Marcus Belgrave in brief: Marcus has been an internationally recognized jazz trumpet great for over forty years. Bursting into prominence as a teenaged sensation in The Ray Charles Orchestra. Marcus also delivered the soulful horn that helped to define the legendary “Motown Sound” as a featured player on many of the labels classic releases. Marcus released one solo album on Tribe in the early ’70s entitled “Gemini.” It featured the classic “Space Odyssey.” The album was re-released by London label Soul Jazz in the early ’00s. Marcus has also had the honor of being chosen by Wynton Marsalis for the original Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with Ray Charles, Max Roach, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Dizzy Gillespie and John Sinclair, amongst others. Marcus also has a reputation for cultivating young jazz talent. Some examples are: Rodney Whittaker, Kenny Garrett, Regina Carter, James Carter and Geri Allen. Additionally he is a member of the teaching faculty at Oberlin Conservatory. He continues to tour and record around the world on a frequent basis.

Wendell Harrison in brief: Wendell’s work as a jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist began on the amongst the likes of Jack McDuff, Elvin Jones, Sonny Stitt and Sun Ra in the 1960s. Moving back to Detroit in 1970 he became a mainstay and backbone of the Detroit scene which he remains to this day. He co-founded the label Tribe with Phil Ranelin and has since launched Rebirth Inc. a non-profit jazz arts organization, and WenHa Music; record label and publishing company.

Wendell also works extensively as an educator. His instruction book series, The Be Boppers Method Book I and II have become essential for young musicians. Now, Wendell leads a number of his own ensembles inlcuding his famed MAMA’S LICKING STICK CLARINET ENSEMBLE which periodically features many other known jazz stars such as James Carter, Don Byron and Howard Johnson. In 1996 Wendell toured with an all-star ensemble, The Michigan Jazz Masters internationally performing an extensive tour of Africa and the Middle East. In addition, Wendell also performed as a jazz master with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, who featured two movements from his suite Something For Pops.

Phil Ranelin in brief: Ranelin is a diehard independent straight-ahead Jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. In his early days he performed along side the likes of Wes Montgomery, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Eddie Harris and Grant Green. Ranelin is loved and respected around the globe as a veteran trombonist of the J.J. Johnson tradition and as co-founder of Detroit’s TRIBE Records. As a leader, Ranelin has shared the bill with Stanley Clarke, Christian McBride, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith, Pharoah Sanders and McCoy Tyner. He has also recorded with Freddy Redd, Teddy Edwards, Art Pepper, Billy Eckstein, while appearing on Freddie Hubbard’s “Mistral,” which was Japan’s # 1 Jazz Record of 1980. Phil has also played many Jazz festivals around the world, including the North Sea, Montruex, Monterey, Newport, Playboy, Indy and Vera Cruz Muestra International Jazz Festivals. A Los Angeles resident since 1977, Ranelin’s most recent CD is INSPIRATION. He continues to receive air play on Jazz radio and his classic “Vibes From The Tribe ” has become one of Hip Hop beat makers’ most sought after samples. Currently, Ranelin is a member of the Luckman Jazz Orchestra and is involved in his own solo project with Wide Hive Records intitled “Metamorphosis.”