Fronting the band with a warm and joyful presence, Atlay Washington demonstrates an impressive stylistic range and has earned a reputation as one of the classiest vocalists in the region. She has performed widely in the Baltimore area concert circuit and also has worked extensively with gospel groups, including direction of the First and Franklin Street Church Gospel Choir.
Jazz Caravan's bassman, David Hughes, is a graduate of Boston's famous Berklee College of Music, where electric bass was his principal instrument. He has performed with such acclaimed jazz-fusion groups as Cold Fusion, Jazz Happens, and (currently) Oblivion Sun. He rounds out his musical pursuits as a producer and multi-instrumentalist for local and regional talent.
After earning her degrees in music from Wellesley and Tufts, pianist Liz Sesler-Beckman toured Europe and Japan, performing with such greats as Tonight Show drummer Ed Shaughnessy, bassist Milt Hinton, and saxophonist Don Menza, among others. She has conducted music clinics at colleges throughout the east coast and has also written music for film. Currently she is on the music faculty of the Gilman School.
Featured on both trumpet and flugel horn, Eric Heavner studied at the Peabody Conservatory. Since graduating from the Jazz Workshop, he has blown his horns with such jazz greats as Webster Young and Julius Hemphill.
Saxophonist Stuart Dailey studied music at Wesley College in Dover, Deleware, then joined the Air Force, where he performed in the Air Force World Wide Band. The Air Force Tops in Blue band recruited Stuart to serve as first chair saxophone. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Stuart went on to play for such successful regional bands as Jazzis; at the same became an educator and is now music director of the Cherry Hill Elementary and Middle School in Baltimore.
Percussionist Ron Tanner drummed his way through California and Nevada's night club and casino circuit for seven years before moving to Baltimore. Backing such bands as The East Bay Express and Indiscreet, he has performed at The Sands, The Sahara, Keystone-Berkeley and other famous venues.
