Heffner & Hefner Jazz Band from Bradenton, FL

This brother and sister team, (Stan the Man) Heffner & (Katt) Hefner and their musicians are professional, high energy yet smooth and fun. Collectively and individually they have entertained nationally and internationally for Concert Halls, Colleges, Festivals, Night Clubs, Supper Clubs, Corporate and Private Events and Weddings. They current CD release entitled "Over & Under Blues" has received honorable mention in The Ticket/Herald Tribune Scoreboard - Music Roundup edition, which in part is contributed to their stage show "Two Jims and a Nancy", a heartfelt tribute to Jazz greats Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, and Nancy Wilson. CD has found Heffner & Hefner's "Over & Under Blues" to be one of their Top Albums featured numerous times. They are a (5) piece Hammond B3 Organ jazz & blues band rounded off with saxophone, guitar, drums/percussion and vocals, receiving rave reviews. Jazz Producer Paul Richardson describes this group as fresh and inventive while still playing to the legacy of jazz they follow. Versatility is a part of their core from "back in the day" with Jazz, Blues, R&B, Swing & Big Band and special Tributes as they perform anything from Ella, Lena, Basie, Ellington; Bossa, Sade; Aretha, Natalie Cole,Tina Turner, Etta James to Michael Jackson and beyond and in-between with the 50's 60's and 70's including their own originals! The newest addition to their genre of music, Heffner & Hefner has created THE OLD SCHOOL FUNK BAND where they take you back into the 70's & 80's disco, funk and r&b classics. Yowzer, Yowzer, Yowzer! Heffner & Hefner are a perfect entertainment match for any event. YOUR event! BIOGRAPHIES Accomplished jazz siren, KATT HEFNER, possesses a compelling voice that ranks in the very top echelon of respected female jazz singers. On stage, Katt is truly an engaging performer who just loves to entertain. With a voice rich in strength and clarity, her melodic tones capture and mesmerize her audience. This song stylist has a list of credits that include off-Broadway musicals, television shows, movies, CDs and concerts that she has shared the stage with such musical greats as Patti LaBelle, Al Hibler, The Temptations, Sandra Reaves, Luther Vandross, The Four Freshman, Warren Covington Orchestra, Connie Haines, John Lamb, Buster Cooper, Fred Johnson, Kenny Drew Jr., and more. By invitation, Katt was greeted by the Counselor of Public Affairs / Embassy of the United States of America to perform in the Moscow Int'l Jazz Festival. From Ford City, PA, STAN "The Man" HEFFNER is a self taught musician. The dream of wanting to become an organ player began at age 8 after hearing "Midnight Special" and "The Sermon" by Jimmy Smith. Being influenced by the sounds of Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff, Stan started playing the organ at age 16. His high energy playing was developed by being mentored by Jimmy McGriff acts at the historic Crawford Grille and The Hollywood Club in Pittsburgh, PA. During the 70's and 80's Stan experimented with playing other keyboards and began writing dynamic songs including Christian contemporary. With an array of songs listed in the Library of Congress, "Stan the Man" is a musician to be recognized. Saxophonist, composer and jazz educator, BUTCH THOMAS,is widely known and respected, having toured with Sting, Lenny Kravitz, the late legendary jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius, Elton John, Diana Ross, James Taylor and many others. Born and raised in St Louis, Missouri, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music from Webster University. Soon after graduating, he relocated to New York City, where he established a relationship with the great instrumentalist and composer Jaco Pastorius (featured on Pastorius' recordings "Punk Jazz" and "NYC Jam" and featured live from 1983-1987). The rest is history including The Temptations (1986), Thomas Dolby (1988), Dave Valentin (1988) and Lenny Kravitz (1989). He's received a number of video credits including Lenny Kravitz' hit "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over". VINCENT SIMS/ Guitarist Sims attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston and received a Bachelors degree in Information Systems from the University of South Florida. He has played with many recognized artists in the jazz and blues fields. Artists such as Al Downing, Lucky Peterson, James Peterson, Koko Taylor, Katt Hefner and Belinda Womack. JOE RENDA/Drums He performs all styles of jazz and has won 2nd prize in the first annual "Battle of the Beat" sponsored by the Long Island Drum Center of New York, with over 1,800 drummers competing. Joe was very active in the New York music scene, including performing in jazz clubs and off-Broadway shows.