Guitar
Paul Bollenback started his career in music in 1981, and has performed as a sideman with a wide range of jazz luminaries, including artists as diverse as Stanley Turrentine, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Steve Gadd, Gary Bartz, David “Fathead” Newman, George Coleman,Terri-Lyne Carrington, Bennie Wallace, Joe Locke, Jack McDuff, James Moody, Jim Snidero, Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis, Paul Bley, Geoffrey Keezer, Mike LeDonne, Pat Bianchi, Carol Sloane, Gary Thomas, Grady Tate, Vincent Herrings’ Something Else, and in the group East Meets Jazz with the renowned tabla virtuoso Sandip Burman, to name a few.
He is known for his versatility, and also for an influential 20-year stint with jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco.
Bollenback performs on over 80 recordings as a sideman and has released 8 CD’s as a leader.
A busy performance schedule has been augmented since the late ’90’s by steady jazz education duties at Columbia University, Queens College, and The New School. Bollenback is also a composer, who’s pieces have appeared on Joey DeFrancesco’s “Reboppin’” and on the “Jazz Times Superband” CD.
His most recent recording, “Portraits in Space and Time” (Mayimba Music), with his trio, was released in 2014. Paul Bollenback resides in the New York City area.
Drums
Lenny Robinson was born in Philadelphia and raised in Baltimore. He received his education at Peabody Conservatory and Morgan State University. He was a member of the 26th US Army Band in Brooklyn, NY.
His first professional performance was at the age of 15 and first international performance at 19.
Partial list of artists performed/recorded with:Lou Donaldson, Stanley Turrentine, Ahmad Jamal, Eartha Kitt, Marlena Shaw, Nicolas Payton, Freddie Cole, Paul Bollenback, Vanessa Rubin, Joe Locke, Joey DeFrancesco, Terence Blanchard and others
Partial list of venues performed in as a Bandleader: Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, An Die Muzik, Carlyle Room DC, Smalls, 55 Grand (NYC)
Director of Bands at Landon School in Bethesda, Md. (retired)
Leader of Lenny Robinson’s Exploration, MadCurious and The Lenny Robinson Big Band
Bass
William “MoBetta” Ledbetter, a native of Hampton, Virginia, is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in the upright bass. He graduated from UNCG Miles Davis Jazz Studies program in 2019, where he studied double bass and blended jazz with his foundations in the Blues, Gospel, and R&B. In December 2021, Ledbetter joined the U.S. Navy Band Commodores becoming their first African American bassist. Before joining the Navy, he played with The Piedmont Triad Jazz Orchestra, The Camel City Jazz Orchestra, and the John Coltrane All-Stars.
Anyone who has worked with or heard “MoBetta” knows that he is a driving force while performing. His drive and love for music and performance has captured the attention of many world-renowned artist. Ledbetter has worked with a plethora of artists including, Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Sean Mason, and many more. He can be heard on Delfeayo’s latest album “Uptown on Mardi Gras Day”. He also performed at the historic Newport Jazz fest in 2023 with the Branford Marsalis Quartet.
