Missouri native Dan Musselman began piano studies at age 5 and continued classical training through high school. He first encountered jazz playing trumpet in the high school jazz band. But his real introduction to “authentic jazz” came from a trumpet-playing pal, and particularly from listening to Kenny Garrett’s Songbook, “the album that turned me into a jazz musician.” Dan pursued jazz piano in St. Paul at McNally Smith College, graduating summa cum laude in spring 2008 as salutatorian and as the sole recipient of the “Outstanding Student Award.”  Additionally, Dan has studied with acclaimed pianists Kenny Werner and Twin Cities native Craig Taborn.  In addition to the early and continuing influences Taborn and Garrett, Dan notes as significant sources of inspiration Keith Jarrett and Joanne Brackeen, particularly evident in his solo improvisations.

Locally, in addition to his long-standing collaboration with vocalist Rachel Holder, Dan has performed with Judi Donaghy, Debbie Duncan, Patty Peterson, Jay Epstein, Erin Schwab, Lee Engele, Zack Lozier, Cory Wong, Zach Schmidt, Andy Schuster and more. Over the past year, he has joined forces with Wong, Schmidt, and Schuster to provide an opening set on Tuesday nights at the Artists Quarter, a lead-in to the long-running Tuesday Night Band. In his spare time Dan teaches at his alma mater, McNally Smith College in St Paul.

Brandon Wozniak worked in New York City for six years before returning to the Twin Cities in 2006. Earning his BA from Indiana University under the tutelage of David Baker, he also studied with Chris Potter, toured with Nellie McKay, the Four Tops and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and lived in Berlin for a year while playing with rock band Zweibel Zweibel Hurra. Locally he has performed with Bruce Henry, Katie Gearty, Sam Kuusisto, Dean Magraw, Jay Epstein and Cheetah Nunchuck, and plays regularly with the Atlantis Quartet and Monk in Motian. His credits also include appearances with the great organist Lonnie Smith and guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg.

A Minnesota native, Adam Linz was initially attracted to bass “after hearing various rock and early hip hop records.” But it was his uncle, bassist Tom Hubbard, who introduced Adam to jazz. (Hubbard, a student of Richard Davis and Dave Holland, has had a distinguished career working with the likes of Freddy Cole and Chris Conner.) After graduating from Park Center High School in Brooklyn Center and bass studies with Peter Olson at the MacPhail Center for Music, Linz earned his degree in jazz studies at William Paterson University. He eventually returned to the Twin Cities, building his reputation as an adroit and innovative bassist with such groups as Gloryland Pony Cat and particularly Fat Kid Wednesdays, a trio with Michael Lewis and JT Bates that has earned high praise from appearances in New York and France. Adam is also devoted to teaching, and has been an instructor at MusicTech (now McNally Smith), MARS, Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth (MITY), Augsburg College and MacPhail. In June 2009 he was appointed to fill the jazz coordinator position at MacPhail, replacing Kelly Rossum who relocated to New York. 

Drummer Jay Epstein is seen all over the Twin Cities, often in the company of vocalists (Christine Rosholt, Connie Evingson) and top instrumentalists (Bill Carrothers, Gordy Johnson, Benny Weinbeck, Mary Louise Knutson, Dean Magraw). He had a long-standing gig with the Phil Aaron Trio at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington. Jay’s first recording, Long Ago, drew high praise; last month he joined again with Anthony Cox and Bill Carrothers for Easy Company. Jay studied polyrhythmic concepts in Manhattan with Barry Altschul (drummer in Chick Corea's Circle) and lived in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and Miami before moving to Minneapolis, and played in house bands for 5 years on several cruise lines. Jay play regularly with Red Planet, Impulso, Framework, Off the Map and CounterClockwise. 

Put these creative minds together on one stage, and it should be a memorable evening of modern jazz at the AQ on February 10th! 

The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St. Peter Street in the lower level of the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul; www.artistsquarter.com. Visit Dan on MySpace at www.myspace.com/danmusselman