Wed Feb 18
Althea Rene
Born on December 25th in Detroit, Michigan Althea René began her musical journey at the tender age of four years old. She studied classical music while attending Howard University. For more than 10 years she worked as a Wayne County Deputy Sheriff (in Detroit, Michigan) during the day and performed in jazz clubs at night. Today, she endorses renowned hand-sculpted Altus Flutes as a full-time performing and recording artist.
Althea René gained musical inspiration from her father Dezie McCullers (one of Motown's original Funk Brothers). She has since developed her creative style. Some regard her as a "master of her craft" and one of the world's most exciting solo improvisational soul-jazz flutists. The multiplatinum and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Najee playfully refers to her as the “Maceo of the flute”.
In May 2013, she released her hit project titled "In the Flow". Collaborating with Grammy award-winning producer Michael Broening, she co-wrote the title track that made history as the first flute featured single to be ranked “number one” on the Billboard and Smooth Jazz charts. This scorching hot single topped the charts for several weeks.
Steve Oliver
Steve grew up in the San Francisco bay area playing in progressive rock bands in high school. Influenced by acts such as Genesis and Yes (as well as guitarists Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Wes Montgomery, and Lee Ritenour), his band Fragile Glass released one album entitled "Farewell Father Analogue" before disbanding. Oliver played steady gigs in and around central California while also attending the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in Los Angeles.
While gigging around the San Francisco Bay Area, Oliver attracted the attention of Steve Reid, former percussionist with The Rippingtons, who recruited him to join his new project Bamboo Forest. Oliver was the lead vocalist and guitarist for Bamboo Forest and many of the tunes on the first two albums are Oliver / Reid compositions. Reid eventually persuaded Oliver into the spotlight and helped the young guitarist produce his own CD.
He’s achieved multiple #1 Billboard hits and over a dozen Top Ten hits as a solo artist and producer in the smooth or contemporary jazz formats.