Charles Blenzig, Pianist
Charles Blenzig is a pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and percussionist who slips effortlessly among musical styles while retaining his own distinct sound. Born in the Bronx and coming of age in the late 70s, he had the good fortune to learn his craft from the masters in Manhattan Jazz clubs where knowledge was passed on in the traditional way, by ear. He has been a part of the New York City Jazz scene for over 35 years.
His first real visible gig was with the Gil Evans Orchestra which performed every Monday night at Sweet Basil Jazz Club in N.Y.C. Performing with the orchestra gave Blenzig the opportunity to play some of the most influential arrangements in the history of Jazz and to perform with the finest Jazz musicians in the world including Hiram Bullock, Mark Egan, Alex Foster, Kenwood Denard, George Adams, and Gil Goldstein.
In the late 1990s he hosted The Late Night Session at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in the heart of Greenwich Village. The Session was a steady gig for nearly a decade which made him a recognizable face in the Jazz community. Charles has been musical director for singer/songwriter Michael Franks since 1990, for whom he has co-composed, produced, recorded, as well as arranged an evening of Frank’s songs for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed on over 100 recordings, including four albums of his own as a leader.
Blenzig has had the privilege of working with Gato Barbieri, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Lou Soloff, Bill Evans (former saxophonist with Miles Davis), Marcus Miller, Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, Joe Beck, Joe Locke, Eddie Gomez, Grady Tate, Roy Ayers, John Patitucci, Manolo Badrena, Billy Heart, Harvey Mason, Lee Ritenour, Dave Weckl, and many others.
Along with performing, Charles is passionate about teaching Jazz and has taught for over 40 years, most notably at the State University of New York at Purchase where he mentored hundreds of young Jazz musicians such as Joey Calderazzo, Bill Charlap, Theo Hill, Bobby Avey, Bruce Harris, and Jonathan Saraga.
Karyna Balch, Vocalist
Karyna Balch is a vocalist, musician and songwriter originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. Balch’s professional jazz career started with a one-song gig opening for comedian Dana Carvey at San Jose State University’s homecoming gala. That gig led to regular work with the Black Market Jazz Orchestra, performing at the legendary Top of the Mark in San Francisco, as well as weddings in and around the city. She spent her college years taking lessons with the late pianist Frank Sumares and vocal jazz teacher Anne Marie Katemopolis, performing with the top jazz combo and competing at the Reno Jazz Festival. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies, Karyna moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, where she kicked off her original music career while continuing to work as a jazz and pop vocalist. Karyna has shared stages with vocalist Jamie Davis (Count Basie Jazz Orchestra) and has sung for audiences that included NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice and the recently departed former United States Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta.
