“I can sense Betty’s musical pedigree on a cellular level. She is a wonder to behold.” Don Savage, Senior Producer, Spafax Airline Network “Bryant’s steady, rolling, soulful musical sprees are always textured with ideal measures of torchy passion, elegantly whimsical good humor and traces of KC’s uncut, communicative blues sensibility.” Jonny Whiteside, LA Weekly A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Betty Bryant is a revered pianist/singer who brings a solid piano technique, a light, swinging touch and a skilled vocal approach to her music. Whether she is playing the blues on “He May Be Your Man (But He Comes To See Me Sometime)”, or delivering obscure cabaret gems like Mort Lindsey’s humorous “Scratch”, or romping through serious jazz compositions like Bud Powell’s “Parisian Thoroughfare”, Betty always connects with the material and with her audience. Dubbed “Cool Miss B” by her fellow musicians, Betty’s career started in her hometown of Kansas City, where she was mentored by the great Jay McShann. She moved to the west coast in 1955, where she immediately got an engagement at Beverly Hill’s famed “Ye Little Club”. This was the beginning of mostly solo appearances in Los Angeles. Her reputation grew, and she quickly became a popular attraction in the many little nightspots that used to dot the beach towns from Santa Monica to Laguna. In 1987 “Betty Bryant Day” was declared in Kansas City, and she was awarded the keys to the city. A famous photograph of Betty with Jay McShann hangs in the lobby of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. Betty has performed internationally in the Middle East and Brazil, and for many years was a popular regular attraction at the upscale Tableaux Lounge in Tokyo, Japan. She had a long term engagement at celebrity chef Susan Feniger’s exciting new restaurant “Street” in Hollywood in 2009, and in 2012 she was a featured performer at the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival in Boquete, Panama. The “Betty Bryant Birthday Bash” is a hugely popular annual event in Hollywood, and has been presented at the famed “Catalina’s Jazz Club”. Betty has released seven critically acclaimed CDs, including 2009’s “No Regrets”, which got airplay on over 100 jazz stations nationwide. Peter Solomon, of station WCVE – FM in Richmond, Virginia wrote, ““This is a sweet little album. I was struck by her laid-back phrasing. Her piano style sounds something like Basie. This woman has soul.” Selections from the album were programmed onto the inflight entertainment channels of seven major airlines worldwide. Christopher Louden, writing in JazzTimes Magazine, calls Betty’s CD “Together” (2011) a “superlative testament to the depth and breadth of her showmanship.” Betty’s 2013 release “iteration +” received the most airplay she has gotten to date and charted on the JazzWeek National charts. Peter Kuller, from Radio Adelaide, Australia says, “Betty Bryant is absolutely amazing and deserves worldwide recognition. A jazz pianist who also sings or a jazz singer who also plays piano, whatever you prefer she does both with great distinction!” Whether listening to one of Cool Miss B’s CDs at home, or catching her live, perhaps it was best expressed by Judy Jordan in a feature article in Venice Magazine – “Snuggle into a cozy ringside club chair and let Betty Bryant steal your heart….your ears will be tickled, your heart will dance, and your feet may find a will of their own, for Betty Bryant is an enchantress.”

After appearing professionally on the stage, Mark auditioned for and won a scholarship to study music full time at Los Angeles City College from drummer David Alpert.  While singing in an honors concert at LACC  he came to the attention of Los Angeles Jazz Society founder Teri Merril-Aarons, who began booking him into the top venues in town.  His frequent collaborator was pianist Gildo Mahones (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Lorez Alexandria, Lou Rawls.)  He was a member of the Dean's Honor List and won the Robert V. Altheuser scholarship for vocal choral performance.  Mark was the featured vocalist for the Jazz Caravan, a series of performances in the LA Unified School District emceed by legendary DJ Chuck Niles.   After meeting Page Cavanagh at a jam session, Miller began booking, recording, and performing with Cavanaugh.  Miller was tapped by legendary artist manager Alan Eichler to appear in a series of performances with Anita O’Day.  Scott Yanow in Music Connection Magazine called him “A superior vocalist, one of LA’s finest.”  Michael Feinstein called his interpretations "joyful, swinging, and a pleasure to hear."   Miller recorded his debut CD "Dreamer With a Penny" with pianists Page Cavanaugh, Joyce Collins, and Jane Getz.  He also began working behind the scenes as a live music booker and promoter.  For seven years he curated a Sunday night jazz series at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills, where he presented up and coming newcomers like Sara Gazarek, Kris Bowers, Josh Nelson, Graham Dechter, Kathleen Grace and Margo Rey, among many established artists like Page Cavanaugh, Betty Bryant, Jennifer Leitham, Julie Kelly, and so many more.  For two years he booked music at Il Moro on the West Side where he presented, among others, Peter Erskine and the revered LA based pianist/singer Dini Clarke.   In recent years Miller has  worked independently and with Corniche Entertainment as a music booker and promoter.  He programmed the popular summer music series at Descanso Gardens for 12 years where he presented Aubrey Logan, Bob Mintzer, Kristin Korb, Barbara Morrison and many more.    Through Corniche Entertainment he has helped manage the career of popular bandleader Louie Cruz Beltran.  Through Corniche he has worked with the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, The Dubai International Jazz Festival, Blues Alley in Washington, DC, Jazz Alley in Seattle, the City of West Hollywood and the prestigious LA Made series at the Grand Central Library in Los Angeles where he worked with NEA Jazz Master Hubert Laws and presented Josh Nelson's mixed media event, "The Sky Remains."  He presented multi-Grammy nominated artist Denise Donatelli at Jazz Alley in Seattle, and was Associate Producer of four LA Vida Music Festivals at the Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood, working with Poncho Sanchez and Hubert Laws.  Mark  and has booked literally  hundreds of evenings of music in luxury hotels, concert venues and upscale restaurants and nightclubs.   His 2015 recording "Crazy Moon" featured Josh Nelson on piano, Dave Robaire on bass and Sammy Miller on drums, with guest artists Bob Sheppard, Ron Stout, Larry Koonse, and Billy Hulting.   "Crazy Moon" spent 4 months on the national jazz radio charts and was named one of the top 15 releases of the year by Jazz History Online.   Mark's third CD "Music in the Air" features piano and arrangements by Jamieson Trotter, Mike Gurrola on bass and Kevin Winard on drums with Larry Koonse on guitar and Danny Janklow on alto sax.  More information  here. In response to the lockdowns and loss of venues, Mark, along with other LAJS board members launched Los Angeles Jazz Society Presents, presenting paid streaming concerts for musicians worldwide.  Mark personally hosted performances and post show Q&A sessions with Gerald Clayton, Peter Erskine, Daniel Rotem, Michael Mayo, Josh Nelson,  Sara Gazarek, Will Brahm, and John Storie, among many others. In addition to his career behind the scenes, Miller continues to perform regularly in Southern California and Seattle and made his New York debut at Midday Jazz Manhattan at historic St. Peter’s church.  Miller studied piano at Los Angeles City College, and privately with Jane Getz and Joyce Collins.  He continues to evolve as a pianist, striving to inform his vocals with a solid fundamental knowledge of chord function and theory, and performs occasionally at the keyboard.  It is the discipline and focus of his piano studies that he most values.

The American dream came true for Catalina Popescu in October of 1986 when she and her husband Bob created a supper club devoted to serving an experience of superb eats and the shared magic of live performance. That grand experience began at the door where every night her mother Maria would greet each guest as family and share in their love of music. Housed in Hollywood and decked out in a timeless charm, the club offers a cozy ambience under sparkling stage lights garnished with its signature concoction — Jazz. The first artist to grace the stage was the masterful flutist and saxophonist Buddy Collette, and ever since then, over the past 36 years, the Catalina Jazz Club has hosted the most illustrious legends of all time — from the powerful puffers of Dizzy Gillespie to the electrified fingers of McCoy Tyner, the bubbly belt of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Lynda Carter, the flirtatious saxophone of Joshua Redman, the slick strumming of Kenny Burrell, the insane drum clinic of Steve Gadd, the romance of Steve Tyrell, and the masterclass of Mike Stern. For Catalina, Jazz is our way of life. It breathes pain. It knows love. It dreams hope. It bleeds courage. Whether we’re showcasing Broadway, Soul, R&B, or stand-up comedy, the lesson learned from all the greats who have serenaded our spirits is how to connect to one another. And that’s why the Catalina Jazz Club will always have a table ready for you. The Catalina Jazz Club has been honored by A.S.M.A.C., California Jazz Foundation, Los Angeles Jazz Society, and a City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation on their 25th Anniversary, which was awarded by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the LA City Council which included then City Council member and current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.