At our next concert (June 9, 2013):

We B3 + Lee

Organist, pianist & composer, Michael Lamkin is from the Boston area via Miami. During his time in Miami, he studied with Red Norvo's pianist, Walter Cirillo, and led a number of trios and quintets. He has performed with multi-horn man Ira Sullivan and altoist Jay Corre of the Buddy Rich band.   He relocated to Los Angeles for various studio sessions before returning to the northeast and settling in the Capital Area.

Michael has appeared on WAMC radio's "Dancing on the Air" and WGY radio’s Don Weeks program. Recorded airplay has included WHRL-FM, WABY, WGY, WRPI as well as several other stations nationally. He has performed on Alan Chartock's "See, Hear" television program on WNYT Channel 13 as a solo pianist and with his jazz organ trio. Recording credits include LA studio work and a CD with Caribe Mambo that received a favorable revue in Jazz Times magazine for his composition "Tarqui's Tune."

Guitarist-composer Joe Finn was heralded as “... a bold new voice on jazz guitar” by Cadence Magazine in 1991 and has gone on to record a series of five critically acclaimed albums as a leader. He was the recipient of the BET Network’s Jazz Discovery Showcase award in the jazz instrumental category in 1998. He was featured at The Great American Guitar Show in 2005 along with artists including Jimmy Bruno, Jack Wilkins, and John Pizzareli. 

Joe has played throughout the United States and Canada in a variety of  settings from solo guitar to big band.

Cliff Brucker, drummer-percussionist, pianist,  composer, arranger and educator. Cliff has a B.M. in music from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a M.S. in music from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY.

Cliff has been performing as a professional musician for over 40 years. As a well-respected musician by his peers, Cliff has worked with some of the Capital District's finest talent including the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Capital Region Wind Ensemble, and the Empire Jazz Orchestra. Cliff has also performed with a variety of internationally known jazz and pop artists including Aretha Franklin, Buddy Greco and Stephen Pollock.

He is an award-winning composer and producer of advertising jingles and multimedia production. His credits include Avis, National Hobby, and is the music behind New York State’s “C.S.E.A. We’re your Work Force!”

Cliff is a member of the music faculty at The College of Saint Rose and Schenectady County Community College. Cliff is an experienced lecturer in the fields of classical, jazz and rock music in addition to teaching theory, history, methods and ensemble classes.

Lee Russo is a freelance saxophonist. He was inspired by his father, Leo Russo ,who is also a saxophonist and a longtime Albany legend. Immediately following high school, Lee started his undergraduate studies at The College of Saint Rose. It was there that he began studying saxophone from Paul Evoskevich and later began improvisation lessons from guitarist Jack Fragomeni He later transferred to The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.
 
He teaches at Guilderland High School in Guilderland Center, where he currently directs two jazz ensembles and concert band. He also teaches woodwind lessons and music technology.