Amherst Glebe Arts Response and Second Stage present Joseph Henson, saxophone; Jon Werking, piano; Jon Brye, bass; and Jay Ware, drums, playing some jazz standards and some Henson originals. Ticket price includes one free cup of coffee, water, or soda. Food is available for purchase from Baine’s Books & Coffee.

Joseph Henson, saxophone

Joseph grew up in South Carolina where he attended the University of South Carolina as a music major. While working on his Master’s of Music at the University of North Texas he played in the One O’Clock Lab Band for three consecutive years and studied with Neil Slater, Jim Riggs, and Dan Haerle. From 1997-2018 Henson served as tenor saxophonist in The U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, based in Washington, DC, and was the Enlisted Musical Director from 2015-2018. During his tenure with the Blues, he shared the stage with many jazz legends including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dr. Billie Taylor, Freddie Cole, and Chris Potter. Henson’s compositions and arrangements for the band, including Things Ain’t What they Used To Be and Live at Blues Alley can be heard on several Army Blues recordings. Joseph is the director of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Liberty University and leads his own small group that plays acoustic and electric jazz. His album Transformation can be found at https://josephhenson.bandcamp.com, and his recent albums Shock Wave and Groovesonic will soon be available there as well. ​Learn more at https://www.josephhensonjazz.com/

Jay Ware, drums

Jay is an award-winning performing artist, educator, arranger, and music advocate. Completing his undergraduate studies at Mars Hill University with a double major in Music Performance and Music Education, he holds the Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Appalachian State University. Jay has performed or recorded with over 200 artists, including: Grammy Award winner Delfeayo Marsalis, Grammy nominee Donny McCaslin, Wycliffe Gordon, Jason Marsalis, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Mary Wilson and The Supremes, Pulitzer-Prize winner Gunther Schuller, the Broyhill Chamber Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra and many others. He has performed at Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto Music Festivals, Charlotte Jazz Festival, Cheraw Jazz Festival, American Bandmasters Association, CBDNA, MENC, Percussive Arts Society Days of Percussion nationwide, as well as special appearances on various television and radio broadcasts. He is in high demand as a versatile performing artist, guest conductor, adjudicator, and has offered masterclasses at universities and schools all over the U.S.

Jon Werking, piano

Jon was born and grew up in upstate NY (upper Hudson Valley) and went to New York City in the late 80s to pursue a career in music. Jon has been involved in Redeemer’s music ministry for over 25 years, and has performed and/or recorded with The Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle, Deborah Cox, Liza Minelli, Linda Eder, Edwin McCain, The New York Pops, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bruce Hornsby, Roberta Flack, Michael and Randy Brecker, saxophonists Grover Washington Jr.and Bill Evans, The Drummers Steve Gadd, Neil Peart (of Rush), bassist Will Lee of the David Letterman Show. Jon was featured pianist with the Buddy Rich Big Band on the “Burning for Buddy” tribute album/DVD. He was the in-house accompanist for the “Regis and Kelly Show” from 2005-2007. His recent solo piano CD is entitled “Every Horizon.”