Mantra

Chuck Underwood has been in demand as a guitarist for more than twenty years, performing and recording with some of Washington, DC's most respected musicians including Marshall Keys, Ron Holloway, and Pam Bricker. Chuck has performed as guest soloist with the National Symphony, and as a member of Patti Labelle's touring band appeared on the Tonight Show, Showtime at the Apollo, and venues worldwide. Chucks has also worked with artists as diverse as James Brown, Greg Karukus and Lester Bowie. Currently Chuck records and performs with his own group, produces projects at Red Door studios, and keeps busy teaching jazz guitar throughout the area. Chuck was nominated by the Washington Area Music Association as Best Instrumentalist in 2002.

Keyboardist Jon Ozment has been working in and around the DC area for twenty-five years as a performer, producer, arranger, and educator. He has produced and arranged recordings by local artists Imani, Maryann Redmond, and Al Williams. Jon has performed extensively in the jazz and contemporary jazz fields, appearing on recordings with Buck Hill, David Yarborough, Origem, and Vinnie Valentino. He has performed in concerts with Jon Faddis, Bobby Hutcherson, Al Jarreau, Ethel Ennis and Larry Ridley, and has toured nationally with Miki Howard, Kim Waters, and the Blackbyrds. Throughout '97-'99 Jon toured the States and Europe with Maceo Parker. Mark Merella and Jon collaborate in the electro-acoustic project "Auto Looming," which was featured in the Sonic Circuits Festival at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2004. Jon currently teaches jazz piano at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Mark Merella is a versatile percussionist adept at both drum set and hand percussion. He has worked with a variety of artists in the Jazz and Latin fields including saxophonists Fred Foss and Rene McLean, vocalists Imani and Eva Cassidy, trumpeter Tom Williams and percussionist Steve Berrios co-founder of the Fort Apache Band. Mark has also worked with the groups Rumba Club, Mambo Combo, Ala Carte Brass & Percussion and as part of Havana Select he played for Celia Cruz's induction into the Smithsonian and 1997's Black Music Conference in Chicago. On the R&B circuit Mark has worked with The Flamingos, Bo Diddley and Mary Wilson of The Supremes. As a freelance musician Mark has played at many embassies, the White House and the Kennedy Center. Mark was also commissioned by the American Composers Forum to compose a piece for Jane Franklin dance, which premiered March 1st 2003. Mark’s interest in electro-acoustic improvisation led him to collaborate with Jon Ozment in the duo Auto Looming which has performed at the Sonic Circuits festival and Baltimore’s Red Room. An avid educator, Mark teaches privately and directs the percussion ensemble for the Sheridan School in Washington, D.C. www.markmerella.com

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Watch Past Performances

7/7/05: Mantra

Mantra, an electric jazz trio featuring Chuck Underwood, Jon Ozment, and Mark Merella, performs original pieces and their versions of tunes by Jazz greats, such as Weather Report.

Mantra

Mantra, an electric jazz trio featuring Chuck Underwood, Jon Ozment, and Mark Merella, performs original pieces and their versions of tunes by Jazz greats, such as Weather Report.

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