Tyrone Jackson

The name Tyrone Jackson is the quintessential jazz piano player. His boundless creativity and harmonic mastery utilize the piano as a blank canvas.  Jackson is nationally recognized and has traveled the world as a solo artist and sideman.  Born in the New Orleans cradle of jazz, Jackson embodies the spirit of the Crescent City. The blends of jazz, funk, and Afro-Caribbean melodies are ever present in his work. But, of course, musicians are never solely influenced by themselves. Jackson’s teachers are a virtual Who’s Who of great jazz piano players ranging from Ellis Marsalis and Mary Ann Bulla to gospel/classical legend Moses Hogan.


As a composer, Jackson has composed original music for Pulitzer Prize-winning author Natasha Trethewey’s book of poems, “Native Guard” turned theatrical play, Pearl Cleage’s play, “Tell Me My Dream,” “Ethel” by Terri Burrell, and the Alliance Theater production of “Nick’s Flamingo Grill” and the 2023 release of North Carolina Black Repertory Theater’s “Phenomenal Woman.”  Jackson has recorded 4 Albums—“Dedicated,” “Another Voyage,” “Melody In Nede,” and their new release “From The Mind Of.” Additionally, Jackson’s work in “Native Guard” premiered in Los Angeles, CA, at the famous Sage Hills Academy from January 9-15, 2017.
In addition to his composition skills, the jazz wonder is most known for his compelling solos. Jackson’s improvisational skills allow him to become a part of the song, whether he softly highlights ballads or tears through fast-paced standards.

Currently, Tyrone Jackson is a professor at Kennesaw State University, where he is a Senior Lecturer of Jazz Piano and teaches a myriad of classes, including Aural Skills III & IV, Jazz Improvisation I, II & III, Jazz Combo, Jazz Theory, Applied Jazz Piano, Group Jazz Piano, Music Entrepreneurship, and History of the Blues.  Jackson’s influence extends beyond the university, where he is a clinician and teacher for the Rialto Arts Jazz program for middle school, a clinician for Sound Learning, and a clinician for the Clayton County Arts Association. Jackson is also a doctoral candidate at Georgia State University seeking a Ph.D. in Music Education. His dissertation thesis is: Extending Agency To Improvisation Students By Utilizing Corpus Tools For The Acquisition Of Jazz Language.

Jackson has performed with Steve Turre, Larry Carlton, Carmen Bradford, Earl Klugh, Karla Harris, Melba Moore, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Vincent Gardner, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Wes Anderson, Greg Dawson, Jennifer Holiday, Karen Briggs, Clay Jenkins, Russell Gunn, David Sanchez, Damaris Carbough, Stephanie Mills, Avery Sunshine, Russell Malone, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller along with opening for Esperanza Spaulding, Gerald Albright, Spyro Gyra and the Crusaders, and Chaka Kahn. He also toured Italy and Austria with the UNO Jazz Band, toured Brazil with Michael Ward, Toured Thule and Greenland, and performed with FutureMan (Roy Wooton).

Kelly McCarty, Bass

Kelly grew up in the small town of Emporia, KS. His parents were music teachers, so the house was always full of music and instruments of all kinds. As a kid he played piano, cello, and trombone. By age 13, he had gravitated toward the bass. “I’ve just always been listening to bass,” Kelly recalls. “I don’t even remember the words to songs.” He identified with the role of the bass in music – out of the spotlight, yet essential and powerful.

Kelly entered Kansas State in 2002 and studied bass under his mentor, Dr. Wayne Goins. After graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theory & Composition, he was invited to join the adjunct faculty at KSU.

Kelly was accepted to the graduate program at Florida State in 2009, to study with Rodney Jordan. “People can be confident about their talent, but when someone is confident because they’ve done the work, it comes through. That’s where I was trying to get to.” His time at Florida State culminated in a trio recording called “Rouxsteady,” for which Kelly penned original compositions and played 8-string guitar.

In 2011, Kelly got his first professional experience on a national level via Big League Productions based out of NYC. This included touring productions of My Fair Lady, Hello Dolly, and the first national tour of A Christmas Story. “I did 5 different runs that had me out for 3 months at a time. That’s 13 weeks of a whole mess of one-nighters in a row.” This stretch produced another album as a leader, entitled “A Periapsis Suite,” a thirty-minute suite written for jazz quartet.

Kelly has since established himself in Atlanta as both a player and a teacher, and his career now reflects the wide variety of musical experiences he has valued since childhood.

He spent a year as the touring bassist for roots/rock Grammy winners Larkin Poe, performing throughout the U.S. and Europe. These runs included Glastonbury Festival, Rock am Ring Festival, Rock im Park Festival, and opening for Queen at Rheinenergiestadion in Cologne, Germany.

His list of performing and recording credits has expanded to also include Noah Guthrie, Grant Green Jr., Rhett Shull, Suzy Jones, Geoff Wood, The Electromatics, Sam Burchfield, Orquesta Macuba, and Kyshona Armstrong. Keeping one foot in the jazz scene, he has also performed alongside ATL jazz greats such as Tyrone Jackson, Kevin Bales, Lil John Roberts, Lavahi, Louis Heriveaux, Robert Boone, Dash Smith, Tony Hightower, Lori Williams, and Karla Harris. He also enjoys playing with his original groups, the Funk crew Track Suit Mafia, and the Alternative Jazz outfit BOOM! Trio.

Robert Boone, Jr., Drums

Robert Boone, J., is the drummer for The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. The Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Scotty Barnhart, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world Royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world. The latest honors are the 2018 Downbeat Readers Poll Award as the #1 Jazz Orchestra in the world, and a Grammy Nomination for their 2018 acclaimed recording, All About That Basie, which features special guests Stevie Wonder, Jon Faddis, Take 6, and Kurt Elling among others.

He has collaborated with leading artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tyrone Jackson, Rodney Jordan, Eric Reed, Leon Anderson, Ron McCurdy, Scotty Barnhart, Veronica Swift, and Marcus Roberts. The Blue Note, Birdland, Churchill Grounds, Velvet Note, Cobb Energy Centre, and The Sydney Opera House are some of the venues Boone has performed in.

Boone grew up in Augusta, Georgia where he still calls home and gives back to the community that supported him throughout the years. Robert performs for the nursing homes and numerous schools in the Augusta area whenever he can.

He received an undergraduate degree in Music Performance at Kennesaw State University, studying with professors John Lawless and Justin Chesarek. It was at KSU where he was selected to participate in the 2015 Disneyland All American College Band. He also attended Florida State University where he received his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies.