Altin Sencalar Quintet

Altin Sencalar is a California-born, Texas-raised, New York-based trombonist, composer, and educator. A Yamaha Performing Artist and Posi-Tone Records artist, Sencalar is both a commanding bandleader and a sought-after sideman. His wide-ranging résumé includes performances with jazz luminaries such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Rodney Whitaker, David Sanborn, and Michael Bublé, as well as Motown legends the Temptations and the Four Tops. Drawing on his Mexican and Turkish heritage, Sencalar infuses contemporary jazz with folkloric traditions from both cultures. The result is a sound that is deeply personal, sharply focused, and globally resonant. The International Trombone Association Journal praised Sencalar for his “brilliance in sound with crystal-clear articulations and impressive control of the wide possibilities of the instrument.” All About Jazz described his tone as “full-bodied, weighty, and expansive,” adding that “Sencalar’s improvisations are rich in detail, balancing in-the-moment discoveries and adherence to the demands of the material.” In a four-star review of his 2025 album Unleashed, DownBeat’s Ted Panken called him “a crushingly strong player, whether gobbling changes at high velocities or portraying emotional vulnerability.” Born in 1994 in Fremont, California, and raised in Temple, Texas, Sencalar picked up the trombone at age 11. He began his studies at Texas State University, where he studied euphonium and trombone under Austin jazz stalwart Freddie Mendoza. Though initially more focused on euphonium, a bootleg recording of Maynard Ferguson sparked a turning point — at 16, he committed fully to trombone. Early mentors included trombonist Elliott Mason and trumpeter Marcus Printup. In 2014, Sencalar transferred to the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Andre Hayward — lead trombonist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He toured internationally as a soloist with the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra, performing at the Montreux and North Sea jazz festivals, and the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. During his time in Austin, Sencalar became embedded in the city’s demanding gig culture, performing as many as five nights a week. He led his own groups and earned accolades in major competitions — including the American Trombone Workshop, the National Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition, and the International Jazz Trombone Competition. Later that year, he met acclaimed trombonist Michael Dease, who invited him to audition for Michigan State University. Accepted into the program, Sencalar soon became Dease’s teaching assistant — a pivotal step into the professional jazz world. He went on to perform with Christian McBride’s big band and tour with the official lineups of the Temptations and the Four Tops. Sencalar released his debut, Introducing Altin Sencalar, in 2017. He followed with Realization (2020), co-led with tubist Chris Glassman; Reconnected (2021), a chordless trio session; and Live at Monks Jazz EP (2022), a self-released concert document featuring trumpeter Dr. Adrian Ruiz, saxophonists Gene Centeno, Elias Haslanger, and Eric Hargett, pianist Damian Garcia, bassist Daniel Foose, and drummer Adam Jackson. At a crossroads between a tenure-track position in Texas or moving to New York, Sencalar chose the latter. Within hours of signing his lease, he got the call to tour with Michael Bublé — joining a horn section composed largely of fellow Michigan State alumni. After seven months on the road, he signed with Posi-Tone Records and released his label debut, In Good Standing (2023), featuring saxophonist Diego Rivera, multi-reedist Patrick Cornelius, pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Boris Kozlov, and drummer Rudy Royston. Several of those players returned for his follow-up, Discover the Present (2024), joined by trombonist Michael Dease, alto and soprano saxophonist Markus Howell, trumpeter Anthony Hervey, bassist Raul Reyes Bueno, and percussionist Pete Rodríguez. His DownBeat-hailed 2025 release, Unleashed, featured a fresh cast: tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Greg Tardy, multi-reedist Bruce Williams, vibraphonist Behn Gillece, Kozlov on bass, and E.J. Strickland on drums. At the top of his thirties, Sencalar is now a new parent, a devoted dog lover, and an artist driven by vision and conviction — constantly moving forward in music and in life. “Consistency, awareness, and intention,” he says. “That’s what I live my life by in everything that I do.”- This artist does not have a bio yet. William Hill III is a pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader based in New York City hailing from Detroit, Michigan. Hill is a graduate of the Detroit School of Arts (Class of 2022) and a recent graduate of Manhattan School of Music with a bachelors of music degree (Class of 2026). He will continue his education in the fall as a graduate student at The Juilliard School (Class of 2028). Hill has participated in esteemed jazz programs such as Jazz House Kids, Jr. Jazz Academy at Lincoln Center, Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Keeping an Eye Summer Jazz Workshop. He has earned accolades from the National YoungArts Foundation, NAACP ACT-SO National Competition, and the West Virginia University International Jazz Piano Competition. He has worked with and been mentored by renowned artists, including Marc Cary, Jazzmeia Horn, Christian McBride, Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Joe Farnsworth, Buster Williams, and many others. His performances as a headliner and sideman span major venues such as the Detroit Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow Jazz Club, Minton’s Playhouse, the Kennedy Center, Blue Note Tokyo, and Esplande-Theatres on the Bay, Singapore . Hill recently recorded and released his sophmore album, “Keep it Movin’” in summer of 2025. Through his music, Hill strives to spread joy and inspire audiences worldwide. Soviet born moscovite bassist moved to NYC 25years ago and after a while started serving as an Arranger and Musical Director for Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and The Orchestra, as well as leading his own projects. He has been a first-call bassist for : The Manhattan Transfer, Michael Brecker, John Blake, Ray Barretto's 'New World Spirit', Lew Tabackin, David Kikoski, Alex Sipiagin, Eddie Palmieri-Bryan Lynch 'Simpatico' and many others. Kozlov is on more than160 albums, 8 of his big band scores published by Hal Leonards. He also performs solo bass and teaches master classes around the world following the release of his acoustic solo album "Double Standard". His latest trio release on CrissCross ‘Conversations At The Well’ is out in 2016. 2 x Grammy Award winner. “Kozlov is one of the anchors of modern jazz” Todd Barkan “ The sophistication and harmonic sense I wish I could have in my next live” Anthony Jackson " Swung harder than anything else will this year" Chicago Tribune Originally from Greece, Gary Kerkezou has become one of the most in-demand young drummers in New York. Performing nightly at world-class jazz clubs like the Blue Note, Birdland, Dizzy’s Club, Cafe Bohemia, the Django, Smalls, Bar Bayeux, Mezzrow, Cellar Dog, Minton’s Playhouse and Ornithology, she quickly built a reputation for herself as an extraordinary musician. She has collaborated with stellar names in the jazz world (Christian McBride, Regina Carter, Michael Dease, Bill Pierce, Javon Jackson, Eric Alexander, Geoff Keezer, Troy Roberts, Pasquale Grasso, Cyrus Chestnut, Lage Lund, Grant Stewart, David Wong, Jeb Patton, Adam Birnbaum, Yasushi Nakamura, and others) and has recorded multiple albums as a sideman. In addition to a busy performing schedule, she is a committed and passionate educator, serving as an instructor at Jazz House Kids—one of the most respected and successful jazz education programs in the country according to JazzTimes—and performing with two of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s educational initiatives, WeBop and Jazz for Young People. She has also led masterclasses at some of the nation’s top jazz programs, including the NYC All-City Jazz Band, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and KC Area Youth Jazz, as well as at multiple public schools across the city. Most recently, she was named a 2024–2025 Mentor Fellow at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, where she mentors young musicians and collaborates with faculty and visiting artists. Moving to USA 9 years ago to study, she got her undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music where she was accepted with multiple scholarships and afterwards enrolled in Manhattan School of Music with an almost full ride to get her Masters in Music degree. Raised in a family of professional musicians, she also has a Diploma on classical violin from her home country and has been performing as a violinist since she was a child, with orchestras, smaller ensembles and as a session musician, and artists like Lalah Hathaway, Jacob Collier, Vince Mendoza, Christopher Brubeck, AJR, Ivy Queen, Yandel, and Patrick Doyle.