Laura Camara and the Jake Reed Trio
Laura Camara and the Jake Reed Trio have been lighting up stages all over Ohio since 2018. Comprised of some of Columbus’ top jazz musicians such as Bradley Mellen on Bass, Tony Bonardi on Piano, Jake Reed on drums, and Laura Camara on vocals, the groups unique musical interpretations, extraordinary improvisational skills, and incredible synergy, electrify the music and transport the listener to the most unexpected places. The Jake Reed Trio has been performing at venues all over Columbus for over 10 years. In 2018 they decided to team up with award winning local jazz vocalist Laura Camara. Since then they have performed a series of programmed concerts of original jazz arrangements such as “Shades of Ellington”, “The Music of Laurel Canyon” and “Sarah Vaughan, The Divine One”. The group has performed at The Refectory Restaurant, First Unitarian Universalist Concert
Series, and The Columbus Museum of Art. Their most notable show “Shades of Ellington” has recently gained traction all over the state of Ohio. The group was invited in April of 2022 to perform this show at Blu Jazz in Akron, listed in Downbeat Magazine as one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world. Laura Camara & The Jake Reed Trio are in the midst of recording their first album featuring the music of their most popular show “Shades of Ellington” which they plan to release in April of  2024.  

Tony Bonardi
Tony Bonardi has been wowing audiences with his creative keyboard skills for over twenty years. As a teenager he cut his teeth performing in Northern Ohio clubs under the tutelage of St. Louis bluesman and Tina Turner alum, Sonny Robertson. Now residing in Columbus, Tony keeps a busy schedule playing with variety of acts throughout the Midwest. Just as adept playing salsa and top 40 as he is in a jazz environment, Tony truly brings his diverse, energetic influence to all appearances. Tony received his MMME (Jazz Pedagogy Focus) from Capital University. Currently, Tony is the Jazz Piano Faculty at Capital University
(Conservatory of Music). He also teaches at the Columbus Jazz Arts Group and offers online lessons.
 

Laura Camara

Vocalist Laura Camara (formerly known as Laura Brunner) is an American performer, composer, arranger, and educator. Musically trained as a multi-instrumentalist, Laura is perhaps most known for her powerful voice, musical versatility, and innovative improvisation. Laura is an award winning jazz vocalist and has performed at top jazz venues and festivals around the world such as The Montreux Jazz Festival, The Boston Pops Jazz Festival, and the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program at the John F. Kennedy National Center for the Performing Arts. Laura has also been a featured artist for many high profile performances including headlining The Ubud Village Jazz Festival in Bali, Indonesia and performing for the Thai Royal Family in the Jazz For The King Concert in honor of the King of Thailand’s birthday. Laura has been a featured artist on WGBH Boston’s National Public Radio and New York City Web Series Capsulocity.

Bradley Mellen
Bradley Mellen has been playing bass and cello in central Ohio for almost two decades. Whether featured as a lead or accompanying others, his versatility and restless creativity has kept him in demand in a wide range of styles and settings. Recent appearances have included ongoing associations with virtuoso pianist Tony Hagood, internationally acclaimed vocalist Laura Camara, Ohio State University director of Jazz Studies Shawn Wallace, latin-jazz outfit Clave Sonic, and the Arabic music Tasvir Trio, among many others. A talented composer, he also frequently transcribes and arranges music for several bands, from obscure gems of the jazz canon to re-imagined versions of classic melodies from film and game soundtracks. Bradley holds a Bachelor of Music in composition and jazz studies from the Ohio State University and a Master of Music in jazz performance from Purchase College in New York.

Jake Reed
Jake Reed has over twenty years of experience as a drummer and band leader. He has performed in numerous jazz groups, including his own trios “The Jazz Elective” and “Jake Reed Trio.” His bands have held regular gigs at venues throughout Columbus and surrounding areas including at The Refectory Dinner Music Series, the Worthington Inn, Dick’s Den, Oldfield’s, Haiku, Ginger Rabbit, Blu Jazz, The Avalon Theatre, Barcelona Restaurant, and the Columbus Arts Festival.