SETH KIBEL - SAX /CLARINET/ FLUTE

Seth is the leader, clarinetist, and composer for The Alexandria Kleztet, a genre-bending klezmer band he founded in the Baltimore/Washington area. The band's four albums, Peace, Love and Coffee(2009), Close Enough for Klezmer (2005), Delusions of Klezmer (2002), and Y2Klezmer (1999) are all available nationwide. Their three first albums received the Washington Area Music Association's (WAMA) award for Best World Music Recording following their release. Additionally, Seth was named "Best World Music Instrumentalist" by WAMA in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2005, 2007, and 2008, he was also named "Best Jazz Instrumentalist."

In addition to his activities with The Kleztet, Seth has fronted a variety of swing and jazz groups, including The Bay Jazz Project and jump blues/swing band The Natty Beaux. In 2002, he was commissioned to write, perform, and record an original score for Dreams in the Golden Country, an original theatrical production at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In January 2004, Seth released his first jazz CD, Nuts and Bolts. His second solo album, The Great Pretender, was a blues/jazz project released in July 2007 on the Azalea City Recordings record label.

Seth has appeared with such notables as Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Percy Sledge, The Coasters, and Johnnie Johnson. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Carter Barron Amphitheatre, the Lowell Folk Festival in Lowell, Massachusetts, as well as on several European tours.

BOB ABBOTT - ACOUSTIC/ ELECTRIC BASS

Bob Abbott graduated with honors from Salisbury State University where he earned his B.A. in music.  Since moving to the Baltimore-Washington in 2000 he has actively been a freelance bass player, arranger, and composer.  His performance experiences range from local community festivals to performing at national political and social events.

Bob regularly performs with, Bay Jazz Project , Dixieland All Stars, Susan Jones Trio, Brian Litz Trio, Seth Kibel Quintet, and Big Band Caliente.  He plays in various ensembles at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Blues Alley, Rams Head on Stage, Fredrick Festival of the Arts, Merriweather Post Pavilion, the National Gallery of Art, First Night Alexandria, First Night Annapolis, Rehoboth Jazz Fest as well as several embassies and political functions in the Baltimore / Washington D.C. area.  Bob is a endorsed artist for Better Audio Technologies and JanAid Basses.

Bob is just at home in the recording studio and has recorded with several bands and ensembles including Michael and the Little Professors, Bay Jazz Project, The Folk Heroes, Kindred Spirits, The Good News Sound, Sean Lane, Susan Jones and Seth Kibel, and independent film sound track recording for NYC composer Tim Starnes.  Bob also teaches choral music for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

MARK LUCAS - DRUMS

Mark attended the University Of Cincinnati College Conservatory Of Music where he studied Jazz and Studio Performance and studied with drumming legend John Von Ohlen.  At that time, his training prepared him for a variety of musical settings, including show band and jazz quintet drummer on Carnival Cruise Lines, as well as performing with many local jazz, blues and original pop groups.   

After moving to the Baltimore-Washington area in 2000, Mark continued to actively perform and continues to maintain an active playing schedule as well as teach on a private student basis.  He can currently be heard performing with the Bay Jazz Project, The Fabulettes, the Melanie Mason Band, the Rockin’ Bones and the Daryl Davis Band. 

Playing highlights include: In August of 2008, Mark played with international blues star Eugene Hideaway Bridges at Pier 54 in NYC as well as recording with him live at the XM Studios in Washington, DC.  Other highlights include the 2008 Columbia Pike Blues Fest with Melanie Mason; a performance with legendary keyboardist Johnny Johnson at the 2002 Columbia Pike Blues Festival; playing with the Coasters during a performance at the DC Hilton; two tours of England with boogie-woogie piano great Daryl Davis; a 2006 Armed Forces Entertainment tour of Central America and the Bahamas; and a myriad of local and regional engagements.

SEAN A. LANE - PIANO/KEYBOARDS

For more than 10 years Sean has been pursuing his love of music making in the Washington-Baltimore area.  He has degrees in piano and music therapy from SUNY-Fredonia where he studied with pianist Robert Jordan.  Also, Sean has a master’s degree from the University of Maryland-College Park where he took classical lessons with Bradford Gowen and jazz studies with Ron Elliston.  Sean’s musical experiences as a solo pianist and as a member of the groups, Jazzwerx and Bay Jazz Project, have taken him to many venues; such as the Kennedy Center, the One Step Down, Takoma Station, National Press Club, Constitution Hall, and Camden Yards.  In January 2001, Jazzwerx played for over 1,000 people at an inaugural event.  This was the 3rd inauguration Sean worked. On October 11th, 2001, he played at a special event given by the Pentagon for the survivors, rescuers, and victim’s families from the Sept.11th terrorist attack.  Sean plays piano for Nordstrom stores and has been a regular pianist at hotels and restaurants in the area such as the Watergate, Ritz Carlton-Tysons, Loews-Annapolis, and Tavern on the Bay.  In all Sean’s played before the past 3 presidents, members of Congress, ambassadors, and leaders in Corporate America.