Pandemic Relief Music Award
To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, PathologyOutlines.com is giving back to some of those suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting select classical and jazz musicians each month on our website and with a cash stipend. The award recipients are listed below.
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January 2022 Recipients: Honorable Mentions
December 2021 Recipient: Seth Ebersole
November 2021 Recipient: Grayson Nye
October 2021 Recipient: Planet D Nonet
September 2021 Recipient: Em and Em Duo
August 2021 Recipient: Jane K (Evgeniya Kozhevnikova)
July 2021 Recipient: Nicholas Martin
June 2021 Recipient: Quartet Granitique
May 2021 Recipient: Kanola Band
April 2021 Recipient: Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra
March 2021 Recipient: Six Mile Strings
February 2021 Recipient: Westbound Situation
January 2022 Recipients: Honorable Mentions
For the final month of the music award, we are recognizing these applicants as honorable mentions. Information about each individual can be found at their websites listed below. The honorable mentions for the music award are:
• Andrew W. Saliba | Website
• Kennedy Taylor Dixon | Website
• Murphy Combs | YouTube
• Room 1078 | Website
• Stratøs | Website
Andrew Saliba - Sweet Sleep Suite III: Flying Dreams
Kennedy Taylor Dixon - pretty on paper
Murphy Combs - Schubert Arpeggione Sonata, Mvt 1
Room 1078 - Entr'acte
Stratøs - Strength Absolute
December 2021 Recipient: Seth Ebersole
Seth comes from Amish country in Southeast Pennsylvania. He has performed as a bandleader and sideman at such venues as Cliff Bells, the Detroit Jazz Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival, Lansing Jazz Festival, Flint Jazz Festival, and Merrimans Playhouse. He has appeared and recorded with such artists as Etienne Charles, Terell Stafford, and Justin Lee-Schultz. In April of 2018, Seth released his debut record “Sometimes I’m Happy” featuring performances from Rodney Whitaker, Diego Rivera, and Randy Napoleon. The next year, he premiered “In Absentia,” a suite of original music with a tour through the midwest culminating in a live recording session at the Robin Theatre in Lansing. He is currently working on his followup record, “Dear Emily” to be recorded in late 2021.
Seth serves as the Jazz Woodwind Faculty at the Kalamazoo Jazz & Creative Institute and previously served as Jazz Artist in Residence at Saginaw Valley State University. He holds a Masters in Jazz Studies from the prestigious Michigan State University College of Music and is an Endorsing Artist for Selmer Paris Saxophones. Seth resides in Lansing and continues to perform regionally and nationally.
Stella By Starlight
Little Sapling
Cap'n Kirk
For more music, check out his YouTube channel!
November 2021 Recipient: Grayson Nye
Grayson Nye is one of the most up and coming keyboardists in the Michigan music scene. Coming from a diverse musical background, Grayson’s skills allow him to fit in any genre, from classical to jazz, R&B to hip-hop, or folk to indie. All of these styles are reflected in his compositions as well as his playing. His playing style combines the lyricism of Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau, the emotion of Bill Evans and Paul Bley and the energy of Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk. Grayson received both his Bachelor’s and Masters degree from Western Michigan University where he majored in Jazz Studies, studying with Jeremy Siskind, Matthew Fries, Andrew Rathbun, John Hebert, and Edward Simon.
Currently, Grayson resides in Kalamazoo, MI where he has joined the Last Gasp Collective as well as Fake Baseball. He continues to teach and coach ensembles through the Jazz & Creative Institute while furthering his efforts in composing, producing, and performing.
Faith Quashi & Grayson Nye | The Mill at Vicksburg
The Momentary and the Eternal - Grayson Nye
For more music, check out his SoundCloud and explore past musical collaborations here!
October 2021 Recipient: Planet D Nonet
The Planet D Nonet is Detroit's 9 time Detroit Music Award winning swing band. The PD9 performs Harlem Jive by Fats Waller, swing era tunes by Duke Ellington, Benny Moten, Count Basie and Fletcher Henderson as well as the jumpin' jive of Louis Jordan. Cofounded by RJ Spangler & James O'Donnell in 2007, this band is about to celebrate 15 years of bringing swing music to SE Michigan listeners and swing dancers. In that time the band has performed in 10 states including some memorable gigs in New Orleans. In addition to the vocals of trumpeter James O'Donnell, the band also features the vocals of trombonist John "Tbone" Paxton and often featured artist Camille Price.
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' - Planet D Nonet featuring T-Bone Paxton
Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' - Planet D Nonet
Check out their Bandcamp and YouTube for more music!
September 2021 Recipient: Em and Em Duo
Em & Em is an acoustic duo that performs a large variety of styles including jazz, folk, and pop. Emilio and Emma met during their undergrad at Cal State Long Beach. Since forming Em & Em Duo in 2016, they’ve performed at many venues around Los Angeles and Orange County. They released their first acoustic album of originals, "Take Our Time," in 2019 and released their second album, "You Are" with a full band in May of 2021. They believe in playing and writing music that moves them, and sending a message of strong community relationships.
The last year has brought a lot of change for both of them with Emma moving to Michigan to start a graduate degree in jazz voice at Western Michigan University, and Emilio starting a family in LA. They continue to compose and collaborate together from across the country, including their 2021 album that was recorded and produced completely remotely.
Em & Em Duo - Wild Child
Em & Em Duo - I'm Good
Check out their YouTube and Spotify for more music!
August 2021 Recipient: Jane K (Evgeniya Kozhevnikova)
Jane K (Evgeniya Kozhevnikova) is a composer, pianist, and educator. Her works have been performed at regional, national, and international level music events. She has been working as a composer and a musician in theatres, performing original music with her jazz band, and teaching piano. Jane composes in various styles and genres, from classical to jazz and tango, tastefully blending them. In 2020, she released a jazz-tango album Tango Avenue with her original works.
In 2019, Jane received a DownBeat Magazine Outstanding Performance award in the Latin jazz category with her original jazz-tango compositions. In 2019, she became one of the winners of the "Music Now" contest, a part of Indiana State University Contemporary Music Festival. Jane became a runner-up at the University of North Carolina Greensboro Call for Scores and Competition. Her choral works were awarded the 1st Prize and a Special Prize at 2020 International Composers’ Competition Opus Ignotum (Czech Republic).
Jane holds her master’s degree in Music Composition from Western Michigan University. She is currently finishing her second master’s degree in Jazz Performance at WMU.
Cause I Ain't Sugar - WMU Jazz Orchestra
Check out her Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube for more music!
July 2021 Recipient: Nicholas Martin
Nicholas Martin is a Michigan based musician — guitarist, singer, arranger, composer — who performs solo and collaborative projects. He is the winner of several awards and competitions including SFCM's Guitar Concerto Competition and ICCA's Best Arrangement award.
An avid and talented arranger, Nicholas was recently commissioned by the Guitar Foundation of America's Mentorship Program to arrange a piece for a mentee to be published in a compilation of guitar music by BIPOC composers. He seeks to produce, commission and arrange new American music for guitar.
Nicholas loves the color blue, Mozart’s Symphony 29, college football, Bach circle progressions and the sound of a pedal steel guitar.
Suite No. 5 in Popular Style: V. Gently Flowing
The Volterra Project Laureates 2018: Alfonsina y el Mar
Check out his YouTube page for more music!
June 2021 Recipient: Quartet Granitique
Formed at the University of Michigan in 2018, Quartet Granitique is composed of violinist Ivan Suminski, cellist Hanna Rumora, clarinetist Leo Kim, and pianist Yuting Ma. Taking their name from a marking in Messiaen’s "Danse de la fureur, pour les sept trompettes" from "Quatuor pour la fin du temps", Quartet Granitique strives to bring together old and new by presenting standard works by composers such as Messiaen and Adès and by lesser-known composers such as Walter Rabl, alongside newly-written pieces by living composers like Jules Pegram.
Past performances include playing for Kerrytown Concert House’s "Mad About Chamber Music Series", as well as performing for live TV broadcast at the Bloomfield Hills Library’s chamber music series. Additionally, the quartet was awarded second place in the 2021 MTNA String Chamber Music Competition, and was a finalist for the 2019 Briggs Chamber Music Competition at the University of Michigan. Quartet Granitique has performed in masterclasses for Nico Muhly and Timothy McAllister; their coaches include Amy Cheng, Matt Albert, Willam King, and Andrew Jennings.
Walter Rabl: Quartet in E flat major
Jules Pegram: REFRACTION (2012)
Check out their YouTube page for more music!
May 2021 Recipient: Kanola Band
Kanola Band brings together some of the most experienced and diverse musicians in the midwest US jazz scene to pay tribute to the great music and heritage of New Orleans. Dipping into the city's diverse musical history including traditional Dixieland, groovin' zydeco, soulful funk to blasting brass band second lines, audiences of all ages will leave feeling just a bit happier than when they came. Bring your dancing shoes, leave your worries behind and be ready for some fun, because Kanola Band is always a good time!
Kanola members have performed at some of the most prestigious international music venues and have recorded and toured with top jazz musicians / bands on the scene. In addition to performing, they are also passionate music educators who have held teaching positions at various universities and colleges. Their unique and engaging approach to performing will leave all ages of audiences grooving in their seat or dancing in the aisle while learning about jazz, improvisation and music history, alongside the rich history and music of New Orleans.
Bourbon Street Parade - Kanola Band
Check out their YouTube page for more music and follow them on Facebook to stay in the loop about upcoming events!
April 2021 Recipient: Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra
The Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra is an award winning jazz group of 19 of Detroit's best jazz musicians. The group has been together for 21 years, playing jazz festivals, clubs and concerts at their home base, Cliff Bells. Their first album, Brush Fire, was released to high acclaim, winning two Detroit Music Awards for best modern jazz group and best jazz album. Their last record, Mulgrew-ology climbed to #32 in the national jazz charts and won Detroit Music Awards for best jazz album, best jazz group and best jazz composer (Gwinnell). The group thrives on presenting artistically relevant jazz arrangements and compositions in a big band format.
Nature Boy - Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra with Motor City Symphony Orchestra
Mulgrew-ology
Brush Fire
Check out their Listening Room for more music!
March 2021 Recipient: Six Mile Strings
Six Mile Strings is a string quartet of friends (Yuri Popowycz, Natalie Frakes, Alycia Wilder and Tom Sullivan) who focus on performing classical and contemporary works. They aim to expand the scope and artistry of the traditional string quartet by working with artists of many genres and across disciplines. They have worked with a number of Detroit-based artists spanning different genres including Greater Alexander, De'Sean Jones, Michael Malis, Madelyn Grant, Mario Sulaksana, Drew Schultz and more.
Projects in-the-works include an anthology of pieces composed by friends during quarantine, recording sessions with CASHFORGOLD and Anti-Philosophy, a live-streamed concert at Ste. Anne de Detroit, collaborating with Wayne State's art department to set illustration to an original piece and concert planning for premieres of pieces with Eisenhower Dance Detroit.
Beyond the concert stage, all four musicians are social activists and educators and the quartet works to catalyze generative conversations that support the reinvention and reimagining of the classical string quartet through unique performance and active community engagement.
Six Mile Strings - Marc Mellits String Quartet No. 5: Waniyetu
Follow 6MS on Instagram to stay updated on their projects! More music can also be found on their YouTube channel.
February 2021 Recipient: Westbound Situation
Westbound Situation blends the precision of classical chamber music, the rhythmic drive of bluegrass and the colorful expression of jazz into a new style of chamber music—chambergrass. The quartet—comprised of Grant Flick on violin, Jake Howard on mandolin, Zach Brown on cello and Jacob Warren on bass—mixes composition and improvisation seamlessly into their entirely memorized arrangements.
Westbound Situation - Griffin
Listen to the group perform on YouTube or on their Spotify channel. Their newest release, Pilot, is available for purchase on Bandcamp.
