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Archival Programs
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Music of Resilience
Come and meet the performers!
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NOLAN SHAHEED, TRUMPETNolan Shaheed, Trumpet Shaheed began his musical career in 1973, rising to be a top studio musician. He was musical director for Marvin Gaye, lead trumpet with Count N Basie and has an extensive resume of other acts he has worked and traveled with: Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, Anita Baker. He is a master music producer as well as a songwriter and arranger and leads his own jazz band. Lead Trumpet with Count Basie Orchestra 1976-1979. He has also performed and toured with: Eddie Harris, Teddy Edwards, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham, and Francisco Aquabea. Nolan has been one of LA’s top studio musicians since 1974 and is in great demand in the Jazz scene. He currently owns a recording studio and is a music producer.
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VALERIE “MZVAL” MONROEValerie “Mzval” Monroe - It all started with Jazz music for Valerie. She began singing at the age of 19. Valerie sang in front of her first audience trying to win scholarship money for college. From that point on she was bitten by the performance bug. Being introduced to jazz first, Valerie developed her talent by listening to such artists as Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson and Nina Simone. Valerie has performed in various arenas with a wide array of artists such as Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs performing the National Anthem, opening for Jazz Greats Dizzy Gillespie and Mel Torme and Comedian Redd Foxx in Las Vegas. Valerie also traveled internationally with Ray Charles as one of his Raelettes. Valerie’s career has been extensive and fulfilling. Musical Theatre credits include: Ain’t Misbehavin, Chicago (Mama Morton) and Newsies (Medda Larkin) just to name a few. This native Texas girl has come a long way since moving to California after completing her college education in San Antonio Texas.
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ADAM LEDBETTER, PIANOAdam Ledbetter was born into a creative family and got his first performance experience as a 3-year- old soloist in a community choir directed by his mother. At 10 he began taking formal piano lessons and within a few months he was working as the church’s full-time musical director. This combination led to many musical experiments of mixing influences as diverse as Busta Rhymes and Chopin. Having broad tastes from the beginning, Adam’s musical talents include rap, piano, production and composition. Adam is just as at home giving a solo piano recital as he is freestyling on the mic. As an MC he has been featured on work by Lightheaded, Ohmega Watts, Jabee, Sean C. Johnson and many more. Adam believes music is a spectrum and for him styles of music are instruments in his band and its best when they play together.
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MARVIN “SMITTY” SMITH, DRUMSMarvin "Smitty" Smith, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). "It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin "Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house. Featured on more than 45 albums and has been Downbeat Critics' Poll winner for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, 1985 through 1987, and 1989. Smitty performed on the Soundtrack of filmmaker Spike Lee's "School Daze", appeared in Sonny Rollins' music video "Saxophone Colossus", and a member of Sting's "Nothing Like the Sun" South American tour, 1987. Regarded as a well-rounded musician with the ability to play all styles, his success has earned him two albums as a bandleader. As a versatile drummer, there seems to be nothing he cannot do. It's been said that he is the "John Coltrane of the drums."
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TONY DUMAS, BASSTony Dumas was born in Los Angeles California. By age of 14, he started playing bass and studying in the high school orchestra and went on to study music at Pasadena City College. He first started playing professionally with Organist Johnny Hammond Smith then went on to play with Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. He has toured, played, and recorded with the likes of: Herbie Hancock, Carmen McCrae, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, The Manhattan Transfer, Chick Correa, Etta James, Mariah Carey, Bill Cosby (playboy jazz festival band), Patrice Rushen and the list goes on and on.
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