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Laura Dreyer & The Manhattan/Rio Connection

Saxophonist, woodwind artist, and composer Laura Dreyer is a vibrant, creative voice in the New York jazz scene. Her catchy original compositions combine lyrical melodies with Jazz and Brazilian rhythms, resulting in an exciting, contemporary palette of sound with a strong rhythmic twist.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Laura has headlined at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, Blue Note Napa, The Montavilla Jazz Festival, The Syracuse Jazz Festival, and at many other festivals and jazz venues both nationally and internationally. As a multi-instrumentalist, Dreyer is in great demand as a sideperson. She has performed with numerous noted musicians.

Dreyer has a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Empire State College, where she received a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, and was also a scholarship student at the acclaimed Berklee College of Music. Dreyer studied with noted music educators Andy McGee, Joe Viola, and John LaPorta. In addition, she took private lessons with saxophone greats Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, and Hal Stein, composers Lyle Mays and Jim McNeely, and jazz pianist Dennis Kaufman. The National Endowment for the Arts awarded Laura three grants: one in performance and two in professional jazz study/composition. She participated in the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop conducted by composer/trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. Four of her songs have received honorable mention in Billboard Magazine's songwriting contests. Additionally, Laura was awarded two grants from The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council to produce a live concert which featured The New York Brazilian Jazz Funk Project.

Laura Dreyer - alto sax & flute
Kerry Politzer - piano
Scott Thompson - bass
Zach Mondlick - drums
Ami Molinelli - percussion