Based in Brooklyn NY, composer, band leader, and woodwind artist Johnathan Lowery is an active freelancer specializing in both jazz and classical genres throughout the greater New York City area. John performs regularly with various groups including the Grammy nominated Terraza Big Band with co-leaders Michael Thomas and Edward Perez, the Grammy nominated band leader/composer Remy Le Boeuf with his group Assembly of Shadows, the Erica Seguine/Shannon Baker Jazz Orchestra, and the BMI Jazz Orchestra for their Jazz Workshop series. In addition, John performs regularly with the Jazz Gallery’s Jazz Composer Showcase series, and as a woodwind substitute on various on and off-broadway shows. On clarinet, John has collaborated with and performed pieces by Robert Rowe, Corte Lippe, and Eric Lyon among others, often incorporating elements of improvisation and live electronics. He has performed with various dance companies and artists like choreographer Gina Bashour Iacono, composer Julia Adolphe for the Barge Music’s world premiere of her opera Sylvia, and the Millennium Chamber Symphony. As a composer and leader of The Johnathan Lowery Sextet, his ensemble combines musicians steeped in the languages of jazz, classical and folk music, with some Brazilian influences. 

John earned his B.M. at the Eastman School of Music, completing a double major in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media and Music Education. He also served as Adjunct Saxophone and Piano Instructor at New York University, where he completed his M.M. in Jazz Studies. Currently, John is on faculty at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School.

Matthew Honor is a percussionist based in Brooklyn, NY. Hailing from the frozen tundra of Plattsburgh, NY, Matt began his life in music at age nine by constructing elaborate drum sets out of his parents' cookware; he has been playing the drums ever since. Matt holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Manhattan School of Music. Since moving to New York City in 2013 Matt has established himself as an indispensable musician in the jazz and improvised music community. He is a member of the Kevin Sun Trio, the critically acclaimed quintet Cowboys and Frenchmen, Cat Toren's Humankind, and many other ensembles.

Matt Aronoff

Bassist and composer Matt Aronoff grew up in Northern New Jersey. He played saxophone and trumpet throughout his childhood though always being drawn to the bass. At 17 he found a splintered, beat up bass in the high school choir room and was given access to it—-as long as he sang in the school chorus. After months of intense 20 hour “practice days” he was able to learn the instrument well enough to win a Scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University where he studied with his two greatest influences Anthony Bianco and Eric Kloss. After a brief stint in Spain where he placed third in the Navarra Symphony Orchestra he returned to the states where he was given a Scholarship to attend Manhattan School of Music.

After graduating Manhattan School of Music he spent a year touring with Grammy winning artist Luciana Souza. Since that time he has been deeply involved in the New York music scene being praised for his, “musicianship at the highest level, paired with an incredibly emotional connection with the crowd” (Jazz Advocate). At this point he has had the pleasure of touring or recording with musicians like Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, Peter Eldridge, Banda Magda, The New York Voices, Zach Brock (Snarky Puppy), Bob Lanzetti (Snarky Puppy), Jane Monheit, Matt Wilson and Anat Cohen in addition to performers like Alan Cumming, Sandra Bernhard and Ana Gasteyer . Well known for being, “greatly sensitive, with huge ears and a feel for accompaniment” (All About Jazz) he is a heavily sought after acoustic and electric bassist in NY. He has also recently held the chair for Broadway’s newest revival of West Side Story and The Roundabout Theatre’s revival of Merrily We Roll Along.

When he isn’t on the road he is also currently a Teaching Artist through Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute. Through this program he has had the opportunity to play and compose music and perform with people in neglected communities such as hospitals, prisons, detention centers and homeless shelters. Without a doubt these concerts/recordings and collaborations are some of the most moving musical experiences of his life.

Martha Kato Bio

Born and raised in Nagoya, Japan, Martha Kato is a pianist, composer and arranger in her blossoming career in New York. 

Based in New York since 2009, she has performed across the world as a bandleader and collaborator at major venues such as Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Blue Note Tokyo, Cotton Club Japan, The Jazz Gallery, Dizzy’s Club, Smoke Jazz & Supper Club and Smalls Jazz Club. Playing in a wide range of styles and instrumentations, she has shared the stage and studio-recording with collaborators including Remy Le Boeuf, Miho Hazama, Alexis Cuadrado, Jonathan Powell and Pedro Giraudo. 

Her debut album Tales from The Trees (Somethin' Cool, 2016) has highlighted her brilliance both in playing and writing, featuring the 8-piece band with her vocals which add a unique taste to the ensemble. Mixed flavors from music of West Africa, South America, Jazz and classical music, her music keeps the weight of improvisation and composition in an interesting balance. The album was elected for Jazz Life Disc Grand Prix, category of New Stars by Japanese jazz magazine Jazz Life. 

Her recent work includes some big band commissions. The big band arrangement of her composition After The Rain won the 1st place at Yamano Big Band Contest in 2017 performed by Keio Light Society Music. 

Martha’s awards and honors include the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award (2012), ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award (2014) and she is a second-place winner of Montreux Jazz Solo Piano Competition in Kawasaki 2014. She was a scholarship recipient of The Juilliard School and The New School, where she studied with Kenny Barron, Kevin Hays, Robert Sadin, Reggie Workman and more. She is on Remy Le Boeuf's Grammy-nominated album "Assembly of Shadows" as a pianist. She has a bachelor’s degree from The New School.

Instagram: @lowerywoodwinds

Martha Kato - Piano
Matt Aronoff - Bass
Matt Honor - Drums