Juan Rollan, a Jacksonville based saxophonist, is a premier musician in the southeastern jazz circuit. In his professional career, Juan has had the privilege to perform with such legendary artists as soul great Al Green, Diane Schuur, Bernadette Peters, Ellis Hall and Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue”). Additionally, he has worked with a wide variety of pop, R&B, classical and jazz artists such as Ben Folds, Arturo Sandoval, Kevin Mahogany, Joe Lovano, Maria Schneider, Bob Mintzer, Kevin Bales, Marcus Printup, the Norl Friedline Quintet, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
“John Coltrane is one of the musical giants of the last century,” Rollan said. “His saxophone playing and many of the haunting melodies he composed were tremendous reflections of the anguish, joy, and melancholy he experienced in his life. His passion and soulfulness cannot be overstated. He has left an indelible mark on music all over the world. This performance is a humble offering of gratitude to one of the greatest influences in my musical life.”
Hani’el ML is a saxophonist, creator, and educator based in New York City. Raised between Israel, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, his background draws from a diverse set of influences and perspectives. As a leader and sideperson, Hani’el has had the opportunity to perform alongside artists such as Terreon Gully, Kebbi Williams, Kevin Bales, Ulysses Owens Jr, Graham Haynes, Michael Cruse, Louis Heriveaux, Dave Potter, and Leah Calvert.
He has performed in venues such as Nublu, Dizzy’s Club, the Rialto Center for the Arts, the High Museum of Art, Spivey Hall, the Jazz Corner, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, and also in the Atlanta Jazz Festival and Hilton Head Jazz for All Ages Festival.
Johanna McGuire is a Baltimore-based saxophonist whose love for music started at an early age, with her passion for jazz sparked by visits to her grandparents’ home where jazz was always playing, thanks to her grandfather’s love of the music. She holds a degree in Jazz Saxophone Performance from Towson University, where she studied under Jason Rigby, and was a member of the Towson University Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Jim McFalls and Dave Ballou.
Her expertise extends across the woodwind family, with doubling on flute and clarinet. An active performer in the Baltimore area, Johanna also teaches at various music camps, including the Hilton Head Jazz Camp. She was a member of the SOL Collective in Boston, where she was commissioned to compose original music performed at Harvard University. Her teaching philosophy draws on all her musical experiences to help students find their own voice.
Michael Nestor is a saxophonist and music educator now based in Atlanta, Georgia. The son of a military family, Nestor originally settled in Savannah after his father retired from the Army at Fort Stewart. He attended Armstrong State initially to study bassoon but soon found he preferred the tone and versatility of the baritone sax. From an early age he had demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for music, largely teaching himself to read music as a child in church — a foundation that made the transition to saxophone feel like a natural next step.
Nestor went on to head the music department at Savannah Arts Academy, where he taught jazz, concert band, and percussion ensembles. Under his direction, SAA students earned recognition at the state level, including placements in the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) All-State Band. As director of bands, he was also dedicated to maintaining strong connections with program alumni.
At the heart of Nestor’s teaching philosophy is a belief in jazz as a living, communal tradition. “Jazz is a community thing,” he says. “It’s an oral tradition — you learn to speak by first listening to it. By trying to speak like the greats, that’s how you find your own voice.” To help his students find their voices, Nestor regularly invites local jazz players to sit in with his classes. “I reach out to my friends and mentors like Teddy Adams, Randy Reese, Marc Chesanow, Eric Jones. These players come in as often as I can get them. Students can put faces with names and understand that jazz really is about community and conversation.”
Now based in Atlanta, Nestor continues to perform and educate, carrying the spirit of Savannah’s rich jazz community with him into every new musical setting.