Anthony Stanco, a trumpet virtuoso from Southeast Michigan, draws deeply from Detroit's rich musical heritage. Under the mentorship of influential figures like Marcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker, Stanco developed his craft and unique voice as a musician.
As the leader of his own quintet, Stanco has performed at notable venues such as the Java Jazz Festival and Cairo Jazz Club. He served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department, performing in countries including South Africa and Indonesia.
​ Stanco’s musical achievements extend to his acclaimed albums, including Stanco’s Time, released on Origin Records in 2024. Featuring musicians like Joe Farnsworth, Walter Blanding, and Rodney Whitaker, the album has received praise for its innovative approach and depth. His live performances, such as those at the Detroit Jazz Festival, showcase his skill as a bandleader and trumpeter.
​ In addition to his performance career, Stanco is committed to education. As an assistant professor at Michigan State University, he teaches and mentors the next generation of jazz musicians. His experience as a guest artist at institutions around the world further solidifies his role in shaping the future of jazz education.
Stanco’s impact on the jazz community has been recognized with a Jazz Road Tours grant, which supported his national tour in 2024. He is also actively involved in outreach through Building Bridges with Music, a residency focused on promoting cultural understanding through music. As a Bach Trumpet endorsing artist, Stanco continues to make significant contributions to the jazz world.

Known as a forward-thinking musician with a passion for the jazz tradition, guitarist Randy Napoleon is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University. He is currently touring as a leader after twenty years of road apprenticeship with some of the most celebrated musicians and groups of our time. Napoleon cut his teeth touring with pianist Benny Green, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Michael Bublé, and a thirteen year tenure with Freddy Cole. He has also performed with artists across the jazz spectrum such as Bill Charlap, Natalie Cole, Monty Alexander, Rodney Whitaker and John Pizzarelli. Napoleon has performed or arranged on over seventy records. He arranged as well as performed on Freddy Cole's seven most recent records including the Grammy-nominated releases, Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B and My Mood Is You. He performed on The Clayton Hamilton Orchestra: Live at MCG. Napoleon is featured on Bublé's Grammy-nominated CD/DVD Caught in the Act.
Napoleon has played on The Tonight Show, Late Night With David Letterman, The View, The Today Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres show as well as TV shows in South America, Europe and Asia. He has performed across the globe at notable venues including Royal Albert Hall, The Sydney Opera House, The Hollywood Bowl, and Lincoln Center.
Guitarist George Benson calls Napoleon "sensational." Detroit Free Press critic Mark Stryker says Napoleon "plays with a gentle, purring tone that makes you lean in close to hear its range of color and articulation." Washington Post critic Mike Joyce praises his "exceptionally nimble finger-style technique." Comparing him to Wes Montgomery, music critic Michael G. Nastos says, "he displays an even balance of swing, soul, and single-line or chord elements that mark an emerging voice dedicated to tradition and universally accessible jazz values." The Door is Open marks Napoleon's eighth record as a bandleader and his second to feature music by the prolific jazz composer Gregg Hill.