyron Quinn for fresh renditions of standards
March 3: The Bobby Muncy Trio
Pleased to welcome versatile saxophonist and recording star and his trio
Mar 10: The Chris Barrick Duo
A vibraphonist and professor of percussion brings the series to a glorious close
Tickets are $30 for each concert or $100 for the 4 of them
$10 for students
Tickets are also available at the door. Cash and checks are accepted.
5450 Massachusetts Ave, Bethesda, MD 20816 - Entrance on Fort Sumner Drive - Free Parking
Biographies of each artist.
February 4: Dominique Bianco and José Andre
Dominique Bianco
Dominique Bianco is a renowned Italian-American jazz vocalist who adds her own distinctive touch to jazz standards, with remarkable virtuosity, innate interpretative abilities, awe-inspiring improvisational skills, and unique melodic original compositions. Currently based in the DC area, by way of Staten Island, New York, “she has garnered comparisons to Ella Fitzgerald and has a voice that is timeless”- Prism Reviews.
At age 21 she released her debut record, "I'm All Smiles," which features Benny Benack III & Elijah Jamal Balbed. The Downbeat Award-winning 23-year-old has been mentioned in publications such as Downbeat Magazine, Jazz Times, WUSA9, DCNewsNow, Living Local DMV, The Baltimore Sun, WBGO, WPFW, Capital Bop, Parklife DC, The Baltimore Times, and interviewed in Voyage Baltimore Magazine. Dominique was the first-place runner-up in the 2023 Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, a top 3 finalist in the 2022 International Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Competition, and is a 2023 Strathmore Artist in Residence.
She has performed in some of the most prestigious venues and festivals, including Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Keystone Korner, BluJazz+, Smalls NYC, The Cutting Room, Pearl Street Warehouse, AMP by Strathmore, Hermana NYC, Union Stage, Fredrick Jazz Festival, Baltimore Jazz Fest, and Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. She has also collaborated with many renowned jazz musicians, including Julius Rodriguez, Joe Farnsworth, Mark Whitfield, Peter Washington, Clarence Ward III, Benny Benack III, Elijah Jamal Balbed, Emmet Cohen Trio including Kyle Poole, and Russell Hall.
Dominique can be heard on various records including background vocals for Elijah Jamal Balbed’s Karma Suite set to release 2024. Additionally, her backing vocals can be heard on Javier Nero's Album "Kemet (The Black Land)," featuring an impressive lineup of jazz artists including Sean Jones, Randy Brecker, Warren Wolf, Tim Green, and Christie Dashiell. Notably, Dominique's vocal prowess is spotlighted in the third track, which has garnered over 10,000 plays. Her exceptional vocal range and whistle tones take center stage as she effortlessly hits a high E and G# at the track's conclusion.
Ms. Bianco is a private vocal coach and piano instructor and teaches out of her own vocal studio. Dominique earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies with a minor in Music Technology at George Mason University spring of 2022.
Dominique is a recent graduate of George Mason University, under the instruction of Darden Purcell (Voice), Wade Beach (Piano) & Victor Provost (Steel Pan). As a recent graduate from George Mason University, Dominique Bianco was featured in The Mason Jazz Ensemble, performing at numerous venues including, The Center for the Arts, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Tiffin University Accent Vocal Festival, and Arts By George to name a few. She has performed in Jazz4Justice concerts 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 as a featured soloist. With the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Dominique has opened for The Manhattan Transfer, ACCENT, as well as performed with the American Festival Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Tony Maiello.
Dominique’s YouTube channel covers jazz and pop songs, features her debut EP Music Video, and highlights her live performances around DC & NYC. Here are links to her YouTube channel, Spotify, and other streaming sites. https://instabio.cc/Dombianco
“Bianco’s work assures that jazz music can still matter to contemporary audiences. All it takes is the right voice to help them hear why.” - Thomas Gartman CapitalBop 2022
José Andre
José André says: “Life is a gift”. He discovered his piano skills in a self-taught way at the age of four, since then he has been fascinated with music. He is a musician who flavors his tunes with Latin rhythms and jazz harmonies. Despite his young age he has already delighted audiences from prestigious festivals and concert halls across the Americas. He was only 6 years old when he formed and led his first Latin Jazz band. Treasured by music fans of all styles he was invited to share stage with internationally prominent musicians. In 2015, he performed at the stage of the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., for the Iberian Suite Global Arts Remix, which was followed by a performance at the headquarters of the World Bank. Later that year he was invited back to perform in honor to Pope Francis.
José André has performed internationally with live presentations that have received standing ovations in Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Finland, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Colombia. He also performed at the DC Jazz Festival, Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, International Jazz Day, and other venues. He has shared stage with Marcus Miller, Jason Moran and Renee Fleming, and other renowned musicians. His talent has led him to be on the list for the piano chair in several big bands. He has been invited to performed for different organizations including the World Bank, the Central Bank of Malaysia, the Washington Performing Arts, Envision, the Inter- American Development Bank, the Organization of the American States, the Pan American Health Organization,Kids in Need of Defense, the Library of Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. House of Representatives – Office of the Clerk and others.
Each year outstanding young musicians with disabilities from around the world receive the VSA International Young Soloist Award. In 2019 José André was one of the recipients and performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as an emerging artist.
During the 2nd Annual Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind “Lighting the Way” Gala; José André was presented with the Visionary Award recognizing the achievements of his talented as a person with vision loss.
However accomplished, for José André the adventure of music creation has only just begun.
February 18: Tibyron Quinn and Joey Arkfeld
Tibyron Quinn
In the jazz hotbed of Washington, DC, Tibyron Quinn emerges as a distinguished vocalist, whose captivating voice is intricately woven with the soulful tapestry of Black American music. Steeped in the profound traditions of gospel, jazz, and soul, Tibyron's smooth baritone resonates with echoes of legendary crooners like Luther Vandross and Johnny Hartman.
What distinguishes Tibyron is his unparalleled ability to effortlessly swing with the nuanced subtlety and intensity synonymous with vocal jazz legends. His repertoire unfolds like a meticulously curated anthology, featuring iconic jazz, traditional pop, and American songbook standards that have etched the names of numerous jazz luminaries into the annals of musical history.
Tibyron's vocal canvas is vast and mesmerizing. His voice, guided by an impressive range and a masterful command of phrasing and dynamics, becomes an immersive odyssey through the intricate landscapes of jazz expression. With each note, he pays homage to the legends while carving his own distinct path, solidifying his presence as a rising star on the jazz scene.
Since making his mark in DC's vibrant musical landscape, Tibyron Quinn has graced stages across the DMV, where his voice acts as a magnetic force, not only capturing the ears but also resonating deeply with the hearts of the audience. In the ever-evolving symphony of jazz, Tibyron stands as a testament to the genre's timeless allure and promises to leave an indelible mark on the jazz legacy.
Joey Arkfeld
Joey Arkfeld received his Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Maryland, College Park, in the studio of Larissa Dedova, and his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Lawrence University in the studio of Anthony Padilla. While at Lawrence, he studied organ performance, and continued his organ and classical improvisation studies with John Walker in Baltimore, MD after moving to the DC area. Joey’s stage presence and unique musical language captivate audiences, and he is the Third Prize winner of the 2018 Russell C. Wonderlic Piano Competition. After completing his masters degree, Joey studied with local jazz fixtures including pianists Michael Price and Alfred Yun. Joey served as Minister of Music and Organist at St. Dunstan’s from 2019 through 2022, when he began studying law at The George Washington University Law School.
Joey’s compositions have explored creating new harmonic landscapes that meld classical, jazz and post-tonal language in both secular and liturgical settings. Joey’s composition, Blue Bird, was presented at the Music Encoding Initiative Encoding Initiative at the University of Maryland, College Park, in May 2018 and at the Digital Humanities Conference in Mexico City in June 2018. The piece is an interdisciplinary collaboration created with research programmer Dr. Raffaele Viglianti that sets the text from some of Emily Dickinson’s draft manuscripts to a digital score that changes based on the weather.
March 3: The Bobby Muncy Trio
Bobby Muncy
Bobby Muncy is a versatile and an in-demand saxophonist, recording artist, composer, arranger, educator, bandleader, and mouthpiece refacer in the Washington, DC metro area.
Raised in Miami, FL and currently residing in the metropolitan Washington DC Area, he studied music at Florida State University (BA) and University of Maryland, College Park (MM). He studied saxophone and woodwinds under Chris Vadala, Dale Underwood, William Kennedy and Adrien Re.
He has performed or recorded with The Temptations, The Platters, The Spinners, The Orioles, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The El Reys, The Messthetics, The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, The Scott Gwinell Jazz Orchestra, Wayna, Dzine, Phantom Band, The Fran Vielma Jazz Orchestra, John Lee, Saltman/Knowles, Middle Distance Runner, Freddie Redd, Matt Rippetoe, Michael Bowie, James King, Joe Herrera, Brad Linde, Sarah Hughes, Anthony Pirog, Butch Warren, Michael Jellick, Luke Stewart, Lena Seikaly, Nestor Torres, Elike, The Funk Ark, Leigh Pilzer, Allyn Johnson, Taboo Combo, Tom Baldwin, Jeff Reed, Janel Leppin-Pirog, Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra, Ornette Hawkins, Manuel Valera, Amy Bormet, Brian Settles, Alex Norris, Dog Fashion Disco, Chris Burbank, Gregg Karukus, Jon Ozment, Xavier Perez, Chiek Hamala Diabate, Ben Tufts, Ned Judy, Joe Piscopo, Dave Ballou, Chris Barrick, Sam Prather, Elijah Balbed, Savino Palumbo, Dennis Chambers, The Metro Parks Honors Jazz Ensemble, Paul Keller Big Band, James Hughes, Doug Horn, Ney Mello, and many others.
For over 25 years, he has also led his own large and small ensembles including the Radiohead Jazz Project, Big Bastard Big Band, The Bobby Muncy Quartet and Quintet, The Hardbop Special, The Elliot Smith Jazz Project, Kung Fu Bastard, New Standards Quartet.
He has composed and arranged music for various ensembles such as The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, Chick Hall, jr., Anthony Pirog, The El Reys, Dale Corn, Capitol Records Studio Band, The Scott Gwinell Jazz Orchestra, The U-liners, Sriram Gopal, Eric Bogess, The Mustangs, University of Maryland 5:30 band and various student ensembles at American University and Prince George’s Community College.
In 2008 he released his first album as a leader “On the Outside Looking In” to warm reception. His second release with his project Kung Fu Bastard solidified his credentials as a composer of new avant-garde music. Mike West of the City Paper extolled Bobby’s playing saying, “the momentum that Muncy was able to build on each instrument, winding into long, powerful lines that could startle in their heft or melodic charm.” Bobby has Just released a brand new record, Bad Reception, which was written mostly during the pandemic and contemplates our collective feelings of loss, anger and ultimate rebirth through compositions addressing politics, technology, media and generational divides.
Bobby has performed at The Blue Note-NY, The Detroit Jazz Festival, Blues Alley, Twins Jazz, Bohemian Cavern, Cliff Bell’s, Bert’s-Detriot, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, The Blue Llama, Sotto, Bossa Bistro, Mr. Henry’s, The Van Dyke Cafe, Churchill’s, Black Cat, DC 9, Eighteenth Street Lounge, The Kennedy Center, Calle Ocho, An Die Musik, The 8x10, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland-College Park, Atlas Performing Art Center, PGCC Performing Arts Center, Good Morning Detroit, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Westminster Church Jazz and Blues nights, and many other venues in New York, DC, and Baltimore, Miami, Haiti, Italy, Spain, Canada as well as serving as an onboard musician for three Carnival Cruise Lines.
He is a co-founder and board member of the DC Jazz Composer’s collective, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to increasing the performance of original jazz compositions in the Washington, DC metro area which has presented concerts featuring the music of Reginald Cyntje, Amy Bormet, Brian Settles, Jon Kokur as well as recorded an album at XM Radio featuring the music written by members of the collective, Bobby Muncy, Gene D’andrea and Kevin Pace.
Bobby has also become an in demand mouthpiece refacer and expert consultant working on the mouthpieces of several of DMV’s top saxophonists helping them to achieve their sound.
As an educator, Bobby held the position of Professor and Applied Music Coordinator at Prince George’s Community College teaching advanced music theory, ear training, applied woodwinds and brass, digital audio, music appreciation and was director of the PGCC Jazz Ensemble. He has conducted masterclasses in improvisation at American University, The Detriot Jazz Workshop, Washtenaw Community College. Prince George’s Community College, various high schools in Miami, FL and the greater Washington, DC area and briefly taught Jazz Arranging and applied saxophone at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Bobby is known for his eclectic style and musical energy he brings to bandstand. He continues to present performances and collaborations in the Washington DC area, Baltimore, New York City and the entire eastern seaboard.
The Chris Barrick Duo: March 10
Chris Barrick is a percussionist, jazz vibraphonist, drummer with a wide variety of experience in multiple genres of music.
As an orchestral percussionist, he has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, The American Pops Orchestra, The Washington Chorus and the Cincinnati Ballet. He has performed in extended theater productions and shows with the Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), the Kennedy Center and Signature Theater.
As a jazz vibraphonist and drummer, he has performed and recorded with many great musicians in Cincinnati and DC, Mike Sharfe, Rusty Burge, John Von Ohlen, Steve Schmidt, Allyn Johnson, Brad Linde, Lenny Robinson, Herbert Scott, and Elijah Jamal Balbed.
He currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Howard University.
