Band 26/27
Camil Arcarazo
Stephanie Borgani
Gary Jones III
Camil Arcarazo, born in Barcelona in 2003, is one of the most talented young musicians in the Catalan jazz scene. He plays guitar and double bass. He began playing at the age of four, performed on stage for the first time at ten, and has not stopped since. He grew musically with European Manouche musicians, and at the age of 13, he was amazed by the Barcelona jazz scene. From there, he started to explore and merge with the world of jazz, performing with musicians from the Barcelona scene in venues such as the Jamboree Jazz Club, Milano Jazz Club, and Sunset in Girona. He has played with musicians like Lluc Casares, Martín Leiton, Toni Vaquer, and Albert Bover. In 2022, he completed his studies at the Jazz Campus in Basel, having studied with teachers such as Lionel Loueke, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and Aydin Esen. He also participated in classes and masterclasses with musicians like Aaron Parks, Larry Grenadier or Brad Mehldau. He has performed across Europe with bands like Jorge Rossy Quartet, Raynald Colom 4tet, Jean Toussaint Organic 4tet, Marc Miralta Quartet, Iago Fernandez “Luzada”, Albert Bover Trio, Victor Carrascosa Quartet, Liceu BigBand with Richard Bona, Felix Rossy Quintet, Rajiv Haalavira Quartet, Silvain Joray Quartet, and Iannis Obiols Trio. He has also been invited as a soloist with the Orquestra de Jazz de Matosinhos and has participated in rehearsals with the Classijazz Bigband and Maria Schnidder. In the last year, he has recorded more than five albums with artists such as Jorge Rossy, Jean Toussaint, Chris Cheek, Marçal Perramon, Duarte Venturas, and Sam Barnett, among others. He has won the "Joventudes Musicales de España" competition with the Victor Carrascosa Quartet and also received the award for Best Student/Generation in the Erasmus program at the Jazzcampus in Basel.
Stephanie Borgani is a vocalist and composer from São Paulo whose music centers the use of the voice without words, both as a leader and as collaborator. With a background in Jazz performance, Brazilian music, and composition, Stephanie’s work flows through varying genres and instrumentations, drawing from contemporary classical music, Brazilian popular music, free improvisation, and large ensemble writing. She currently leads and and composes for the saxophone and voices chamber quartet “Mímica”, (debut album release in 2026 on YB Music), and past releases include her 2021 sextet album “Choro Party Progression”, recorded in Boston, and two EPs by “Respiro”, an original music duo with pianist Luis Chamis that has been active in São Paulo since 2022 with collaborations from artists Fábio Leal and Tatiana Parra. Stephanie is also a passionate sideperson and collaborator, having recorded on over a dozen projects to date as a guest vocalist or ensemble member. Highlights include pianist André Marques’ upcoming album “Entrelaços” and Salomão Soares’ 2023 album “Espirais”, both on the Brazilian label Blaxstream. Stephanie has performed on stages such as SESC Belenzinho, Sala São Paulo, SESC Pompeia, JazzB, Teatro Centro da Terra, SESC Instrumental Brasil, Festival de Música de Curitiba, FEMUCIC, Blue Note São Paulo, Festival Jazz a La Calle (Uruguay), and Bar LunÁtico (USA). Stephanie was based in the United States between 2015-2021, where she studied at Columbia University and the New England Conservatory under Bruce Barth, Helen Sung, Christine Correa, Dominique Eade, Frank Carlberg, Miguel Zenon, and Jason Moran. From 2022-2026, they were a student of arranging and composition under Tiago Costa, Rodrigo Lima, and Nelson Ayres, and took part the Popular Orchestra Conducting and Arranging Atelier with the Tom Jobim Youth Orchestra (EMESP - São Paulo).
Gary Jones III is a New York City–based drummer, composer, and bandleader originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He began playing drums at the age of four, developing a strong musical foundation through Gospel music. Gary attended the prestigious Cleveland School of the Arts and furthered his artistic development through programs including the Music Settlement (J@MS) and Tri-C JazzFest Academy. At 18, he performed with Terence Blanchard at the Tri-C Jazz Festival, an early milestone in his professional career. Gary earned his undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies and Composition from The New School and has since established himself as a dynamic and versatile presence in the contemporary music scene. He currently serves as drummer and percussionist for the Urban Bush Women production Scat!, which premiered at the Fisher Center in 2024, and has performed and collaborated with distinguished artists including Jason Moran, Reggie Workman, Sullivan Fortner, Philip Harper, Eddie Montalvo, William Parker, and many others. As a bandleader, Gary performs regularly throughout New York City with his quintet, presenting an original sound that blends tradition, innovation, and a deep commitment to artistic expression and community engagement through music.
Katarina Kochetova
Aidan O’Connor
Tino Ribeiro
Katarina Kochetova (UA/RS) is a pianist, vocalist, composer, and arranger whose music blends lyricism, improvisation, and contemporary jazz influences into a distinctive artistic voice. Born in Kyiv (UA) and raised in Belgrade (RS) in a family of musicians, she began studying classical piano at the age of 6 and discovered jazz at 13, a turning point that shaped her musical direction and artistic identity. Her musical journey began with a strong classical foundation, earning numerous awards in piano and music theory competitions before transitioning into jazz studies and developing a broader musical language. She studied at the Kornelije Stanković Music High School in Belgrade before moving to Vienna in 2018 to pursue Jazz Piano studies at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (MUK), where she later continued with Master’s studies. During her education, she also spent a year in Stockholm through an exchange program at the Royal College of Music, becoming actively involved in the Scandinavian jazz scene and expanding both her artistic perspective and international collaborations. Alongside her studies and performing career, Kochetova has received recognition at several international jazz competitions and awards. In 2024, she won the Joe Zawinul Prize in Jazz Piano and was nominated for the Austrian Jazz Award in the Best Newcomer category. She was also a finalist at the Langnau Jazz Nights International Piano Competition in Switzerland, earned second prize at the Katowice International Composition Competition, and has been recognized for her original compositions and work as both a pianist and composer in international competitions throughout her career. As a bandleader and collaborator, Kochetova has performed extensively throughout Europe, appearing at festivals and venues including Belgrade Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival, Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Roccella Jazz Festival, and many others. She has shared the stage and collaborated with internationally recognized musicians such as Seamus Blake, Jure Pukl, Ari Hoenig, Joe Sanders, Felix Rossy, and others. Her projects as a leader – including the Katarina Kochetova Trio, Quartet, and larger ensemble formats – focus primarily on original music, combining contemporary jazz aesthetics with melodic storytelling and expressive improvisation. Her work moves fluidly between jazz and modern crossover influences. In 2023, she recorded her debut album Beyond Motion, featuring original compositions with her trio and guest appearances by Jure Pukl and Joander Cruz. Released in 2024, the album received international recognition and was selected among Jazzit Magazine’s Top 100 Jazz Albums of the Year. Her composition “UntilEdd4” was also featured by All About Jazz as a Future Song of the Day. In 2024, she received further recognition as the winner of the Joe Zawinul Prize in Jazz Piano and was nominated for the Austrian Jazz Award in the Best Newcomer category.
Aidan O'Connor is a New York City based saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. He has performed at New York City jazz venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, Ornithology Jazz Club, and Room 623. He has collaborated with musicians such as Grammy award winner John Benitez and large ensembles such as The Ed Palermo Big Band. Aidan made his international debut in March of 2026, taking his band on tour to Miami and Mexico City. In September 2025, O’Connor released his debut album Conception featuring New York musicians Evan Main, Quinton Cain, and John Lind. This album brings together bebop-inspired compositions, lyrical ballad playing, and an interpretation of Irish traditional music. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, O’Connor studied with Charles Pillow and Bill Dobbins. He later earned a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in spring 2026, studying saxophone with Dayna Stephens and Mark Shim. His honors include selection to the 2019 Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy under the direction of Christian McBride, third place in the 2021 Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition, and participation in the 2026 Steans Institute at the Ravinia Festival.
Tino Ribeiro is a bassist, composer, and improviser. Raised in Braunschweig, Germany, he began his musical journey as a self-taught musician, exploring guitar, drums, and electric bass. Early influences included blues, funk, reggae, and eventually Black American-/Creative -Music, all of which continue to shape his artistic voice. He began his formal studies in Dresden, where he dedicated himself entirely to the double bass, before moving to Leipzig to complete his Bachelor's degree. Immersion in the improvisational music scene of East Germany had a lasting impact on his artistic development and ultimately led him to Berlin, where he pursued his Master's studies. Since then, he has performed extensively as a sideman alongside established artists, appearing regularly in Berlin, throughout Germany, and across Europe. Currently, Tino is focused on developing a more personal artistic statement. In this process, he is increasingly drawn to Afro-futurist aesthetics and thought, exploring the idea of music as a form of technology—a tool for reimagining worlds, expanding possibilities, and opening spaces for liberation, collective imagination, and new modes of being.
Elena Schäfer
Elena Schäfer, born in 2002, is a singer, composer, and instrumentalist from Vienna. She began her musical journey at the age of six with classical piano training. In the years that followed, she discovered her passion for singing and composing which lead to her exploring a wide range of musical styles including classical music and opera, jazz, and folk — all of which continue to shape her artistic voice today. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Vocals at MUK Vienna, Elena is seeking new musical inspiration, collaborations, and artistic encounters, while continuously looking beyond familiar boundaries. A central aspect of her work is collaboration with other musicians, improvisation, and the exchange of diverse musical ideas. In the last years she has been touring and playing in multiple formations in and out of Austria. She is also co-founder of the bands The Papermoon Society and Gift Enough, with whom she performs regularly. Composing and producing original music plays a central role in Elena’s artistic practice. In April 2026, she released her debut album on which she sings and plays guitar, featuring exclusively original compositions. „Elena Schäfer's debut album is a deeply emotional experience. It touches the listener with feeling and depth, without being contrived. The 24-year-old singer presents herself as a promising talent for the future, an artist from whom we will undoubtedly hear much more beautiful music in the years to come.“