Groton Hill Jazz/Contemporary Ensembles Winter Showcase

Guitarist and composer Jeff O’Brien has been performing and teaching professionally for over twenty years, including self-producing, releasing, and performing original music since 1996. Having studied both classical and jazz guitar in addition to his background in rock, he is a sought-after freelance guitarist for engagements all over New England and beyond. Equally at home playing classical guitar for a wedding ceremony, modern jazz at a reception, classic rock in an arena, or avant-garde noise-rock in a club, Jeff is adept at switching between different musical styles on a dime—and synthesizing them into unique and powerful presentations. He is a member of the Boston-based commercial bands Thirty6Red, and Richie Rich & 24 Karat Funk. Jeff is also the founder, lead guitarist, lead vocalist, and principal songwriter of the prog-rock group Kave Kraft, which to date has released two EPs and one full-length album, and has performed at numerous venues across the region.

An in-demand percussion educator and clinician in the Boston area, Dave is chair of the Groton Hill Music School Percussion and Jazz Departments. For the past two decades, he has worked with a wide variety of acts in a diverse range of styles in the Greater Boston area and all over New England. For over ten years, Dave has toured nationally and abroad with three-time Grammy Award winning songwriter, producer, and musician Tom Hambridge and his band The Rattlesnakes. He is a current member of Boston rock legends The Stompers, Andrew Stern’s “AS3,” and The Gravel Project. When not performing as a sideman, Dave leads his own jazz quartet featuring Ken Clark on the Hammond B-3 organ, Bill Jones on sax, and Phil Grenadier on trumpet; and an acoustic trio featuring Grenadier and bassist Bruno Raberg. He is an endorser of Vic Firth Drumsticks, exclusively.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Aaron Jay Myers is an active professional composer, performer, improviser, and teacher with commissions and performances across the country. He is a founding member of Equilibrium Ensemble, served as Executive Director from 2015–2018, and served as its Managing Director until its end in 2020. He was Music Director for the Second Sunday Concert Series from 10/17 through 12/18. He is the founder of the hardcore/doom metal/thrash band, Niffin, and founder of the avant-metal band, Kraanerg. With several albums already available, he has a new album of chamber works being released on June 4, 2020 by the New York based record label New Focus Recordings.