Known as “The Teacha”, Regi Wooten is one of the most innovative, talented and dynamic musicians around the scene, and has pushed the boundaries of jazz, funk, soul, R&B, rock, and even bluegrass to some of the most extreme musical limits. From picking, slapping, strumming, thumping, and tapping to some of the most ear bending advanced chords you’ll hear on any instrument, Regi has earned world-wide notoriety and comparisons to other innovators such as Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Chuck Berry. Perfecting, creating and discovering new techniques and jazz theory while incorporating and layering into strong funk grooves for keen listeners to uncover and pick up on is one of his many notable fortes.

At only nine years old Regi started teaching his younger brother Victor Wooten bass guitar and Joseph Wooten keyboards, and soon the Wooten Brothers Band was formed featuring; Regi on ukelele, Roy on drums, Rudy on Saxophone, Joe on Keys and Victor on bass. Regi was ten years old at the time, Roy was nine, Rudy was eight, Joseph was five and Victor was two. The rest, as they say, is Musical History.

Assembling a cast of Nashville's best, Regi Wooten and Friends dig deep into the roots of funk, jazz, blues, rock, and soul. You never know who might jump on stage! Don't miss a beat!

Bruce Dudley is a Steinway Concert Artist and has been performing jazz piano for over 40 years on concert stages, in clubs, and private residences throughout North and South America. He specializes in the Great American Songbook, as well as in the rich history of American jazz styles, from Ragtime and Stride to Modernism, Post Modernism, and performance of original music. In addition to his work as a solo artist, he leads a trio, quartet, and larger ensembles, with horns and/or strings, while also enlisting the award winning voice of his wife, Sandra Dudley. An active educator, Dudley has presented clinics across Canada, the United States, and in Colombia, South America. His recordings as a leader include DPSW Quartet - Live at the Cave (2019), The Solo Sessions (2012), Mostly Monk (2010), and Semblance (1997). Dudley has also performed with artists Aretha Franklin, Crystal Gayle, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Herb Ellis, Randy Brecker, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Ink Spots, and has played keyboards for over 35 touring Broadway shows, including Beautiful, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, among others.

Bruce Dudley has published articles for Downbeat magazine and presented scholarly research at conferences in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. His book 25 Piano Etudes in Idiomatic Styles was published in 2021 by Keuka Waters Music.

Dudley is Associate Professor of Music at Belmont University. He has a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado, a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Business and Technology from New York University.

"Dudley’s well-schooled piano style is guided by dominant but subtle right-hand figures that galvanize one of the most cohesive trios in town." - The Nashville Scene

"Dudley, whose fluent lines jet around the keyboard, absorbing motifs into the stream, without a split second of hesitation, at any point of rhythm in the bar, are stunning to listen to…" - Halifax Chronicle Herald

"Dudley plays the piano with such grace and authority that he has quietly become the pianists that other pianists go to hear." - Houston Post

"As the leader, Dudley set the evening’s tone with a supple, rich blend of assertive melodic statements, delightful accompaniment, first-rate phrasing, counterpoint and harmonizing." - Ron Wynn, ArtsNash

Miguel Alvarado, a native of Tampa, Florida, began his professional music career at the age of thirteen, performing with various RnB, Latin, and Rock groups in the Tampa Bay area. He holds a degree from the University of North Florida and currently serves as an adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Miguel’s outstanding talent was recognized with the Nashville Industry Music Awards Jazz Performance Award, coinciding with the release of his critically acclaimed album Idile on Ear Up Records. He’s a dedicated educator, guiding his students to prestigious festivals and helping them excel in college programs and collaborations with industry icons. Most recently, Miguel toured throughout South Africa with Standard Bank Artist of the Year Darren English as the saxophonist in his quintet.

Larry Aberman is a drummer whose career has taken him from the stage of Avery Fisher Hall as a percussion soloist with the NY Philharmonic to the studios of Memphis to record the Grammy winning CD “Family Style” with Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan. As an eleven-year-old student of Armand Santarelli in Philadelphia, PA, Larry decided a career in music was what he aspired to. Upon moving to New York City he enrolled in The High School of Music and Art and began a life long study with jazz and percussion educator Justin DiCioccio. Larry attended Eastman School of Music and studied percussion with John Beck. At Eastman, Larry recorded the Grammy Nominated CD “Carnival” with Wynton Marsalis and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. In addition to his orchestral studies, Larry was the drummer in the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, with whom he won best jazz soloist awards from Downbeat Magazine.

In New York Larry performed with the Mark Morris Dance Company, recorded CD’s with David Mann and Jeff Beal, played Broadway shows and toured with rock artists Pierce Turner and Grayson Hugh. After becoming associated with producers Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards and Russ Titelman, Larry did album work with The Vaughan Brothers, Ric Ocasek, David Lee Roth, Lionel Richie, Adam Ant, Grayson Hugh as well as performances with Nile, Howard Hewitt, Miki Howard, Dianne Reeves, Nick Lowe and John Hiatt. In addition to composing and recording music for jingles, movie soundtracks and television in LA, Larry recorded with Ben Harper, Daniel Lanios, Aaron Neville, Paul Williams, Wil Jennings, Joe Sample, Wild Orchid, Jennifer Paige, Danielle Brisebois, New Radicals, John Taylor (Duran Duran), Micheal Sembello, Kelly Willis and Bob Clearmountain. Some recent live performances include Hiram Bullock, Ivan Neville, Simon Lebon and John Taylor of Duran Duran and in the studios with Marcus Miller, Dean Parks, Lenny Castro and others.

Rob Linton is a versatile bassist from Charlotte, North Carolina. Linton has had the privilege of performing and touring with Eric Reed, Greg Tardy, Dave Potter and Retro Groove, and Variego3. He has also performed with other standout musicians including Don Aliquo, Miguel Alvarado, Taber Gable, Kenneth Brown, Jack Roben, Jonathan Barber, Stacey Dillard, Will Boyd, Mark Boling, Troy Conn, Ocie Davis, and many others. Rob teaches jazz bass and jazz combos at Blair School of Music. Linton has also taught at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Gardner-Webb University, and The University of Tennessee. He was also the bass instructor for the Knoxville Jazz Workshop. Rob Linton holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a M.M. from the University of Tennessee.

Rudy's hosts the official pro jazz jam. Come out and experience some of music city's best as they take the stage with Nashville's next generation of jazz performers! You will hear a variety of young, old, new and undiscovered players showing what they can do on stage. Part of the jazz tradition and what jazz embodies is the unknown and spontaneous exploration of new musical territory with new musicians sitting in live on stage; you never know who or what to expect other than the unexpected!

We welcome all ages to this show and have a $10 food or beverage minimum.