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Community of the Spirit

Titled after one of Rumi's most known poems, Community of the Spirit (COS) seeks to fulfill deep, honest expression through the original compositions, the personal interpretations of the material, and the art of improvisation. Crossing jazz and classical boundaries, combining strings and flute with vocalist and rhythm section, and setting new and original music to poetry, Community of the Spirit is an alternative choice amongst a mainstream music scene.

COS has performed at venues such as the 5C Cafe, Puppets Jazz Bar, and The Shrine, and its members have won awards such as the Zurich Jazz Orchestra Composer Competition and Honorable Mention in the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards.

Vocalist Kate Victor, from Fairfield, CT, is a jazz vocal major at William Paterson University of New Jersey. Kate has been singing since the time she decided to perform "A Whole New World" for everyone in line at the grocery store when she was three years old, but she also has been playing the cello for 11 years. Kate loves to perform most styles, and looks forward to breaking into the jazz scene.

Flutist Shannon Baker is a jazz composition and arranging graduate student at William Paterson University of New Jersey. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz studies from the University of North Florida, where she studied saxophone with Bunky Green. Baker has performed and lead various groups in the Tampa, FL area.

Pianist Erica Seguine received her BM from the Eastman School of Music in Jazz Composition, studying with teachers Bill Dobbins and Harold Danko, and she is currently pursuing a Masters degree at William Paterson, studying with Rich DeRosa. She has won numerous awards such as 1st Place in the 1st biannual Zurich Jazz Orchestra Composition Competition, Honorable Mention in the 2009 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards, and was selected for the NYSSMA 2004 Young Composers Honors Concert. She has also performed as a classical accompanist and jazz pianist in various groups and settings.

Leo Sherman is a bassist and composer in the New York and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. He currently resides in NYC and freelances around the Mid-Atlantic. While in D.C., Leo was fortunate to perform with members of the Airmen of Note, Navy Commodores, and other national big bands. He also played with a professional latin/salsa band called Big Band Caliente. Some of the musicians he's performed or recorded with include: Conrad Herwig, Rich DeRosa, Benito Gonzalez, Joni Paladin, Gail Marten, Tim Ford, Bob Boguslaw, Ed Crowe, Frank Russo, Michael Price, Jeff Antoniuk, Perry Conticchio, The Joe Etzine Trio, Donvonte McCoy, Mark Mosley, and Brian Settles, and he performs regularly at clubs and restaurant-bars such as Shrine, Smalls, the Lenox Lounge, and Stop 125.

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