The Dave Howard Initiative performs high-energy, contemporary groove, jazz, funk, blues, and fusion compositions.

Dave Howard (guitar, composition, arrangements)
Berklee College of Music professor, Dave Howard, is an exciting musician, influenced by many great jazz, blues, and funk artists — from George Benson, Path Metheny, John Scofield, and Bill Frisell to BB King, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin. He has performed throughout the US, and has toured and offered clinics in Europe. Some of his European concerts and clinics include: Roccella Jazz Festival/Clinics with the Dave Howard Calabrese 5tet Project; Cortale’ Jazz festival, Calabria, Italy; Umbria Jazz Clinics with Berklee College of Music, Umbria, Italy; and The Pepperoncino Jazz Festival, Calabria, Italy.

Steve Gutherz (keyboards)
Steve’s playing experience covers many genres and many recordings including Latin Jazz with the Steve Gutherz Quartet, featuring four-time grammy winners, Oscar Stagnaro on bass, Mark Walker on drums (Paquito D’Rivera), and Samuel Batista on sax. He has performed Soul Jazz with the band, Soul Custody. He’s played mainstream jazz for decades with the band, “Good Company” featuring the inimitable Dave Clark on bass. He’s played rhythm and blues with Barry Marshall and the “Rockin' Robins” and spiritual/religious music with Kol Libeinu and Shabat Rinah. And to round out his eclectic career, he’s performed with blues bands, including “Deal Me In,” doubling on blues harmonica. Steve has participated in a number of international jazz festivals in Europe including Rocella, Peperoncino, and Armonie D’Arte.

Michael Johnson (bass)
Michael is a bassist, vocalist, guitarist, arranger, and producer/engineer from Denver, Colorado. He earned a Masters and Doctorate degree in Vocal Jazz and Studio Music where he sang in the award winning Jazz Vocal I Ensemble. He has worked with many artists including John Oates, Jon Secada, Lari White, Bob Dorough and Dawn Lewis. His studio work includes soundtracks for the Orange Bowl Half-Time Show, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and album projects at the Record Plant (formerly Criteria Studios) in Miami. He continues to produce numerous projects under his “Fringe Collective” imprint. He is an Associate Professor at Berklee School of Music and an Instructor at the New England Conservatory.

Sammy Biancuzzo (drums)
Sam started his performance career in the early ’60s with his band, the “Henchmen.” He attended Berklee while performing with Billy Squire and Van Morrison then joined the well-known world tour band “Mason Dixon and the Line.” He later performed with the popular Boston band “Breakaway” and recorded with Columbia in NYC. Sam has also performed at the Teluride, Colorado Jazz Festival with Steve Morse and worked with The Brecker Bros. in “Dreams.” Presently Sam plays with local Boston bands and engages in freelance studio work.

Doors open at 7pm • Music starts at 7:30pm
$12/online • $15/door • Purchase tickets here.Tickets available online until 4pm on the day of the show.