Knick Smith is a highly regarded jazz musician known for his versatile style spanning straight-ahead jazz, fusion, and R&B. He served as the musical director and keyboardist for jazz legend Stanley Clarke for nearly a decade and was a member of The Tonight Show band under Jay Leno. He has performed or toured with major artists including Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah, George Duke, and Kenny Garrett.
McCoy Tyner was a legendary American jazz pianist and composer, recognized as one of the most influential musicians in the history of the genre. He is most famous for his membership in the "Classic Quartet" of saxophonist John Coltrane (1960–1965), where his powerful, harmonically expansive style helped redefine modern jazz.