Some musicians chase the notes—Zack Page lets them chase him, which might explain how he's managed to average 275 gigs per year since the mid-1990s, turning bass lines into highways that stretch from Virginia backroads to Swiss jazz festivals to Asheville's intimate listening rooms. This rhythm section nomad carries dual citizenship in the worlds of heavy metal and jazz, a musical passport stamped by legendary drummer Billy Higgins and acclaimed clarinetist Eddie Daniels, earned through decades of wandering between Los Angeles studios, New York City sessions, and now the Blue Ridge Mountains. His four strings have held down the low end on cruise ship stages and gypsy jazz jams with equal authority, whether he's anchoring 'One Leg Up' in Asheville's Django-influenced underground or laying foundation stones for folk rock storytellers. From electric bass at eleven to acoustic mastery in college, Page embodies the restless spirit of American music itself—always moving, always grooving, always making everyone around him better. As fellow trumpeter Justin Ray observed, that's the hallmark of truly great musicians: they don't just play their part, they elevate everyone else's.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Andy Page has become a cornerstone of Boone's vibrant music scene as a senior lecturer of jazz guitar at Appalachian State University's Hayes School of Music. For over two decades, this versatile virtuoso has woven his guitar strings through the fabric of the High Country's musical landscape, transforming local venues into stages of sonic storytelling. Together with his twin brother Zack, Andy has been known to arrive at open jams and parties, captivating audiences with their deep groove and seemingly endless musical creativity. His fingers dance across fretboards with equal fluency in jazz, rock, and original compositions, while his academic pursuits span from the History of Rock Music to Heavy Metal Culture. A true musical nomad, Andy has carried his craft from the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland to Japan's Muroran Jazz Cruise, and through jazz workshops in Germany. Yet he chose to plant his roots in the mountains of North Carolina, where he continues to nurture the next generation of musicians while maintaining his own creative flame through groups like The Page Brothers Trio and Swing Guitars—a testament to an artist who found his perfect harmony between teaching and performing in the shadow of the Appalachians.

Steve Trisman bridges the gap between Asheville's traditional mountain music heritage and its vibrant contemporary scene, wielding his fiddle as both acoustic storyteller and electric dance catalyst. As a cornerstone of "The Boys of Buncombe," Trisman brings contra dance floors to life alongside accordionist Steve Burnside, proving that the most authentic mountain music happens when tradition meets community celebration. This versatile fiddler moves seamlessly between projects—from the gypsy jazz explorations of One Leg Up to the electric energy of Bayou Diesel and Jupiter Coyote—but it's in the contra dance community where his musical philosophy truly shines. While equally commanding with electric sound, Trisman can make his acoustic fiddle sing that essential contra dance music that transforms Monday nights at the Ivy Building into weekly celebrations of connection and movement. Whether performing as part of Windmill with keyboardist Laurie Fisher or leading dancers through intricate patterns with The Boys of Buncombe, Trisman understands that the best fiddle playing serves something larger than technique—it creates the rhythmic heartbeat that allows entire communities to move as one. In his hands, every bow stroke becomes an invitation to dance, proving that some music is meant to be felt with your feet as much as your heart.

Leo Johnson embodies the timeless essence of jazz guitar's golden era, his sound resonating with the soulful echoes of legends like Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, and Barney Kessel. Based between Nashville and Asheville, this swing guitar virtuoso transforms every performance into a masterclass in how tradition can feel urgently contemporary without losing its essential soul. Each note Johnson plays carries the rich heritage and virtuosity that defined jazz guitar's masters, showcasing a deep appreciation for the lush harmonies and melodic intricacies synonymous with the genre's classic sound. Whether leading his Leo Johnson Trio through intricate jazz standards or exploring the spaces between swing and bebop, he approaches the guitar not as an instrument to be conquered but as a storytelling device that bridges decades of musical evolution. Through his music, Johnson pays homage to the giants who paved the way while infusing his unique voice and style into the fabric of guitar tradition. In Asheville's intimate venues and beyond, he proves that the most compelling jazz conversations happen when technical mastery serves emotional honesty, creating moments where past and present converge in six-string poetry that makes even the most familiar standards feel like revelations.