Jazz Classique

John Mochnick, piano, holds degrees from Heidelberg University, Indiana University, and the University of Cincinnati. A former university choral and orchestral conductor, composer, and educator, he served on the faculties of several institutions, including Wake Forest University and Salem College. Since retiring to Winston-Salem, he has focused full-time on jazz performance and composition. His works have been widely published and performed nationally and internationally, and he has prepared festival choruses for conductors such as John Nelson and Thomas Dunn.

Wiley Porter is a veteran guitarist and music educator with over 50 years of professional experience. He has performed for six U.S. presidents and worked with artists including Barbra Streisand and Michael Jackson. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he also studied at Catholic and American Universities. Wiley teaches jazz guitar at Wake Forest University and has held faculty positions at Prince George’s College and Catawba College. His Broadway and touring credits span over 40 major productions, and he has performed with leading symphonies across the country. A longtime member of the American Federation of Musicians, he also holds Lifetime Associate Membership with the Piano Technicians Guild.

Drummer Larry Carman has been a fixture on the Piedmont Triad music scene for decades. Larry has played with a variety of top acts, including Stubby The Tractor, Bluesamatic, The Bill Bright Quintet, Joe Robinson, Matt Kendrick Unit, Allison King, and many other groups in the triad. Larry is a graduate of East Carolina University in Music Therapy.

Matt Kendrick is an award-winning bassist, composer and recording artist from Winston-Salem. He studied European classical bass at the UNC School of the Arts and Jazz Improvisation with Jerry Coker at UT Knoxville. Matt Kendrick has appeared on bass with: The Marian McPartland Trio, Ernie Watts, Gene Bertoncini, Archie Shepp, Jaki Byard, Amiri Baraka (aka Leroi Jones), Craig Harris, Dick Hyman, and JoAnne Brackeen, who was a guest star with the Matt Kendrick Unit at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. He also won the North Carolina Jazz Composers Fellowship twice. He has released four CDs on his own Suitcase Music label and one on the Ichiban label, which charted in the Gavin Top 50 for national airplay.