California with unique voices on alto saxophone, soprano
saxophone, and flute. She attended University of California,
San Diego and graduated with honors in June 2001 with her
B.A. in Music Composition. Dia later went on to attend
UMass, Amherst and graduated in May 2005 with her M.M.
in Music Composition. During her musical career, she has
studied with George Lewis, Anthony Davis, Adam Kolker
and Marty Ehrlich, among others. Since relocating to the
Western Massachusetts area in 2002, she has been a
member of a number of ensembles including the jazz/funk
project Outer Orbits, the Vermont Jazz Center Big Band, the
Amherst Jazz Orchestra, and the Latin Jazz ensemble
Cidade. She frequently performs as a sideperson with local
musicians as well as co-leading and composing for the
Reincarnation project.
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studied saxophone and improvisational theory with NY saxophonist Adam Kolker until
2001. In 2002 he began working within the emerging scene of Westfield, MA musicians.
This included sessions with guitarist Ryan Jalbert, a trio w/ bassist Paul Chase and
drummer Bill Chapman spanning two years (eventually a quartet with altoist Bryan
McNamara), and the formation of the long standing band the Jason Schwartz Project. This
band still performs extensively throughout New England with Jason Schwartz joined by
Rick on saxophone, Ben Kohn on piano, and drummer Tom Parker. Rick has since worked
as a freelance improviser with the bands Outer Orbits, Iron City, and The Caravan
(w/organist Rob Shelton, vocalist Leah Rondazzo, and drummer Josh Korr). Other current
projects include the Prescription, the Joe Green Ensemble, and the Interplay Jazz Band
w/guitarist John Michaels, bassist Mark Dunlap, and drummer Makaya McCraven. In 2005
Rick Tutunjian began co-leading the band Reincarnation with Dia Silverstein, both
contributing unique compositions alongside composers Jason Schwartz, Ben Kohn, and
Bill Chapman, providing new musical canvases for improvisation.
at such venues as Café 880 Jazz, Hartford’s oldest and most prestigious jazz club, blues club
Black Eyed Sally’s, jazz club Szechuan Tokyo, the Bayou and Blues Festival in New York,
and the Monticello Gaming Resort in New York. Jason has performed with clarinetist Perry
Robinson, the legendary pianist Warren Byrd, reedist Ted Levine, trombonist Tim Atherton,
trumpeter Saskia Laroo, and vocalists Mary Taylor and Tomaca Govan. Jason began
playing music at the age of 10, studying clarinet and eventually bass clarinet. His affinity for
low-register instruments led him first to the electric bass and then to the upright. Jason is
also a skilled composer, and graduated from Westfield State College in Massachusetts with
degrees in both composition and jazz studies. He has learned primarily from composer Dr.
Andrew Bonacci, jazz artist Ted Levine, bassists Dave Shapiro and Dr. Alexander
Pershounin, and pianist/arranger Jim Argiro. Jason has also been a student of jazz giant
Michael Formanek. The Jason Schwartz Project’s debut album Green Horizon (2004)
showcases the group’s lyricism with a nod to jazz in the traditional style, and features his
original compositions.
from an early age and began playing the piano when he was five years old. He studied
at Westfield State College and Berklee College of Music in Boston. After several years
of honing his talents in New York City, Ben returned to Western Massachusetts in 2004
as a masterful musician and has since been a leader in the resurging jazz scene of the
Berkshires, alongside young contemporaries Bill Chapman, bassist Dave Christopolis,
and drummer Connor Meehan to name a few. He is in great demand and has been
seen in clubs from the legendary 880 in Hartford to Club Helsinki and Castle St. Café in
Great Barrington. In 2006 Ben’s musical career continued to flourish locally as it also
expanded overseas to Ireland for a series of performances. In recent years Ben has
begun to turn his attention to composition as well, with several of his works appearing
on the Reincarnation release Joy and Sorrow.
addition to leading a quartet of his own in the Pittsfield, MA area. For a decade now
Bill has been one of the most in-demand drummers in Western Massachusetts. He
has performed extensively with Rick, Jason, and Ben in a number of different settings
both locally and regionally for the better part of a decade. He has shared the stage
with such musicians as Paul Chase, Bob Ferrier, Tim Atherton, Ted Levine, Steve
Murray, and Geoff Vidal. Bill has also performed throughout the Northeast with
national acts such as comedian Bob Newhart, the Empire Brass, the Nelson Riddle
Orchestra (Frank Sinatra’s Band), and the Rat Pack impersonators from Las Vegas.
Bill has studied with Peter Coutsouridis and Claire Araneus, and has taken part in
workshops with Dr. Billy Taylor, Chip Jackson, and Winard Harper. He teaches
instrumental music at Taconic High School and Reid Middle School in Pittsfield, MA
where he directs a number of ensembles in different musical genres. In addition, he
teaches private drum set lessons. He holds a B.A. from Westfield State College and
is currently working towards his Master’s Degree.
