Marc Devine

A hard swingin' pianist rooted in the Bebop tradition. Marc leads his own bands,    
 The  Marc Devine Quintet and the      Marc Devine Trio and works often with vocalist
 Denia  Ridley.    

Developing a taste for Jazz while still  in highschool, he  attended the 
University of New Hampshire and played with several Jazz ensembles including two big 
bands and a Jazz choir.  While at UNH, Marc was exposed to great Jazz musicians such
as Phil Woods, Milt Hinton, Frank Wess, took some lessons with pianist James Williams
and was  introduced to the music and teaching of legendary trumpeter Clark Terry (famous
 for his work with Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnet, Count Basie, Duke Ellington,  The Tonight 
Show Band) and trumpeter Stephen Fulton. 

Through this meeting, Marc went on to study with Stephen Fulton and Morris Nelms  at the 
Clark Terry International Institute of Jazz Studies.   Through Clark Terry's approach to 
learning and Stephen Fulton's teaching and inspiration, Devine began to develop a style 
based on his piano influences Wynton Kelly, Red Garland (both of whom played with Miles 
Davis), Hampton Hawes, Bud Powell, Count Basie and Errol Garner.   Marc also had the
opportunity to study and perform with Jazz greats Red Holloway, Butch Miles, Jessie Davis, 
and, of course, Clark Terry.  

After leaving the Clark Terry school, Devine moved to the Austin area where he has been
playing as a  sideman and most often leading his own groups.  His bands have performed 
regularly at all of Austin's Jazz venues and several festivals including The Zilker Park Jazz
Festival, The Kemah Jazz Festival, and have become a mainstay at the Texas Jazz Festival 
in Corpus Christi, TX.  

Denia Ridley

One of Austin's finest vocalists, Denia's beautiful voice is reminiscent of the 
great Nancy wilson.  She has performed in Austin for 20 years with groups 
such as Bad Mutha Goose and Rocket 69.  Her simple, swingin' style recalls
Billie Holiday, one of her biggest influences.