Musical Style: Jazz, original, funk<h2>Tom Amend</h2>Tom Amend is a multi instrumentalist, composer, and artist living in Denver, Colorado. Tom performs throughout the Rocky Mountain Region in various settings as both a leader and a sideman. He has performed and or recorded with Colorado based artists: Gabriel Mervine, Eric Benny Bloom (Lettuce), Adam Deitch (Lettuce/Adam Deitch Quartet), Taylor Scott, Dominic Lalli (Big Gigantic), Eddie Roberts (New Mastersounds), The Burroughs, The Honky Tonk Express, Paul Romaine, Ken Walker, Dave Devine, Greg Gisbert, Steve Kovalcheck, among many others. Tom has also shared the stage with, Jeff Hamilton, Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Julia Dollison, Joey DeFrancesco, Louis Hayes, Dave Liebman, Pat Bergeson, Sheila Jordan, and others.Tom’s playing and writing can be heard throughout his discography. His 2019 release, “Frontier Justice” is a swinging album of original music for organ trio that features Steve Kovalcheck and Jeff Hamilton. His 2021 Octet release, “Heliotrope” features a host of Colorado’s finest improvisers playing exciting original music spanning many genres.Amend received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and a Masters of Music in Jazz Composition at the University of Northern Colorado. Through his association with UNC, Tom has performed with nationally recognized UNC Lab I, UNC Vanguard Combo, and Vocal Lab. Tom has taught jazz piano and music technology courses at the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, The University of Wyoming, and CCJA (Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts). He currently teaches out of his studio (Yellow Bench Studios). The Tom Amend Octet sophomore release, “Yellow Bench” is now available!<h2>Maximillian Moore</h2>Pianist and composer Maximillian Moore has toured all over the U.S. with renowned Ghanaian drummer Paa Kow and inventive contemporary ensemble DARUMA. He has been recognized as a promising talent by Wynton Marsalis, and has shared the stage with Grammy-nominated musicians Veronica Swift, Shane Endsley of Kneebody, Jeremy Pelt, and Adam DeitchAs a composer, he has received commissions from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, his music has been featured at the Vail Jazz Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, and has appeared in Downbeat Magazine.Max studied jazz composition and performance at the New School with Hal Galper and former Art Blakey Jazz Messenger, David Schnitter.