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Conner Eisenmenger

Seattle based trombonist, XO Brass Artist and Denis Wick Artist Conner Eisenmenger’s is a new face on the Seattle music scene. Eisenmenger holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Western Kentucky University and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from University of North Texas where he studied with Tony Baker and Andre Hayward. While at UNT, Eisenmenger played for two years in the seven-time Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. As a member of the One O’Clock, he performed with Stefon Harris, Sean Jones, Danilo Perez, Dennis Mackrel, and James Morrison. Eisenmenger also served as a teaching fellow at UNT, teaching multiple courses in jazz trombone fundamentals and directing the Six O’Clock Lab Band, the Seven O’Clock Lab Band, and the U-Tubes jazz trombone ensemble. During his time as a student, Eisenmenger performed and competed in Australia, Spain, China, California, and Washington D.C.

As an educator, Conner regularly clinics the many elite band programs in the Pacific Northwest and college jazz events including the CWU John Moawad Jazz Festival, the PLU Weathermon Jazz Festival, the WKU Jazz Honor Band, The CWU Jazz Camp, the PNW Trombone Symposium. These days Conner can be found playing with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Opera, Beck, and various session work including Nintendo Live’s Super Mario Super Big Band and the DOTA II “The International” live orchestra. KNKX describes Conner’s passion for a life in music as “infectious in the best way.

Jon Mutchler

Jon Mutchler is a seasoned musician and community leader from Ferndale, Washington. A graduate of West Bremerton High, Olympic College, and Western Washington University, he holds degrees in Jazz Studies and Classical Piano, along with a Master of Divinity from Regent College in Vancouver, B.C.

With nearly 40 years of piano teaching experience, Jon has made a lasting impact on the local music scene, including a 17-year tenure as the house pianist at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, WA. He also served as a pastor for 36 years, earning the trust of his community as a spiritual leader. In addition to his work in music and ministry, Jon has been actively involved in local governance, serving on the Ferndale City Council and as the city’s mayor. He was recently elected to the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission.

Jon takes great pride in his family legacy. He is the son of Ralph Mutchler, a renowned jazz and marching band arranger who directed the Olympic College Jazz Festival for over a decade. Jon continues to carry on his father’s musical traditions. He and his wife, Diane, are the proud parents of seven adult children and several grandchildren, all of whom live in Whatcom County.

Jon has released seven CDs of recorded solo piano music, available online.

Francesco Crosara

Francesco Crosara is a Pacific Northwest based Italian jazz pianist, composer and educator performing in a variety of formations. Crosara’s original music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical Conservatory training in Rome, bouncy lyrical expression along with strong Latin influences. His main jazz piano influences are Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock.

Crosara stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Don Menza, Von Freeman, John Heard, Gabe Baltazar, Mayuto Correa, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Earl Palmer, Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians. He has performed at festivals and venues across the USA, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, and Italy.

Since 2017, the Pacific Northwest can claim Crosara’s talents, too. His acoustic trio was selected to perform at the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle, and Crosara’s creations were featured in the trend-setting series Earshot Jazz: The Second Century (2019 and 2020) for their bold and innovative music composition and video editing work. Equally adept with acoustic and electric jazz concepts, Crosara routinely headlines trios and quartets with the area top musicians. Crosara’s latest CD project, “Circular Motion”, released in 2024 by Origin/OA2 Records, features all original material including fresh interpretations of some of his earlier repertoire, which was composed over a period of 40 years. Crosara has produced 6 additional international jazz albums over the last three decades ranging from straight-ahead to fusion and Latin, and featuring guest artist, Chicago tenor sax legend Von Freeman, plus Lilian Terry, Dave Marr, Rusty Jones, Paulinho Garcia, Dean Taba, Noel Okimoto, Yasushi Gonjo, Larry Marshall, Miles Jackson, Eric Kurtz, and more. Crosara’s 2000 album “Colors” received 4 stars from Down Beat magazine.

Crosara also serves on the Board of Directors of the Music Discovery Center (MDC), a non-profit organization based in Bremerton, WA, dedicated to creating an inclusive space for community members to experience, explore, and contribute to the world of music through education, performance, and mentorship.

Greg Williamson

Greg Williamson is a jazz drummer, percussionist, composer, musical instigator, and keeper of a jazz flame. Early musical highlights include stints with Woody Herman’s Young Thundering Herd (1988-89), The Glenn Miller Orchestra (1988) and The Harry James Orchestra. He toured many times with Steve Allen’s re-creation of the Tonight Show alongside classic entertainers like singers Joe Williams and Rosemary Clooney, pianist Paul Smith, comedians Louis Nye and Bill “Jose Jimenez” Dana, and others. Through the 1990’s Greg was seen often onstage leading and contracting with icons like Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, and Joan Rivers; and as a regular member of jazz vocal icon Ernestine Anderson.

Williamson’s early influences included Count Basie and Thelonious Monk. Personal mentorships with jazz hero’s like Ray Brown, Mel Lewis, Buddy Catlett, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton and Red Kelley set him up for a long association with Grammy nominated vocalist Ernestine Anderson. Starting as her drummer of choice for many tours of the United States, Japan and South America, he eventually acted as her musical director.

Mid 1990’s also saw the formation of Pony Boy Records, an independent record label made up of straight ahead jazz artists with a Northwest focus. PBR has over 60 releases to date, including CD’s by Williamson’s Big Bad Groove Society, GW Quartet, Pony Boy All-Star Big Band, Double Sax Quintet (listed in the Jazz Times Year in Review Critics Picks 2002), and many more. PBR is distributed worldwide by Burnside Distribution. Williamson produced the annual Pony Boy Records Jazz Picnic for 10 years, which won awards for contributions to the community by Earshot Jazz, and whose t-shirts still adorn the fans and musicians of the Northwest.

Williamson has been instrumental in the creation of a non-profit performance and education venue in North Bend, Washington, Boxley’s and the Boxley’s Music Fund – along with satellite venues, now collectively called JazzClubsNW. The non-profit venture has partnered with many community members, producing Jazz Walks, festivals, public concerts, and live recordings – including Live at Boxley’s with the Danny Kolke Trio + Pete Christlieb.

Williamson has also been an active educator and clinician, working at Green River College and Bellevue College, and recently at the highly regarded Central Washington University as a graduate jazz and percussion assistant, gaining masters degrees in Percussion Performance and Jazz Pedagogy. He was jazz and drum set assistant faculty at Western Washington University for five years, teaching drum set, percussion, and big band.

Greg grew up in Bremerton, WA and began his musical journey playing drums in high school and at Olympic College.