In Absentia: A new suite of original music. The program features music derived from the relationships and colors of life. In writing this music, I strove to use the good times and the bad to present my truths about profound human interaction. Some works are hopeful, some are bleak, but I desperately hope they all convey truth to you, the listener.

Seth Ebersole - Saxophones

David Dunham - Guitar

Liany Mateo - Bass

Madison George - Drums

Seth Ebersole is a saxophonist and educator hailing from the Philadelphia area. He has shared the stage and recorded with with some of the finest musicians in jazz including Terell Stafford, Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, Dick Oatts, Etienne Charles and many others. A graduate of the Michigan State University College of Music as well as the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, Seth recently joined the faculty of the Saginaw Valley State University Department of Music where he works as Instructor of Jazz Ensemble and Improvisation. Seth also serves as the Jazz Woodwind Faculty at the ​Kalamazoo Jazz & Creative Institute,​ an organization dedicated to bringing a quality jazz education to high school students in Southwest Michigan. Seth maintains a busy work schedule teaching and performing both jazz and commercial music.

Liany Mateo was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey to two Caribbean parents. For the past six years, she has been playing the upright bass and pursuing a career in jazz music. Through her endeavors, she has been able to travel across the country for workshops, camps, and performances. Recently, this has included having a co-lead band on a major jazz label(Posi-tone) and playing at high-level venues like Smalls Jazz Club(NYC) with Michael Dease and the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe (Detroit) with Randy Napoleon. Along with this she has performed with Etienne Charles, Diego Rivera ,and Winard Harper in their respective performances. During her time at Michigan State University she has been a part of the Jazz Studies Department top bands. In these ensembles Liany has toured across the state of Michigan performing at schools while mentoring students at workshops. During the past two summers she has been a teaching assistant at the Brevard Jazz Institute ran by Michael Dease, the All-Female Jazz Residency lead by Regina Carter and the Jazz House Kids summer Workshop.

Madison George is a drummer and educator who works throughout the Midwest area. He attends Western Michigan University majoring in jazz studies, and studies with Keith Hall. His versatility has allowed him to play in a variety of settings, such as jazz bands, rock bands, theater productions, and everything in between. He has performed with artists of many genres, such as jazz artists Terell Stafford, Peter Eldridge, Johnaye Kendrick, Andrew Rathbun, Matthew Fries, Tom Knific, Benje Daneman, Max Colley III, Kevin Jones, Steve Talaga, and Chris Lawrence. At WMU, he has been a member of Gold Company, Jazz Orchestra, and the Advanced Jazz Ensemble. He has also worked with many pop/rock artists, such as American Idol alum Matt Giraud, folk/soul duo The War And Treaty, indie rock band Michigander, and blues/soul artist Hannah Rose & the Gravestones. Aside from performing, Madison teaches through Jazz & Creative Institute in Kalamazoo, and has been a faculty member at the Keith Hall Summer Drum Intensive. You can catch him performing with electronic jazz/fusion quintet Lushh, modern soul/fusion band Earth Radio, world-jazz band Kevin Jones Tenth World, Grand Rapids-based funk band The Hip Pocket, as well as other various acts.

David Dunham began playing guitar in his youth, and many years later, decided to pursue studying jazz music at Wayne State University. He received his degree in the spring of 2018, after studying under Detroit musicians such as Chuck Newsome, Russ Miller, Chris Collins, Edward Gooch, and Rob Pipho. Currently, he is a music educator and performer in the metro detroit area, playing with the likes of De'Sean Jones, Mike Jellick, Bobby Muncy, Leonard King, RJ Spangler, and John Tbone Paxton. In addition to freelancing, David is involved in a number of contemporary jazz projects such as Beartrap, Buffalo Kid, and Mouthbreathr.