On Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. local favorites Chris Klaxton and Taylor O’Donnell return to The Dance Hall for a concert featuring  a mix of standards, classic jazz fare, and their arrangements of pop, folk, and rock favorites. They will be joined by New York City musicians bassist and guitarist Sam Weber, and drummer Jay Sawyer.

Taylor O'Donnell, a Colorado native, is a contemporary vocalist who mainly uses her roots in classical vocal performance, musical theater, jazz, folk and R&B.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University, and graduated with a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami.

Highlights of Taylor's performing and teaching career have been an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show working with producer David Foster, performing at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC, working in Miami with Grammy award winning producer Rudy Perez, working at Miami Dade College as a Professor of Jazz Voice, and singing background vocals for singer-songwriter Ben Folds.  Taylor has performed alongside Donny McCaslin, Terence Blanchard, Lyle Mays, Fred Hersch, Jamey Haddad, Janis Siegel, the Real Group, New York Voices, Sunny Wilkinson, Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, and with choral group, Seraphic Fire.  Currently, Taylor performs with various groups in the Seacoast area playing jazz and folk, and also can be seen in the up and coming soul group, Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales.

Sam Weber is a bassist, guitarist, educator, composer, arranger, bandleader, transcriber, and connoisseur of quarter note durations.  Sam is an alumnus of Western Michigan University, earning both a BA in Jazz Studies (2010) and an MA in Music (2011).  Sam rwhere he currently performs full time in NYC, playing everything from jazz, hip hop, and rock to bluegrass and contemporary classical music.  Sam is also active as an educator, and has traveled around the US as well as internationally presenting clinics, lectures, and masterclasses.

Jay Sawyer received his Bachelors of Music from Western Michigan University and Masters of Music from The University of Illinois. He has performed or shared the stage with artists such as Benito Gonzales, Stefon Harris, Donny McCaslin and many others. He has also performed at the Detroit and Chicago Jazz Festivals as well as many other prominent venues around the USA. Jay currently resides in New York City.