Winard Harper Sextet Bios
Inspired by the musicianship of greats such as Clifford Brown, Max Roach, Jackie McLean, Cannonball Adderley , Dr. Billy Taylor, Art Blakey and Billy Higgins, Winard Harper has been the leader and musical inspiration for a vibrant sextet for almost a decade. The group appears regularly all over the United States from the Kennedy Center in Washington , D.C. to Yoshi's , the legendary West Coast jazz club. Although clearly the dominant force behind this extraordinarily gifted ensemble, Harper has surrounded himself with superbly talented young guardians of the jazz tradition who are as entertaining to watch as they are to hear.
Winard Harper
Constantly in reverence of his predecessors while remaining innovative in his own right, Harper has become one of the most celebrated drummers in jazz. A virtuoso on the drum set as well as the balafon , he has worked as sideman to such jazz legends as Betty Carter, Ray Bryant, Abdullah Ibrahim , Pharoah Sanders and Clifford Jordan. Â In the eighties, he and his brother Philip launched The Harper Brothers, which blazed a brilliant trail both on the charts and the international touring circuit. Â When not touring with his band, Harper continues to work and record with such artists such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Joe Lovano , Avery Sharpe, Steve Turre , Wycliffe Gordon, Frank Wess , Ray Bryant, Monty Alexander and Jimmy Heath.
Alioune Faye
Alioune Faye was born and raised in a Griot (storytelling) family in Dakar , Senegal , West Africa and began drumming at the age of 7.  Alioune specializes in Sabar , Tama (talking drum), Djembe and Soruba drums.  He performed two years as a master drummer for the Ballet d¡¦Afrique Noire of Senegal and has played with top African bands and dance ensembles in Africa such as: Sing Sing Rhythms, Am Yaka African Dance Collective and Youssou N¡¦Dour .  Alioune currently tours with Winard Harper Sextet and Bousso Dancers.  He has worked with Peter Gabriel, Whitney Houston, Macy Gray, Destiny Child, Jimmy Cliff, Frank London, Lemzo Diamono , Wycliff Jean, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Jack DeJohnette , Dr. Billy Taylor and Harry Balefonte .  Faye has appeared in prestigious venues at Lincoln Center , The United Nations, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center , and Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Ameen Saleem
Ameen Saleem , jazz bassist, has performed with the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble, the North Carolina Central University Jazz Ensemble, the Queens College Jazz Ensemble, the Eve Cornelious and Chip Crawford Trio, and The Winard Harper Sextet. Saleem has appeared at the Montreaux , North Sea , Vienne , East Coast, Hampton , Jazz Vox , and Carolina Jazz Festivals. Recordings include Beyond the Horizons and Central Standard Time with the North Carolina Central University Jazz Ensemble, Schuman Nature with Tom Schuman , A Time for Soul with The Winard Harper Sextet, and DC Project with Bruce Williams.
Stacy Dillard
Stacy Dillard, raised in Muskegon Heights , Michigan , started playing the saxophone at a rather late age. Â It was a run-in with Wynton Marsalis in Dayton , Ohio that would turn his attention to the New York Scene. Â Since the in 2002, Stacy has caught the attention of many with his large and rich tone, developed ideas, accurate technique, work ethic, and patience, leading to a number of working opportunities. Dillard has played with Winard Harper, Cindy Blackmon, Lenny White, Norman Simmons, Frank Lacy, Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Reed, Roy Hargrove, Stephon Harris, Ernestine Anderson, Terrell Stafford, Herlin Riley, John Hicks, Frank Wess , Mulgrew Miller, Clark Terry, Victor Lewis, Steve Wilson, Johnny O'neal , Antonio Hart, Russell Malone, Mark Whitfield, the Mingus Big Band, and a host of others, including Shirley Ceasar , Alex Bugnon , Stephanie Mills, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, and more.
Josh Evans
Josh Evans, born and raised in Hartford , Connecticut , started playing the trumpet when he was ten.  His musical career was to be shaped by meeting and being mentored by the great Jackie McLean beginning at age 13.  Performances with the late, great McLean included venues such as the Blue Note, Iridium, and Bushnell Theatre. While attending the Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts High School, Josh was selected for the All-American Grammy High School Jazz Band, won the Wynton Kelly Award and an Outstanding Soloist Award from Down Beat magazine.  In 2002, Josh worked with Terell Staffors while attended the Vail Jazz Workshop on scholarship.  He left Vail to attend Manhattan School of Music.  Josh  has shared the stage with many notables, including Cedar Walton, Barry Harris, Jimmy Greene, Steve Davis and Winard Harper.
Sean Higgins
Sean Higgins¡¦ energetic and swinging solos pay homage to McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, and Kenny Kirkland.  Sean has earned his B.M. in Jazz Performance at UNC-Wilmington. He recently earned his Master's Degree at Northern Illinois University, where he played in and composed for the NIU Liberace Jazztet and the Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble led by Ronald Carter.  Sean has had many professional appearances, including the 2004 Iowa City Jazz Festival, the 2004 Lima Peru Jazz Festival, and the 2005 Elmurst Jazz Festival, the Chicago House of Blues, and the Dizzy Gillespie Coca Cola room in the new Jazz at Lincoln Center building in NYC.  He has the stage with Stephanie Nakasian , Al Maniscalco , Alvin Atkinson, Wycliffe Gordon, and Fareed Haque . He has opened for Dave Holland, Fourplay , Talib Kweli , Ryan Cohen, and Stefon Harris and Blackout.