This trio is loaded with talent!

Randy Napoleon is an American jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger who tours nationally and internationally. He has also toured with the Freddy Cole Quartet, Benny Green, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra led by John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton, Rene Marie, and with Michael Bublé.[1][2][3][4]

He is an expert on the Cole school, the music of Freddy Cole and Nat King Cole.[5]

He is an associate professor and Associate Director of Jazz Studies in the College of Music at Michigan State University[6] and has done master classes at universities and music schools throughout the United States and Canada.[7] During a 2023 tour of Japan, he taught at several colleges throughout the country. During summers, he is on the faculty of the Brevard Music Center's Jazz Institute. [8]

John Hill received both a Bachelor of Music Ed. degree and a Master of Music Performance degree from Central Michigan University and is a proud former student of late percussionist, Mr. Robert Hohner.  In Michigan public schools for over twenty-nine years, he is currently on staff at Oxford High School where he teaches Guitar, Jazz Band, and Marching Band.  He is also adjunct faculty for both Mott Community College.  Mr. Hill is a respected jazz/classical percussionist and a highly sought clinician in schools throughout the state.  He performs regularly with the Flint Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Bay Symphony, and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra.

Jeff Pedraz is a Philadelphia native bassist, composer and educator. He is an accomplished musician who possesses both virtuosity and versatility on both the Double bass and Electric bass and has worked in an array of musical situations ranging from orchestral to more modern genres and beyond.

Jeff’s life changed forever upon his introduction to the rich and colorful jazz community in Philadelphia in the late 1990’s at Ortlieb’s Jazz Haus, which had a house band consisting of jazz masters Shirley Scott, Bobby Durham, Mickey Roker, Arthur Harper, Sid Simmons, Mike Boone, and Byron Landham. Soon after sitting in on various jam sessions Jeff worked his way into the rotation of house musicians and had the opportunity to perform with many artists including Jimmy Oliver, Cecil Payne, Sam Dockery, Trudy Pitts, Billy James, Tim Warfield, John Swana as well as many others. It was at Ortliebs where he received much of his formidable training as a jazz musician. Beyond Philly, he has lived and performed in New York City, Chicago and now calls Detroit home.

1st Friday Music on the Bricks is brought to you by The Greater Flint Arts Council.