Who We Are

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Since the age of 4, Jackson Bournival has been passionate about playing drums. Initially starting with his older brother's toy drum kit, he then received a practice pad to master rudiments. Every morning before preschool, he dedicated time to practice. At the age of 5, he acquired his first full-size drum kit and began learning under Dr. Chase Ellison at the Eastman Community Music School. His talent and love for the drums blossomed, leading him to continue his studies with the exceptional Marco Cirigliano in Rochester, NY.

Jackson finds inspiration in legendary drummers like Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Jo Jo Mayer, and Vinnie Colaiuta. However, his current enthusiasm is fueled by contemporary drummers such as Nate Smith, Benny Greb, Chris "Daddy" Dave, and Mark Giuliana. Jackson can be seen showcasing his skills with the cover band DR. JEM and the vibrant soul/pop group Controversy.

Cora Flannery captivates audiences with her mesmerizing voice and commanding stage presence. Singing is not just a hobby but a lifelong passion for Cora, who constantly pushes herself to improve and perfect her craft. With her impressive performances at various local and regional festivals, she has established herself as one of the newest up and coming vocal powerhouses in the area 

In addition to Controversy you can find her fronting the high powered rock band Theory of Everything as well as her piano duo Cora and Liam.

Since the age of ten, Malacai Berke has been captivated by the saxophone, growing up in a family of music enthusiasts rather than musicians. Influenced by legendary tenor saxophonists like Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, and Michael Brecker, he incorporates their styles into his playing. Despite his young age of 15, he is a highly accomplished musician, having opened for the 2023 Rochester International Jazz Festival with a group led by Rochester Saxophone Sensation Vince Ercolomento, whom Malacai studies under. Additionally, he has held the lead chair as an alto saxophonist in the All-County Jazz Band for two consecutive years. Malacai performs at various venues including the I-Square House of Guitars stage, the Rochester Jazz Festival, and many more upcoming events, showcasing his talent and versatility in genres ranging from Jazz and Classical music to Soul, Reggae, and Funk.

 Multi-Instrumentalist and Vocalist Devan Agnitti embarked on his musical journey at the age of 6 when he received his first electric bass and joined his initial band. By the age of 11, he had also taken up vocals and guitar, acquiring his Strat in the summer of 2022, and has been creating captivating music ever since. Devan hones his  skills under the guidance of Stan Martinelli, along with Jason Tortorici and Teena Guarnere. At just 13 years old, Devan is thrilled to showcase what he and his friends have accomplished together. In addititon to controversy you can find Devan dropping bass for the bands Wayback, and DR. JEM

 Multi-instrumentalist Max Bournival embarked on his musical journey at the age of 4 when he received Talking Heads ’77 as a reward for completing preschool. Initially taking piano lessons briefly, he transitioned to playing the guitar at 6 years old. It wasn't until the 4th grade that he discovered his passion for the alto saxophone, participating in both the school band and jazz band. While briefly exploring turntablism, he eventually returned to his roots, focusing on piano and keyboards. Max's musical taste spans various genres and artists, including The Beatles, Jim Croce, and Mac Miller, but Prince stands out as his primary musical inspiration. You can catch Max showcasing his piano skills with the Irondequoit Jazz Band and playing piano, synth, and organ with Controversy.

Elijah Abdella began his musical journey in the 4th Grade, after being inspired by local bandleader and teacher Sean Williams to pick up the Trumpet. Elijah studied classical trumpet, but he always had an interest in improvised music. This desire for being able to improvise continued after joining his middle school's jazz band. Despite wanting to improvise and solo over chord changes, his classical roots held him back, which was extremely frustrating for Elijah. After playing trumpet for many years, he experienced a significant burnout, and picked up his acoustic guitar in 2020 as an escape from the frustration of trumpet. Elijah started his guitar journey in his high school rock band class, where he again became fascinated with the concept of improvisation on this new instrument. He began studying the rock/ blues legends like Jimi Hendrix, Tony lonmi, and Slash. And to Elijah's surprise, playing blues guitar solos was an extremely rewarding way to begin improvising. After getting his first Electric Guitar in 2022, he further branched out into the other areas of rock music. He became obsessed with the technical playing of Marty Friedman and Jason Richardson, which quickly enhanced his technique and speed on the guitar. Elijah joined his first band, Dear Verona, in September of 2022. This gave him the confidence necessary to play in front of audiences, as well as further expanding his repertoire and overall musical knowledge. In 2023, Elijah discovered Guthrie Govan, whose blend of rock and jazz began his journey back to jazz. Elijah then began studying jazz fusion guitarists such as Greg Howe, Jack Gardiner, and Matteo Mancuso. Jazz fusion is still Elijah's favorite genre of music to listen to and play. After playing Jazz Fusion for a long while, Elijah wanted to learn the roots of the genre, fully returning to his interest in jazz music. As a result of this, Elijah began taking lessons from Eastman professor Bob Sneider in September of 2024. This further expanded his knowledge of Jazz music into where he is today.

You can also find Elijah playing in local band Inches of Mercury