Brother John and the Surrogates is a Seattle-based group focusing on original Americana music and select cover material, often leaning into the music of Tom Waits. The groups’ sound ranges from dreamy ballads to blues-based grooves to edgy progressive compositions and everything in between. As a music collaborative, every BJS performance is unique and presented by top-notch players. BJS performances come in different formats (solo, duo, trio, quartet, etc.) dependent on context and are always designed to impress.

Player bios and more can be found on the band website: www.brotherjohnandthesurrogates.com

A native of the Pacific Northwest, saxophonist Kareem Kandi is a performer, composer, and educator, in high demand for his talents both on and off the stage.

Kareem is a versatile saxophonist and composer with strong roots in the traditions of Jazz, Blues, Classical and Funk, and has been performing throughout the U.S. and abroad for years, gaining attention from critics and audiences alike. While staying true to musical styles of the past, he also keeps an eye towards the future by composing original music as well as new arrangements of timeless songs from the great American songbook.

Mark Hurwitz is a two-time nominee for Best Band by the Washington Blues Society, and this year leader Mark Hurwitz was nominated for the second year in a row for Best Piano/Keyboard. They specialize in jump blues, an upbeat style with elements of swing and jazz, but also play soul, r&b, and roots rock. The band maintains a busy schedule of club dates around Washington State, and has performed at many festivals and events, including Bite of Seattle, Northwest Folklife, The Gorge Blues and Brews Festival, and the Sunbanks Festival. They gained a widespread following as the house band at Seattle's legendary New Orleans Creole Restaurant following Seahawks home games at nearby Century Link field during the team's Super Bowl and NFC Championship seasons.