Bryan and the Aardvarks is a band featuring all original compositions. Their sound is very personal and unique, drawing inspiration from jazz, modern cinema, folk, and Americana. They are comprised of some of New York's finest young jazz musicians: Vibraphonist Chris Dingman, is one of the most sought-after vibraphonists of his generation. Dingman draws inspiration and meaning from a diverse set of musical sources, uniting them in a progressive approach that has earned him praise for his “poignant work” (David Sprague, Variety), his “adaptive humility” (Nate Chinen, NY Times), and as “downright hypnotic” (John Barron, All About Jazz). His recent work as a sideman can be heard on Ambrose Akinmusire’s Prelude to Cora (Fresh Sound/New Talent), Steve Lehman’s Travail, Transformation, and Flow (Pi Recordings) and Harris Eisenstadt’s Canada Day (Clean Feed), among other recordings. He is also featured as a guest soloist on Gabriela Anders's Bossa Beleza (E1 Music/Koch Records). For these achievements, he was named a Rising Star on vibes in the 2009 Downbeat Critics Poll, and in two recent years Jazz Journalist Association member Phil DiPietro has acknowledged him for top ten sideman performances of the year. A graduate of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, he has performed and studied extensively with many of the world’s greatest jazz musicians, including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Marcus Miller, and Terence Blanchard. Pianist Fabian Almazan, for the past two years, has been the pianist for Terence Blanchard’s quintet and has toured the U.S., South America, Asia and Europe with the group. In 2002 Fabian was selected for the piano chair in the National 2002 Grammy High School Jazz Combo. The following year, Almazan won the piano chair for the newly up and running Brubeck Institute fellowship program based in northern California where he studied with Mark Levine and performed with Dave Brubeck and Christian McBride. In 2003, Fabian moved to New York City to study with Kenny Barron at the Manhattan School of Music. In the spring of 2009 Fabian Almazan received a master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music, selected as a recipient of the Michael W. Greene Scholarship, studying privately with Jason Moran. Most recently Fabian Almazan was selected as the winner of the Cuban arts organization The Cintas Foundation’s 2010 Brandon Fradd Award in Music Composition. Fabian can be heard on Terence Blanchard’s new album “Choices” under the Concord Label. Almazan has had the opportunity to perform with such artists as Gretchen Parlato, Paquito D’Rivera, Kendrick Scott Oracle, Bilal, Kurt Elling and Ambrose Akinmusire among others. Drummer Joe Nero, a recent graduate of Manhattan School of Music, learned to play the drums at a very early age. His style is a wonderful reflection that emits emotions of sensitivity and grace. He attended the prestigious Henry Mancini Institute in 2005 and performed with Quincy Jones, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Gruisin, Patti Austin and Doc Severinsen. Joe has enjoyed performing in a wide variety of contexts: the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, jazz clubs with icons like Jimmy Bruno and Eric Alexander, Broadway and off-Broadways shows, and with many singer-songwriters around Manhattan. Upright Bassist, band leader and composer Bryan Copeland relies on his Texas roots to shape the hearland style of the group. He lived his more formative years in Austin, Tx. where he grew up performing a wide variety of styles ranging from jazz, classical, country, folk, hip-hop, and just about everything under the sun. He has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to perform at the Montreux, Jazz A Juan in Antibes, Vienne, and Lyon jazz festivals. He currently performs with the rising pop singer Ashley Arrison, and anti-folk star, Toby Goodshank (Moldy Peaches). He began studying the bass with world renowned classical bassist Satoshi Okamoto. (New York Philharmonic)