© 2020 by Jazz Central Studios. All rights reserved
MEET THE BOARD
JCS Founder, Executive Director,
Drummer, Composer, and Author
Mac has been playing music professionally since the age of 16, growing up in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. He attended Sonoma State University, receiving a Bachelor of Music from Idaho State University, settling in the Twin Cities in 1983. His musical experiences have been wide and varied having played in just about every musical configuration possible: touring with the British rock band Badfinger, performing in pit orchestras at the Guthrie Theater and Minnesota Opera, playingwith blues legend Mojo Buford, as well as Grover Washington Jr., Doc Severinson, The Dallas Brass, Savion Glover, Jack McDuff, Paul Bollenbeck and Dick Oatts.
MAC SANTIAGO
Founder, Northwestern Foods, Inc.
Alden has been involved in Jazz Central since the beginning as advisor, backer, board member and patron.
ALDEN DREW
JCS Marketing and Development Manager
Kate is an artist, writer, and an expert educator & speaker on mindfulness. She has created her own product line, been a business owner, a theater artist, a life model, an integrative healthcare practitioner, and has lived in MN since 1985 when she relocated from Western NY.
She is the author of "The Mindfulness Habit: Six Weeks to Creating the Habit of Being Present.
She has deep love for jazz, but the only thing she currently plays is her stereo.
KATE SCIANDRA
JCS Board Vice-President
Bassist and Composer
Anthony is known for his work with several leading musicians including Geri Allen, Dewey Redman, Dave Douglas, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Gary Thomas, Marty Ehrlich, Ed Blackwell, Joe Lovano, and Dave King. He plays mainly in the post-bop, avant-garde, and traditional styles, though he is “versatile enough to work in any style effectively.”
Anthony grew up in Minneapolis and attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Anthony’s ability to accompany and still add very creative ideas into whatever music he is playing is remarkable.
ANTHONY COX
JCS Treasurer
Steve Kenny is active in the Minnesota Jazz community as a Performer, Composer, Band Leader, Producer, Publisher, and Curator. He is a founding member of “the illicit sextet”, "Group 47", "What Would Monk Do?" and his own Quartets, and he is the creative force behind the production company "illicit Productions", which produces well over 100 live shows a year and produced the three volumes of the successful ‘Twin Cities Jazz Sampler’ releases. Steve curates weekly Jazz series at Jazz Central Studios, Black Dog Cafe, and at Studio Z.
STEVE KENNY
Retired attorney
Laura worked in Plaintiff Personal Injury in Texas, Hawai’i, and Minnesota, and did pro bono work in family, probate and housing law for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and Ramsey County Law Library Legal Clinic before retiring in 2017.
First career was playing and teaching piano and keyboards. Played jazz, pop, and cocktail piano in Houston, Texas; accompanied classical singers; played for musical theaters in Houston and San Antonio; taught privately and class piano lessons for Houston City Parks.
Currently reviving piano skills in various genres. Enjoying pandemic days with my daughter and life in general.