Spontaneous Sound

Matthew Rybicki has performed with jazz luminaries Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Ernie Watts, Hilary Kole, Wycliffe Gordon, Ulysses Owens, Mark Gould, Gerald Clayton, and many more. An adept educator, Matthew is a current faculty member of The Juilliard School and a visiting artist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He has also authored books for Hal Leonard Publications including Ray Brown: Legendary Jazz Bassist  and The Hal Leonard Jazz Bass Method. Matthew received  his Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music in 1995 and his graduate degree from The Juilliard School in 2004. 

Since moving to Asheville, North Carolina in 2013, Alex has been a mainstay of its thriving and eclectic music community. He is a highly versatile performer in a wide variety of genres. His touch, feel, and musical depth have made him one of the most in-demand musicians in the southeast. He recently returned from Montreal where he received the Master of Music in Jazz from McGill University. Alex is currently serving this year as a Visiting Artist teaching piano at UNCSA. 

Justin Ray has been a professional musician for almost 30 years. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ray has earned a reputation as a fiery and compelling trumpet soloist. Moving to Los Angeles he quickly became one of the most in demand musicians in the region. He performed regularly with jazz legends like drummers Dave Weckl and Joe LaBarbara, vocalist Kurt Elling, pianists Bill Cunliffe and Alan Pasqua, saxophonists Bob Sheppard and Kamasi Washington, and a host of others. In 2003, Ray accepted an offer from Warner Bros. recording artist Michael Bublé to join his group. He has toured 45 countries, appeared on Grammy-winning recordings, and has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, such as Madison Square Garden, the Sydney Opera House, Radio City Music Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl. Ray has also made a number of TV appearances, including multiple performances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show (with both Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon), The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Saturday Night Live. When Ray became the in-house orchestrator for the Bublé Orchestra in 2005, he grew fascinated by the possibilities afforded by the large ensemble, and has since become a prolific composer and arranger in both big band and orchestral genres. After receiving a grant from the North Carolina Area Arts Council, Ray composed and performed a suite for jazz quintet and string quartet entitled “Casanova and Cleopatra”. He also regularly composes, records and releases his original material for big band. 

Daniel Seriff is a guitarist, educator, and session musician based in Asheville, NC. Born and raised in North Carolina, he developed a passion for guitar at thirteen, studying with various teachers before earning a spot at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) as a high school senior. He later pursued jazz studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro before returning to UNCSA, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance, studying both classical and jazz. 

After years of performing and teaching, Daniel moved to New Orleans to earn a Master of Music at the University of New Orleans on a full scholarship (2018-2020). Graduating during the pandemic, he returned to North Carolina, settling in Asheville. 

Daniel has presented clinics alongside Steven Rothery, Mike Steinel, and Andrew York at events like The British Guitar Academy, Charlotte Guitar Festival, UNCSA, Guilford College, Guitarganza, and The National Guitar Workshop. He teaches private online lessons from his state-of-the-art studio and works as a session musician, sideman, producer, and engineer, collaborating with artists locally and nationally. 

An avid YouTube guitar instructor, Daniel also offers courses and coaching via his website. His debut solo record (2022)features Jeff Sipe, Taylor Lee, Brad Walker, Mark Lettieri, Matt Sickels, and Billy Cardine, and is available on all major music platforms. 

Alan Hall has been a professional drum performer and teacher for over 45 years. He has taught at Berklee College of Music, California Jazz Conservatory, Monterrey Jazz Festival Middle School and High School Summer Camp, JazzCamp West, Cal State East Bay, and Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Camp. He’s written two drum books: “Internalization-A non-reading intensive approach toward mastery of the jazz drumming language” (opens in new tab) and “Drum Chart Supplement: The Real Easy Book ( 3-horn/Level 1 )” (opens in new tab), published by Sher Music. His articles have appeared in Down Beat and Percussive Notes magazines. He has performed and/or recorded with international jazz artists Lee Konitz, Paul McCandless, Art Lande, Ed Simon, Geoffrey Keezer, Kenny Washington, Rebecca Parris, and Joyce Cooling. He’s performed with Cirque Du Soliel, Teatro Zinzanni, Wicked S.F. He’s toured in Europe, USA, and Canada with various artists and groups, playing various styles. He has served this year as a Visiting Artist on drum set for UNCSA. 

Rick Simerly is a jazz trombonist and retired Associate Professor of Music at Milligan University in Tennessee.  He has been described by David Baker as “…one of the most exciting and consistently creative trombonists in jazz today.”  The International Trombone Association Journal wrote “Rick leaves no doubt about his mastery…Rick is “scary”!”  Rick has toured with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra under the direction of David Baker and has played in the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Nelson Riddle, Les Elgart, Bob Crosby, Harry James, Jimmy Dorsey, Buddy Morrow and the last band of Charlie Spivak.  He has performed with jazz artists Billy Taylor, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Bobby Shew, Rufus Reid, Jon Faddis, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Milt Hinton, Dave McKenna, Tommy Newsom, Steve Wilson, Bobby Watson, and many others.  Rick is a 24 year veteran faculty member of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops and a frequent faculty member of the Brubeck Institute in Stockton, CA.  As an artist/clinician for Rath Trombones of England, he regularly conducts clinics and performs concerts throughout the United States and has been a featured soloist for the International Association of Jazz Educators, The International Trombone Festival and the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. 

Jacob Rodriguez is a San Antonio, TX native who began playing the saxophone at age 11. He moved to New York City to pursue his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied under Joe Temperley, Dick Oatts, Chris Rosenberg, and Justin DiCioccio. While centered in New York, Jacob performed around the country with jazz contemporaries Ambrose Akinmusire, Robert Glasper, Walter Smith III, and Marcus Gilmore, as well as with legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, and the Soulful Symphony. 

Jacob has been a member of the Michael Bublé band since 2007, appearing on the Grammy Award winning albums "Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden" as well as Bublé's "Crazy Love" and “Higher.” Jacob is currently on a world tour with Bublé, playing arenas around the world. 

Jacob currently makes his home in Asheville, North Carolina, where he teaches, records, and performs with original music groups ranging from soul to free jazz to indie rock.