Your Host for the Evening
Roy McCurdy

Roy McCurdy is a living legend, having worked with some of the greatest artists in jazz including
Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Nancy Wilson, Art Farmer, and Benny Golson. Roy is a
devoted teacher on the faculty of the Thornton School of Music at USC and the Pasadena
School of Music.

Introducing Our Performers


Lanny Hartley – Piano	Rahn Coleman – Piano	Masta Edwards – Vocals
Lanny Hartley is a jazz pianist, conductor and composer who began his career as the pianist for his church in Burlington, New Jersey. With a solid gospel music background, he went on to study Music Education at Indiana University. Jazz piano became his love, and he performed with such great jazz artists as Wes Alexandra, Ernie Andes, Jon Hendricks, Lou Rawls, Linda Hopkins, and Ernestine Anderson. Lanny has also played for such Pop Artists as Thelma Houston, The Fifth Dimension, Joe Tex, Syreeta Wright, Al Wilson, and David Clayton Thomas. He has been the Musical Conductor/Director for such shows as Ain’t Misbehavin’: Tracks (Yolanda King); The Late Great Ladies of Blues and Jazz (Sandra Reeves): The Della Reese Musical Tour; and “Dinah Was” (New York, Los Angeles, and Williamstown).	As a Musical Director, Conductor, Pianist, Vocal Instrumental Performance Specialist, Producer, and Arranger, Rahn’s depth, passion and artistry are rarely matched in the areas of musical direction, piano and professional performance coaching. He has served as musical director, conductor, and pianist for Purlie, The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin, Ray (Charles), Play On, Sammy (Davis), and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few. A product of extensive classical training, he has over thirty years professional experience having performed, conducted, arranged and coached fornotables such as Aretha Franklin, Michael Feinstein, Gladys Knight, The Temptations, Tina Turner, Sarah Vaughn, The Philadelphia Philharmonic and The Clinton Presidential Inaugural Orchestra. Hailed as one of the most effective performance coaches in the world, he has also shared his artistic gifts through service as Minister of Music at the Christ the King and Faith Lutheran churches in Southern California.	Born in Virginia and raised in Queens, New York, Masta Edge of Soul (Masta Edwards) is a dynamic singer, songwriter, and bandleader who has been a staple of the Los Angeles music scene since 1975. Renowned for his impressive vocal range and high-energy fusion of soul, hip- hop, R&B, and electronic music, he fronts the powerhouse group Masta and The Edge Of Soul. His unique sound is shaped by a diverse palette of influences ranging from James Brown to Frank Sinatra. Over a prolific four-decade career, Masta has collaborated with icons such as Seal, Thelma Houston, and Keb 'Mo', and in 2022, he joined the California-based lineup of the legendary Motown group Sly, Slick, & Wicked. Beyond the stage, he continues to shape the industry as a dedicated mentor and teacher, cementing his legacy as a versatile force in contemporary music.


Karen Evans – Vocals	Hilliard Wilson – Bass
Karen Evans, a native Californian, has been singing most of her life. She loves all types of music with jazz being her favorite! She started her professional career in 1981-82 touring with her good friend Patrice Rushen, with whom she wrote the song "Remind Me". In 1992 she sang with Barry White in Belgium. The ultimate tour came in 1996 when she started singing with the late great "Genius of Soul" Mr. Ray Charles! She toured with Ray until his death in 2004 as one of the last five Raelettes! She's currently a choir director at Understanding Principles for Better Living Church, or UP Church, where the late Rev. Dr. Della Reese Lett was the founding minister.	Hilliard Wilson is one of the best-kept secrets in the music industry. He is versatile in jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, country and western, urban contemporary, popular and original. Though his style covers the spectrum of musical genres, it is always delivered with a common element – an underlying chord of gospel – which was influenced by his mother’s teachings at The City of Refuge Tabernacle, Inc. in his native home of Denver, Colorado. Hilliard has shared his colorful and intriguing sound with music lovers throughout the United States, the Orient, South America, and Europe. He has played on bills with the Beach Boys, Santana, LL Cool J, SWV, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, H Town Boys, Naughty by Nature, Fleetwood Mac, Jade, Shai, Silk, Zapp, Brian McKnight, Gladys Knight, and Onyx.

Two Fats From Harlem to New Orleans Waller & Domino