Noel Freidline and Maria Howell define chemistry. Musically they breathe as one, communicating almost telepathically as they explore and re-interpret some of the best music of the last 80 years. Always approaching the music from “the left,” Noel and Maria have made a name for themselves as they offer listeners something they have heard, but that they have never heard before. Combine this fresh musical approach with a rapport and witty banter that harkens back to a bygone era, and you have Noel and Maria in their element: on stage, thrilling an audience at every turn.
Vocalist, Actor, Educator
MARIA HOWELL
AS AN ACTOR, Maria Howell began her career as the choir soloist in the Oscar Nominated The Color Purple, and has since appeared in hit TV shows such as Lifetime's, Army Wives, Marc Cherry's Devious Maids, Eric Kripke and J.J. Abrams' apocalyptic Revolution and Aquarius starring X-Files' David Duchovny, both on NBC. She also guest starred on CBS’s Criminal Minds and The Resident. She had a recurring role in Bounce TV's Saints & Sinners for 3 seasons as Lt. Hawkins.
Some theatrical credits include The Blind Side, Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Seeder), Christmas Wedding Baby (Miranda) by Award-Winning Writer/Director Kiara C. Jones, Ms. Sumner and voice-over in the Oscar nominated Hidden Figures, Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Christmas Love Story starring Kristin Chenoweth, Hallmark Mahogany movie To Her, With Love, and Summer Camp starring Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates, and Diane Keaton.
A SONG STYLIST in her own right, Maria has shared the musical stage with such legendary artists as Nancy Wilson, George Benson, Ray Charles and Earl Klugh. After a very successful 6 year stint in Asia, Maria relocated back to the U.S. and performed at Sambuca Jazz Café for 9 consecutive years…2002 to its closing in December 2010. She and pianist Bill Wilson (son of legendary jazz pianist Teddy Wilson), held the distinction of being the longest running act at the Atlanta location. Since then, she resides bi-coastal, performing at well known jazz/supper clubs and festivals across the U.S.
AS A VOICEOVER ARTIST, Maria lends her voice to numerous TV and radio commercials, animation, video games, and audiobook narrations.
Maria is not only an actor and singer, but a very devoted supporter and Advisory Board Member of several charities, (Students Without Mothers, The James M. Dixon Foundation, Tosco Music, and Ava’s Heart)
NOEL FREIDLINE
Pianist, Vocalist, Arranger, Educator
Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group since 1991, recording 9 albums, and performing at numerous jazz festivals, including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the Bethlehem Musikfest, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He and his band spent three years as a house band at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Noel is also the Artistic Director of several concert series, including Baker and Baker Presents at the Columbia (SC) Musuem of Art; Noel Freidline and Friends Jazz Series in Jacksonville, FL; and the NorthStone Music Series, Cornelius, NC. Freidline and his band are considered the signature band at the internationally recognized Jazz Corner, Hilton Head, SC.
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine, named Best Musical Director by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas, and chosen for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Association Center Stage Award. In May, 2015 Freidline was inducted into the Jacksonville Jazz Hall of Fame.
Noel has performed with jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon, actor/vocalist Keith David (The Thing, Platoon, Greenleaf), Frederic Yonnet (Stevie Wonder, Dave Chappelle), jazz vocalist Dee Daniels, jazz vocalist Teri Thornton and lyricist Tim Rice (Evita, The Lion King). Freidline has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett, David Sanborn, Kenny G, Rosemary Clooney, Dave Brubeck, Layla Hathaway, Roy Ayers, and Jennifer Holliday. Noel has played keys for a diverse number of touring Broadway shows, including Jersey Boys, The Band’s Visit, Bring It On, Dream Girls, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, White Christmas, and Wicked.
As a composer and arranger, Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN, ABC and the Walt Disney Company, with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football, the NBA All-Star Game, and SportCenter.
Noel’s teaching experience includes 15 years at UNC Charlotte as well as 12 years at Davidson Day School.
The Band
Drummer, Educator
JUSTIN VARNES
Born in Jacksonville, FL, Justin Varnes studied at the University of North Florida before moving to New York to study at the New School. In New York, he toured with Phoebe Snow, with whom he performed on the Roseanne Barr Show with Michael McDonald, Madison Square Garden, and NPR’s “World Café.” He regularly performs with his own quartet, was tapped for work as part of the Earl Klugh Trio, and is a top call sideman for touring artists throughout the Southeast.
Justin has performed with Mose Allison, Wessell Anderson, Kenny Barron, Peter Bernstein, Don Braden, Ann Hampton Callaway, Five for Fighting, Gavin DeGraw, Victor Goines, Wycliffe Gordon, Vincent Herring, Kevin Hays, Kevin Mahogany, Tony Monaco, Marcus Printup, Bob Reynolds, Lew Soloff, David Sanchez, Ira Sullivan, Sachal Vasandani, and Jimmy Vivino.
In addition to his career in performing, Justin teaches at The Lovett School and Georgia Tech, and is also heavily involved in teaching jazz to youth groups such as the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra, Rialto Jazz for Kids, and Young Audiences.
He also teaches and works with several national jazz programs, including Interplay Jazz & Arts and the Hilton Head Junior Jazz Foundation.
ZACK PAGE
Bassist, Educator
Zack Page's work with various jazz ensembles, theater companies, and the cruise industry has taken him to all 50 U.S. states, the Caribbean islands, Australia, South America, Europe and the Far East.
In a jazz setting, Zack has had the good fortune to play and/or record with Billy Higgins, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Eddie Daniels and Babik Reinhardt, the son of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Following time spent in Los Angeles and New York City, Zack and his family relocated to Asheville, NC where he enjoys a busy performing and recording schedule with many of North Carolina's finest musicians. Current projects include The Page Brothers Band, Noel Freidline and Maria Howell, The Core and many Asheville-based singer-songwriters.
JUAN ROLLAN
Saxophonist
Juan Rollan, a Jacksonville, FL based saxophonist, is a premier musician in the Southeast jazz circuit. In his professional career, Juan has had the privilege to perform with such legendary artists as soul great Al Green, Diane Schuur, Bernadette Peters, Ellis Hall and Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue”). Additionally, he has worked with a wide variety of pop, R&B, classical and jazz artists such as Ben Folds, Arturo Sandoval, Kevin Mahogany, Joe Lovano, Maria Schneider, Bob Mintzer, Kevin Bales, Marcus Printup, the Noel Freidline Quintet, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
Special Guest Artists
ADAM McKNIGHT
Singer, Songwriter, Arranger, Producer
With a captivating personality, unyielding stage presence and an incredible voice, Adam L. McKnight, opens his heart and soul in song!! Performing all styles of music, from R&B to Gospel, Pop and even Opera, Adam amazes and astounds audiences with his natural ability to sing. Performing on-stage in bands since age 13, Adam has settled in comfortably as not just a singer, but also an entertainer, putting his heart and soul into every song he sings and enjoying the experience.
This is an exciting time for Adam musically. He along with his gospel choir Voice of Atlanta were recently selected to record 2 songs and appeared in the MGM/Orion movie “Till”, released in October 2022. The legendary Whoopi Goldberg was executive producer and starred as Emmitt Till’s grandmother, in this long awaited film shot here in Atlanta. In addition, Adam starred in a performance of his original music and holiday classics at Club Hertz for the Alliance Theater in December 2022.
As a testament to Adam’s musical ability & vocal talents, he had the extreme pleasure of arranging background vocals & recording with the legendary Sir Elton John, on music for the Broadway musical “Lestat” and for his critically acclaimed CD “Peachtree Road”. In addition, Adam along with members of his choir, Voice of Atlanta, completed a yearlong tour with Sir Elton nationally and internationally, including performances at Madison Square Garden for Katrina victims’ relief and Live 8 in London.
An additional milestone in Adam’s career, featured he and Voice of Atlanta in the 2019 Super Bowl half-time show with Maroon 5. Today Adam continues to arrange music to inspire and entertain audiences across the spectrum.
Adam has also lent his vocal and arranging talents to such national recording artists as Coy Bowles, Randall Bramblett, Diane Durrett, Scooter Lee & Cee-Lo. He has recorded with Grammy award winners Train and producers Ed Roland & Phil Tan. He has performed on stage with such noted celebrities as Stevie Wonder, B.B.King, Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Bonnie Raitt, Zack Brown Band, Lou Gossett Jr., Robert Wagner, Faith Hill, Aaron Neville, Kelly Price, the Pointer Sisters and the Temptations.
He has recorded commercial spots for the Georgia Lottery, TNT Sports, ESPN Radio, Black & Decker, Cellular One and has arranged and sung on a special song for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Doing what he loves, when possible, Adam enjoys spot live performances with Randall Bramblett, Diane Durrett and performing shows in venues around the southeast with Noel Freidline and Maria Howell, two very respected artists in their own right.
As a solo artist he has released 3 CDs, “Determination”, “Life: Work in Progress” & his latest release “Working On Me” all available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Music and all other major music outlets.
Now in addition to devoting his daily efforts to writing and producing new music, Adam is giving back to the community by sharing his technical and artistic skills as Associate Artistic Director & Board member for Ballethnic Dance Company. As a past Board member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy, Adam continues to enjoy the respect of the music arts community.
KAREN BRIGGS
Violinist
Currently regarded by many as one of the most legendary violinists of our time, Karen Briggs has continuously proven to be an asset to any project that she's participated in. To date, she has recorded two independent solo projects (Amazing Grace and Soulchestral Groove) with a third one entitled Sonic Woodwork coming out soon in 2024!
She has been performing, composing, producing for over four decades of her life. Karen Briggs has performed and/or recorded with everyone from The Royal Philharmonic to Yanni, Stanley Clarke, Diana Ross, Ledisi, Kirk Franklin, Annie Lennox and the Wu Tang Clan! She has performed all over the globe as a featured soloist. Having graced the stages of such prestigious venues as the Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, the Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City and others, she has traveled to over 50 countries to entertain audiences, covering a range of music styles.
As one of the founders of the evolution of the contemporary violinist, Karen has been an inspiration for many aspiring musicians for her work. Clever arrangements on covers such as Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower", Rimsky Korsokov's "Scheherazade","Amazing Grace" and Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" have not been ignored. She easily covers an array of genre's on the instrument from gospel to jazz, R&B, pop, hip hop and classical pieces, all re-imagined in a way that suits her skillful and soulful swagger on violin.
RAY GREENE
Vocalist, Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist
Ray Greene is a singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist living in Columbia, SC. He received a degree in Music Performance from the world-renowned Berklee College of Music. Being brought up in the shadows of the great Soul/R&B legends of our time, Ray is equally adept at the traditions of gospel, jazz and blues.
He has performed and recorded with many of the most successful and influential names in the fields of Pop, Funk and Soul; most notably Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, the Isley Brothers and Rick James, to name a few.
Ray was selected from among several candidates around the country to serve as lead singer/trombonist for the legendary soul band Tower of Power, with whom he toured for two years traveling throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Japan.
He was then asked to join famed guitarist and Woodstock performer Carlos Santana, where he currently travels extensively to places all over the world; from Dubai, Singapore and Australia, to Monaco, Mexico and South Africa. Santana’s music has been a tremendous showcase for Greene’s abilities as a vocalist, trombonist and percussionist.
Greene has written and produced several recordings of his own music. Along with his band Universal Language, he received a Boston Music Award for their music entitled “One People.” His album “All About Me/All About You”, was released in the UK and received rave reviews. His first ever Gospel recording, “Songs of Hope, Inspiration and Joy”, was met with critical and commercial success. He released a follow-up recording of Gospel inspired material titled “Heaven Bound”, which features soul-stirring renditions of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”, “Last Mile Of The Way”, and “Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone.”
His voice has been featured in commercials for Converse sneakers (with former basketball superstar Magic Johnson), ESPN, Cadillac Motors, Bose speakers, Fox Television, and Walt Disney Productions.
Ray has been asked to perform the National Anthem for many major league and college sporting events. The Boston Red Sox baseball team, the New England Patriots football team, the New England Revolution and the Boston College football and basketball programs have enlisted his services. The San Francisco Giants invited him to perform the “Star Spangled Banner” during a recent baseball championship playoff run.
His music and voice have been heard regularly on the daytime soap operas “The Young and the Restless” and “One Life to Live.” He is the featured performer on the HBO documentary “Legacy”, which was nominated for a Grammy award.
The legendary Maya Angelou recruited Greene to perform a capella renditions of her favorite inspirational hymns to open an engagement at the Boston Opera House.
Greene has most recently signed a licensing and recording deal with Ubuntu Records in the UK. His recording entitled “Stay”, was released in the Spring of 2023, and feature songs he wrote and produced specifically for the styles of Soul/R&B music. He embarked on his first ever solo tour of Europe to support the release of the recording, culminating in a rousing set before 15000 people at the Freedom Festival in The Hague.
