Live Music with The JZ Jazz Quintet

Guitarist John Zaffiro leads the JZ Jazz Quintet and has been a staple of the Milwaukee music scene for over 50 years. He started his first band at age 13 with classmates, inspired by the British invasion bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Zombies.

His musical journey continued through high school, even taking him to Nashville, Tennessee, to record with one group. Zaffiro later pursued jazz, enrolling in the inaugural Jazz Performance Degree Program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in 1973, where he studied improvisation under pianist Tony King and master guitarist Manty Ellis.

He also spent a summer studying with world-renowned guitarist Joe Pass. During his time at the Conservatory, he collaborated with fellow students and teachers, performing at local jazz clubs.

He went on to join groups such as Montage Project, the Tony Pagano Quartet, and co-founded Rainbow’s End with Marcia Cunningham. Zaffiro also served as a Jazz Educator at the Conservatory.

His performances have spanned venues like Alpine Valley Music Festival, Milwaukee Summerfest, Potawatomi Northern Lights Theatre, Belfry Music Theatre, and even extended to St. Thomas in the U.S.

Virgin Islands. Today, he continues to perform both solo and with various ensembles, including Jazz Flux and the Jane Taylor Band.

Vocalist Paula Marie Bynum is a powerhouse vocalist whose electrifying blend of soul, R&B, blues, reggae, jazz, and pop/rock has lit up stages across Milwaukee and around the world. Rooted in the church and performing professionally since eighteen, Paula brings a fire and authenticity that audiences feel instantly.

Cited: “Paula Marie Bynum… has performed professionally since the age of eighteen.” Her dynamic voice has fronted some of the region’s most respected groups — Exec, Black Earth Plus, Eddie Butts, US Project, the Mike Drake Band, and her own Paula Marie with Faith, Hope & Love — each showcasing her ability to move effortlessly between styles with power, grace, and emotional depth. She’s a familiar force at major events like Milwaukee’s Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair, commanding the stage with a presence that’s both soulful and magnetic.

Cited: “Paula has performed everywhere, including Milwaukee’s Summerfest and Statefair.” Paula’s talents extend beyond performance: she has contributed vocals and lyrics to multiple recording projects, and in the late ’80s she took her sound global, touring Korea, Iceland, Norway, and Germany on a USO tour with Black Earth Plus. Cited: “Travel with the band Black Earth Plus to Korea, Iceland, Norway, and Germany on a USO tour.” With a voice described as “phenomenal… very soulful and richly moving,” Paula Marie Bynum continues to captivate audiences with every note — a true musical force whose energy, passion, and artistry leave a lasting impression.

Cited: “Ms. Marie has a phenomenal voice that is very soulful and richly moving.” Drummer/Percussionist Victor Campbell launched his performance career at just 12 years old, playing alongside MKE jazz legends Manty Ellis and Berkley Fudge.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Campbell also played as a drummer and percussionist for the acclaimed KO-THI AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY, joining international tours across Europe, Poland, and Japan.

Throughout his career, he has collaborated with several nationally renowned artists, such as Frank Morgan, Ronald Mulgrew, Melvin Rhyne, George Braith, and Richard Davis, among many others. Pianist Ken Kosut is a Milwaukee-based composer, arranger, jazz pianist, and award-winning music engraver whose career spans major publishing houses, television orchestras, and collaborations with leading jazz artists.

A graduate of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, he has arranged for Hal Leonard Publishing, engraved transcription folios for McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, and Oscar Peterson—earning the 2007 Paul Revere Award for Graphic Excellence—and performed at premier venues including Peck Pavilion, Uihlein Hall, and Summerfest’s Jazz Oasis. His current work includes performances with Rick Aaron and the Men in Black, the Sam Belton Jazz Experience, and the John High Jazz Quartet.

Bassist James Yorgan has been active in the Racine-Kenosha and MKE jazz scene for many decades as an in-demand sideman. He also performs and conducts his own ensemble, the James Yorgan Sextet Doors and bar open at 6 pm Band starts at 7 pm $10 cash cover at the door