It Don’t Mean a Thing: Swingin’ Uptown Classics with Byron Stripling

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer, and actor Byron Stripling ignites audiences across the globe. He was named principal pops conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2020 and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2024. He also serves as artistic director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Byron’s baton has led countless orchestras throughout the United States and Canada, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood and orchestras from San Diego to Sarasota.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Byron has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with more than 100 orchestras around the world. As a soloist with the Boston Pops, Byron has frequently performed under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being the featured soloist on the PBS television special, Evening at Pops, with conductors John Williams and Lockhart.

An accomplished actor and singer, Byron starred in the lead role of the Broadway-bound musical, Satchmo; had a cameo performance in the television movie, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles; and performed in the 42nd Street production of From Second Avenue to Broadway.

Television viewers have enjoyed his work as soloist on the worldwide telecast of the Grammy Awards, commercials, and theme songs. In addition to multiple recordings with his quintet, work with artists from Tony Bennett to Whitney Houston, his prolific recording career includes hundreds of albums with the greatest pops, Broadway, soul, and jazz artists.

Byron earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra. He has also played and recorded with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Buck Clayton, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and the GRP All Star Big Band.

Educated at the Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy, one of his greatest joys is to return to both as a guest lecturer.

A resident of Ohio, Byron lives in the country with his wife Alexis, a former dancer, writer, and poet, and their beautiful daughters.

Carmen Bradford is jazz royalty, a 2024 Grammy Award winner for Basie Swings the Blues – the Count Basie Orchestra. The five-time Grammy nominee is also the recipient of the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s Jazz Vocalist Award. Her body of work reflects her experience, versatility, and technical brilliance in this uniquely American art form.

Born in Austin, Texas, and raised in Altadena, California, Carmen is the daughter of legendary cornetist and composer Bobby Bradford and world-renown jazz vocalist, composer, and author Melba Joyce, and granddaughter of Melvin Moore (who sang with Lucky Millender’s Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band, and the Ink Spots).

Carmen was discovered by Count Basie when she was 22; she became the featured vocalist with his legendary orchestra for nine years and continues to perform with the Count Basie Orchestra. With the orchestra, her Grammy nominations include two in the 1980s and a third, Big Boss Band, with guitarist George Benson. (She and Benson performed “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.) The fourth is 2022’s Live at Birdland.

Carmen has performed and recorded with a diverse group of artists and orchestras. She teamed with singer/composer Kenny Rankin for the Benny Carter Songbook Project, performing with him, “And All That Jazz.”

In 1992, she released her debut album, Finally Yours (Evidence Records), to critical acclaim. Her second solo album, With Respect (Evidence) in 1995, established her as one of jazz music’s most diverse and exciting vocal stylists.

Home with You (Azica Records), is a warm and beautiful collection of vocal and piano duets with jazz great Shelly Berg. The 2008 release of Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola: Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra featuring Carmen Bradford, returned Carmen to her big band roots. “When the Count Basie Orchestra calls me,” she says, “I go.”

Carmen was the voice on the 2016 album Imagination Nation, a tribute to Nelson Mandela by South African trumpeter Darren English. This critically acclaimed album won the Pledge for Peace award from the Global Peace Song Awards and was named Best in Jazz.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Leo Manzari is a Lucille Lortel Award-nominated tap dancer, headlining in various productions, such as the touring and Off-Broadway productions of Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life, featured guest artist on So You Think You Can Dance, Kennedy Center’s 50th Inaugural Celebration of JFK and Marvin Gaye, Dorrance Dance’s Nutcracker Suite, The Mo’nique Show, The Kate, TEDMED, PBS News Hour, The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, and ABC’s The View. He was featured as a solo tap dancer in Hozier’s music video “Almost (Sweet Music)” and guest starred with Anderson Paak’s band The Free Nationals for various virtual events.

Now residing in Los Angeles, California, Leo headlines alongside Byron Stripling and Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, Carmen Bradford, collaborating with multiple POPS orchestras around the world, including the Houston Symphony, Winnipeg Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and The Philly POPS. Other credentials include a recurring role in Season 6 of Showtime’s Homeland, and lead writer and vocalist of his original music, which can be found at www.leomanzari.com.
@leomanzari