<h2>Mark Diamond - Bassist</h2>Mark Diamond’s deep, grooving acoustic bass sound has its roots in the New York area, where he mastered an array of musical styles. In 1980, he moved to Colorado with the band Arabesque and quickly became a sought-after sideman, contributing to over 100 albums, including those of Grammy-winner Tim O’Brien, Mollie O’Brien, Sally Taylor, James Van Buren with Richie Cole, Keith Oxman, Mary Flower, and Mary Ann Moore. Mark’s talent has taken him from performances for luminaries, including President Bill Clinton, to tours across Europe and regular appearances at festivals and clubs nationwide. He has collaborated with legendary artists such as Earl Klugh, Nnenna Freelon, Spike Robinson, Richie Cole, James Moody, Ernestine Anderson, Ben Sidran, Peter Rowan, Kenny Loggins, Henry Butler, Fred Wesley, Buddy Tate, Bruno Carr, Eddie Kirkland, Mark Hummel, and New York jazz vocalists Allan Harris and Tom Lellis. Mark has also opened for renowned acts like B.B. King, Kenny Rogers, Wilson Pickett, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, and Junior Wells. Known for his dedication, versatility, and warm personality, Mark consistently brings top-quality music to every setting, enriching the experience for all who listen.<h2>Vlad Girshevich</h2>Like many other amazing musicians, Vlad Girshevich, showed musical aptitude at an early age. At 4 years old, he started playing piano, and by age 7 he had already taught himself to play pop songs with both hands! His mother recognized his gift and took him to audition at The Uspenski School of Music. He was accepted to this prestigious school which has turned out many famous musicians including Aleksey Sultanov. Fortunately, the school was in his home town of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Vlad spent 11 blistering years there, studying classical music. When he started experimenting with jazz in the 11th grade, his instructors gave him a hard time for being too creative with “free” interpretation!After Uspenski, Vlad spent 2 years at the Tashkent State Conservatory, and then his family emigrated to the United States in the mid-90’s. His first gigs were in Boulder with the Nina Storey Band. Then he moved to Aspen and had a regular gig at The Little Nell Hotel for 5 years. While in Aspen, Herbie Hancock heard Vlad playing at an event and subsequently invited him to participate in the Thelonious Monk Institute at Jazz Aspen/Snowmass.Vlad has lived in Denver since, where he has been involved in numerous projects, in town with AOA, 5 Points Jazz Festival and out of town with The Santa Fe Jazz Festival, Vail Jazz Festival,Windham Chamber Festival, and Rostov-on- Don Jazz Festival…to name just a few. He has performed with Bob Berg, Stanley Jordan, Ernie Watts, Karen Briggs, and while at the Thelonious Monk Institute, Vlad played with Jerry Gonzales, Arturo Sandoval, and legendary drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez.Vlad’s composition “Tomorrow” has been named a Top 5 finalist in the 2012 Great American Song Contest (instrumental category) and also received Honorable Mention in The International Songwriting Competition (instrumental category). He and his son, Aleks Girshevich, the drummer, recorded this last year in an album of the same name, when Aleks was just 10 years old!! It has been said that The Aleks Girshevich Piano Trio “evokes an atmosphere reminiscent of classical chamber music; there is colorful intimacy, artful phrasing and careful attention to texture and nuance….Vlad’s phenomenal piano artistry is in constant conversation with David Arend’s innovative double bass work, and Aleks ties it together with prodigious skill and a multi-layered rhythmic concept”.Bass Players United called Vlad a “thrilling and adventurous talent”. Vlad is much sought-after as a soloist, as well as for his work with jazz trios and quartets.