Vibraphonist/vocalist Roy Ayers is among the best-known, most loved and respected jazz/R&B artist on the music-scene today. In his 40-plus years as a vibraphonist, Ayers has produced a string of soul and funk classics, like “We Live In Brooklyn Baby” and “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” that has arguably made him the second-most sampled musician in hip-hop, after James Brown. You may have heard snippets of his music in songs by 50 Cent protégé Tony Yayo (“Fake Love”) or A Tribe Called Quest (“Bonita Applebum”). But while the exposure of his extensive catalogue is enough to boost any man’s ego, the 68-year-old Ayers remains humble and busy.Known as the Godfather of Neo-soul, Ayers continues to bridge the gap between generations of music lovers. In the 60’s he was an award-winning jazz vibraphonist, and transformed into a popular R&B band leader in the 70's/80's. Today, the dynamic music man is an iconic figure still in great demand and whose music industry heavyweights, including Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac and Ice Cube. Ayers recently recorded with hip hop artist Talib Kweli (produced by Kanye West) and jazz/R&B singer Wil Downing. --Ian Kamau is a writer, producer and a graphic/visual artist, born and raised in Toronto to Trinidadian parents who are renowned documentary filmmakers. He grew up around ideas, information, education and art. Music and art has taken him around the world --from painting murals in downtown neighbourhoods in Toronto, to volunteering with youth hip-hop projects in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Nairobi to working with the Royal Conservatory of Music. --BadBadNotGood could easily be described as the band that brings Jazz lovers and Rap lovers together under one roof, appreciating each other’s genres. What started as an afterschool jam session quickly grew into much more. Bonded by a love of 40s, Hip-Hop and a disdain for traditional Jazz, BadBadNotGood are pushing to the forefront of modern music. Whether it’s doing interpretations of infamous thug emcees such as Gucci Mane or of 90’s legends A Tribe Called Quest, rap music has never sounded so different, so fresh, yet so familiar. Their talent is quickly being recognized across North America by the likes of LA Weekly, Exclaim and Prefix. --DJ John Kong has close to 20 years’ experience as a musical aficionado & DJ, and a well-known jazz, funk, hip-hop and soul-inspired electronic music tastemaker. Some of the city’s foundational parties such as Movement and the Do Right! Revue bear his indelible stamp of party-rocking great taste.