Donny McCaslin (artistic director and co-music director) is best known as the saxophonist on David Bowie’s last album, Blackstar. The noted composer and bandleader has released a dozen albums over his genre-defying, Grammy-nominated career. He began playing at age 12, and as a teenager, performed in his vibraphonist father’s band in Santa Cruz. By high school, he had appeared multiple times at the Monterey Jazz Festival. After attending Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, McCaslin became a sought-after player in New York. David Bowie saw McCaslin perform as soloist for the Maria Schneider Orchestra and brought in his progressive jazz quartet, which came to define Blackstar’s visionary stylistic fusion. As David Hadju wrote in The Nation, “Donny McCaslin was David Bowie’s David Bowie.” In turn, Bowie influenced McCaslin, who fused alt-rock and jazz on his first album with lyrics, 2018’s BLOW.

Vince Mendoza (conductor and orchestrator) has been at the forefront of the contemporary music scene as a composer, conductor and recording artist for the last 30 years, writing scores of compositions and arrangements for big band, chamber, and symphonic settings. His credits read like a “who’s who” of the best modern instrumentalists and singers in the world today. He has six Grammy awards and 34 nominations. Mendoza is the composer in residence with the West German Radio Orchestra in Köln and conductor laureate of the Netherlands Metropolitan Orchestra. Mendoza’s new recording, Freedom Over Everything, features his compositions with Antonio Sanchez, Julia Bullock, MC Black Thought, and the Czech National Symphony.

John Cameron Mitchell (vocalist and guest artist) co-created the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, for which he won two Tony Awards, Best Director at Sundance, a Golden Globe nomination, and a review from David Bowie: “John, you got it right.” He directed the films Shortbus (2006), Rabbit Hole (2010, Oscar nomination for Nicole Kidman) and Neil Gaiman’s How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017). On TV, he’s appeared in Girls, Shrill, The Good Fight, Netflix’s The Sandman, Apple TV+’s City on Fire, and as Tiger King’s Joe Exotic in Peacock Channel’s Joe vs. Carole. His musical podcast series, Anthem: Homunculus, stars Glenn Close, Cynthia Erivo, Patti LuPone, and Laurie Anderson, and he’s released a solo album called New American Dream Pts.1&2. He’s presently touring a new concert with Amber Martin, as well as developing a scripted podcast series, Cancellation Island, and a musical TV series with Linda Perry called The Disciples.

Gail Anne Dorsey (vocalist) is known as one of David Bowie’s longest-serving bandmates, as a bassist and vocalist, recording and touring the world many times over from 1995 to his untimely death in 2016. She sang lead vocals live on the showstopper “Under Pressure,” taking the part originally recorded by Freddie Mercury. She has toured and recorded with countless acts including Tears for Fears, Lenny Kravitz, and Bryan Ferry, and served as bandleader for Gwen Stefani. Recently, she was a featured vocalist on albums by the National and Matt Berninger, and has released three solo albums: The Corporate World, Rude Blue, and I Used To Be….

The songs of David Poe (vocalist) have been featured in TV and film projects like Nashville and Dexter, performed by a diverse array of artists, and recorded by producers T Bone Burnett, Larry Klein, and Buddy Miller. Poe has written and performed songs and scores for American Repertory Theater, the LA Dance Project, Rambert Dance, the Malala Fund, Harvard Dance, and Shadowland by Pilobolus. He has produced recordings for other artists including Regina Spektor, Brendan Hines, and Kraig Jarret Johnson. He is a composer fellow of the Sundance Institute.

Jason Lindner (keyboard and synthesizer), aka flymyspcshp, is a contemporary electronic musician and keyboardist from Brooklyn, widely known for his post-jazz, IDM-influenced group, Now Vs Now, and for his unique keyboard and synth work on David Bowie’s Blackstar. With an artistic identity spanning genres, cultures, formats, and technologies, Lindner is a frequent performer and collaborator in the underground experimental electronic and DJ communities, actively exploring cross sections of live electronic music and spontaneous improvisation for immersive sonic journeys both on and off the dance floor. He plays everything from raves to meditative wellness sessions, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with a growing list of luminaries including Currency Audio, Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto), Mulatu Astatke, Saha Gnawa, Nikki Nair, Toribio, JKriv, Greg Paulus (No Regular Play), Salami Rose Joe Louis, LNDFK, Tatyana, Kimbra (Exo-Tech), Nu Jazz, No Eyes, Hybrid Movement Company, Sidra Bell, Poncili Creacion, Lauryn Hill, Meshell Ndegeocello, Angelique Kidjo, and Danny Elfman.

Jonathan Maron (bass) is a Grammy-nominated electric bassist, composer, and producer. His unique approach, propulsive bass lines, and big sound travel with him always, regardless of the musical setting. Early in his career, Maron co-founded New York’s Groove Collective, a band that has toured internationally, released eight albums including their Grammy-nominated, People People Music Music. The band’s dance-floor blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, funk, and house music has provided a perfect showcase for Maron’s playing and writing. With other artists, Jonathan can be heard on more than 200 records ranging widely in style, including Maxwell’s platinum selling “Ascenscion (Don’t Ever Wonder).” Maron has also performed with Meshell Ndegeocello, Mike Doughty, Tupac Shakur, Shujaat Khan, Dave Douglas, Jewel, India.Arie, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, among many others. In 2021, Maron released his own record, Wide Open Lazy Eye, and regularly performs as a leader.

Zach Danziger (percussion) is on the cutting edge of music and technology, leading a movement that has broad implications for modern drum set playing. Emerging from of New York, Danziger’s musical expertise led him to work with a wide range of artists including Primal Scream, Busta Rhymes, Michel Camilo, Wayne Krantz, Donny McCaslin, David Holmes, LeBron James, Mary J. Blige, Rod Stewart, Jack Black, Mariah Carey, Luke Vibert, Sinéad O’Connor, Chaka Khan, and Miley Cyrus. He has composed and played on countless major motion picture soundtracks.

Danziger is involved with several original electronic projects. Mister Barrington, which features former Roots bassist Owen Biddle and keyboardist Oli Rockberger, has garnered radio airplay worldwide—including BBC and NPR features. His innovative use of music technology has also been recognized in publications such as The New York Times, Downbeat, and Electronic Musician, as well as a TEDx talk entitled “Innovative Thinking,” which spawned the interactive audio visual projects Edit Bunker, NIne Fifteen O’Clock, and Wednesday Night Titans.