Results for "Chicago"

Derek Brown

Born: July 18, 1983

From his 30+ million views across social media to his appearance on international television and NPR’s Weekend Edition, Billboard-charting saxophonist/innovator Derek Brown and his one-of-a-kind solo “BEATBoX SAX” project has been exploding across the world music scene.

As described by jazz journalist/historian Scott Yanow, "Brown performs unaccompanied solos that occasionally make one recall Bobby McFerrin in his early prime and the great saxophonist Eddie Harris . . . utilizing slap-tonguing, circular breathing, a wide interest in musical styles and dazzling coordination to create rather unique music."

Mark Schuster

Born: January 27, 1965

Mark Schuster is a guitarist from Chicago. He started playing drums at the age of 10, and a few years later turned to the guitar. While attending college, he pursued a music degree and chose the guitar as his main instrument, exploring both classical and jazz. Being exposed to, and playing, many different genres of music over the years has made Mark the eclectic musician he is today. Mark's approach to playing the guitar is sometimes aggressive, sometimes relaxed, but always passionate.

Ben LaMar Gay

Mario Duenas

Born: April 23, 1985

Mario Dueñas was born on April 23, 1985 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Was introduced to the piano at the age of 5, developing a special interest in harmony, and soon began a self- teaching process through record transcribing and bibliographic studies. Years later, established a variety of ensambles to further explore both the languages of composition as well as performance. After experiencing the music of Bill Evans and John Coltrane along with many other master improvisers, decided to continue a deeper study into the nature of improvisation. In 2008, traveled to the United States where he married to Denisse Navarro

Kitt Lyles

Born: September 5, 1990

Kitt Lyles – Bassist, Composer, Arranger, Educator & Bandleader A graduate of Northwestern University (BM Jazz Studies, 2013), Kitt Lyles is an active performer, composer and educator in the Chicago jazz community. His performing career has brought him to play renowned jazz clubs around North America, Latin America and Asia, as well as major festivals such as the Chicago Jazz Festival (Chicago, IL), Festival Espontáneo (Chiapas, MX) and the Billy Strayhorn Jazz Festival (Chicago, IL). In 2015, Lyles released his debut album, “Real Talk”, featuring all original compositions; “it’s success rests as much on his skills as a writer as his serving as a beacon for the sextet's able rhythm section…his colourful themes… are by and large bright and engaging” (Jack Bowers, All About Jazz)

Roy McGrath

Born: March 17, 1988

Roy McGrath is a tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader and sideman living in Chicago, IL. He recently graduated with a master’s degree in Music from Northwestern University, where he studied under Victor Goines (saxophonist for Jazz at Lincoln Center and Director of Jazz Studies at Northwestern University). He transcribes, arranges, and composes music for a variety of situations, and currently works as the Woodwind/Brasswind instructor at Flatt’s and Shape Musical Academy in Chicago. Born and raised in San Juan, PR, Roy sang in school choirs before picking up the saxophone at age 16. After attending the Berklee College of Music Summer Workshop, he earned a full scholarship to attend Berklee School of Music’s Five Week Summer Performance Program

Hanging Hearts

HANGING HEARTS IS:Chris Weller - tenor saxophoneCole DeGenova - keyboards, synth bassQuin Kirchner - drums, percussionRooted in Chicago’s rich tradition of forward-thinking jazz and experimental music, Hanging Hearts is a progressive trio that thrives at the intersection of energy, groove, and improvisation. Led by saxophonist Chris Weller and featuring Cole DeGenova on keyboards and synth bass alongside Quin Kirchner on drums, the band channels the city’s history of musical innovation. Melding jazz with rock intensity, electronic textures, and avant-garde sensibilities, Hanging Hearts embodies the genre-blurring ethos that has long defined Chicago’s creative music scene.Whether drawing from post-bop, punk, free jazz, or electronic minimalism, Hanging Hearts delivers music that is both visceral and cerebral—music that speaks to the head, the heart, and everything in between."...intelligent and fascinating fusion for the 21st century." - Roger Farbey, All About Jazz

Juan Pastor

Drummer/percussionist and composer Juan Pastor finds himself caught between two homes: his native Lima, Peru, and the city where he has lived for the past 13 years, Chicago. As a result, both his original compositions and the sound of his ensemble, Chinchano, draw life from deep sources - Peru’s enchantingly diverse culture, history, landscapes, and folk music, and the language of North American Jazz. Pastor evokes his multifaceted story poignantly on his new recording, El Regreso (Quinto Pulso, 2019). Pastor begins his story with a lively arrangement of Wilfredo Franco Laguna's Mayoral, the album’s sole cover and a beloved Peruvian song, whose lyrics call out the oppressive racism of Spanish colonialism. Juan’s drums animate the arrangement with a powerful Afro-Peruvian “Festejo” dance rhythm, and special guest percussionists Makarito Nicasio and Edu Campos (both members of the acclaimed ensemble Peru Negro) join the rhythm section.

SUN SPEAK

The Chicago-based duo SUN SPEAK is comprised of longtime collaborators Matt Gold (guitar) and Nate Friedman (drums and percussion). They have released three albums of original music - “Light Blue Light” (Genghis, 2014), “Sacred Rubble” (Ears&Eyes Music, 2015), and “Sun Speak with Sara Serpa” (Flood Music, 2018). Their fourth record “Moon Preach” releases October 25 2019 on Flood Music.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Active since: 1999

In the late 70's through the early 80's, all the brothers were born on the southside of Chicago, Illinois. Their family had a strong musical legacy that span the city. In 1986, their father formed "Phil Cohran and th Youth Ensemble". The eight brothers performed with their mothers, older brothers and sisters, as well as their father, Kelan Phil Cohran ( co-founder of AACM, Sun Ra's lead trumpeter, mentor to "the Pharoah's", later known as " Earth Wind and Fire"). After honing their technique on stage, the older brothers undertook music scholarship from universities abroad (Clark Atlanta Univ., Langston Univ.)