Another trio loaded with talent!

Christopher Minami, a native of Florida, recently completed his Master’s in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University College of Music in the studio of Randy Napoleon. He has performed with jazz greats such as Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, Geoffrey Keezer, Bobby Floyd, and Camille Thurman. Minami completed his undergraduate degree in both classical guitar and jazz at Florida State University’s College of Music in the studio of Bruce Holzman. While at FSU, Minami participated with the Jazz Honors Band under the direction of Marcus Roberts. Through his young career, Minami has received numerous awards for classical and jazz guitar, including the prestigious Florida Guitar Festival and Competition.

Reuben Stump is a vocalist and bassist from Lansing, Michigan. Reuben grew up with a love for all styles of jazz and the great American songbook. In college, Reuben was nurtured by a vibrant Michigan music scene as well as a council of distinguished mentors. Reuben received his bachelor’s degree in jazz bass at the University of Michigan under the mentorship of Robert Hurst and recently completed his studies as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University under the guidance of Rodney Whitaker. After studying with vocalist Carmen Bradford, Reuben rediscovered his love for singing and has been honing his sound by singing and playing the bass.

Reuben plays music across the Great Lakes region and has performed at festivals such as the East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz festival, the Detroit Jazz festival, the Kimmie Horne Jazz festival, and has performed with the Reuben Stump Trio at the Lansing Jazz festival for several years in a row. He has performed with artists such as Walter Blanding Jr., Randy Napoleon, Michael Dease, and Melissa Morgan. He recently completed a tour in Japan with the Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra.  

Alonso Umana, born in Costa Rica and raised in Mexico, started playing drums at the age of 10. With the help of the Tuition Assistance Scholarship provided by the Latin Grammy Foundation, Alonso completed his Bachelor's Degree at the City College of New York in 2020. He has studied with notable musicians such as Greg Hutchinson, Carl Allen, Ali Jackson, Antonio Sánchez, Adam Cruz, and Obed Calvaire. Alonso has shared the stage with renowned artists like Brian Lynch, Xavier Davis, Walter Blanding, Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon and Steve Wilson.

After graduating, he earned the right to study and be mentored by Ali Jackson, a famous jazz drummer. Jackson also became the Producer of Alonso’s debut album “Rule of Nature”, released in 2022. Nowadays, Alonso plays in the most important clubs of Mexico City and is a valuable artist in the scene.

In 2024, before returning to the United States to do a Master's degree at Michigan State University, he released his sophomore album “Fo’Nection", produced in Mexico City.

1st Friday Music on the Bricks is brought to you by The Greater Flint Arts Council.