Maplewood’s Blue Sphere Jazz Quartet plays jazz warm and cool, from Miles Davis and Bill Evans to the Latin and funk grooves of Horace Silver and Herbie Hancock. Featuring some of the area’s finest musicians — including Bill Tally (piano and vocals), John Lenis (bass), Rich Falcetano (guitar) and John Straus and Mitch Germansky (drums) — their music adds a cool, relaxed vibe to downtown Maplewood’s burgeoning outdoor dining scene.

Ben Williams, whose trombone playing has been hailed by the Audiophile Review as being “soulful and thoughtful, with a rich, expressive sound “. has extensive performing experience as a freelance artist in the New York City area. A co- recipient of a Jazz Fellowship Grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, Ben has led and co-led numerous groups under his own name performing in many venues in the NYC area and across the country.

Originally from Hartford Connecticut, Tom Pietrycha relocated to New York City in 1998, and quickly became in demand. Tom has performed with many top jazz artists including Vincent Herring, Houston Person, Danilo Perez, Tom Harrel, Nick Bringnola, Curtis Fuller, Joe Wilder, Slide Hampton, John Hicks, Mike LeDonne, Randy Johnston, Frank Wess, Eddie Henderson, David Hazeltine, Eric Alexander, Lea Delaria, Jim Rotondi, Eddie Henderson, Jesse Davis, Cecil Payne, George Colligan, Benny Golson, George Gee, Mark Turner, Dave Stryker, and Bob DeVos.

Lyndon Achee was born and raised in Trinidad. An active performer in New York, he has recorded and performed with Nile Rodgers' R.T. G. Productions, Anthony Braxton, Eric Leeds' Paisely Park release, David Pleasant, Jay Hoggard, Arnie Lawrence, Winston Grennan, and at the Lincoln Center Summer Concert Series, with the Village Drums of Freedom.

Maplewood’s Blue Sphere Jazz Quartet plays jazz warm and cool, from Miles Davis and Bill Evans to the Latin and funk grooves of Horace Silver and Herbie Hancock. Featuring some of the area’s finest musicians — including Bill Tally (piano and vocals), John Lenis (bass), Rich Falcetano (guitar) and John Straus and Mitch Germansky (drums) — their music adds a cool, relaxed vibe to downtown Maplewood’s burgeoning outdoor dining scene.

Versatile guitarist Ivan Max has been playing, performing and teaching for over 30 years. He combines Flamenco, Classical, and Jazz music for a unique guitar sound. He regularly performs with Toni Messina and Viva Flamenca. Since 2014, Ivan has been the resident Flamenco and Classical guitarist for Alborada Spanish Dance Theater.

Dominant Seven is a jazz / funk band from Westfield, NJ, formed by saxophonists Jack Garceau, Ben Mizrach, and Ben Kevelson, guitarist Stephen Park, pianist and vocalist, Catherine Moore, bassist Josh Markowitz, and drummer Lucy Ritter while students at Westfield High School in 2017. While college brought the band their separate ways, COVID-19 has reunited them for the summer to bring feel-good music to socially-distanced crowds.