Results for "Chicago"

Abigail Riccards

Born: December 19, 1980

Since arriving on the New York scene in 2003, vocalist Abigail Riccards has garnered much attention from the jazz community for her effortless swing, heartbreaking tone, and personalized approach to lyrics. Abigail's inimitable approach to the Great American Songbook has made her one of the most celebrated jazz vocalists of her generation. In 2000, she was also selected to participate in the Jazz in July workshop at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and competed in the 2006 Fish Middleton Competition, where she was a semi-finalist. In 2004, Abigail was selected to be a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, where she competed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C for judges such as Kurt Elling, Al Jarreau, Jimmy Scott and Dee Dee Bridgewater

Tommy Muellner

Born: January 25

Tommy Muellner is a highly respected Chicago born jazz pianist and composer. He has received critical acclaim from aficionados and statesmen throughout the jazz world for his piano acumen and creativity. He has an uncanny understanding of harmonic movement, improvisation and musical interplay. Playboy magazine critic Neil Tesser cites Tommy as “a pianist and tunesmith of stellar magnitude.” Mike Drew of the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal says, “Like the late keyboard master Bill Evans, Tom finds classic gems, and creates lyrical variations.” And this from Hammond organ master Joey DeFrancesco, “Tommy swings, grooves, is soulful, and in total command of his instrument, plus I love him, he’s one of my favorites!” As a bandleader, Tommy has performed for large concert venues as well as many prestigious jazz clubs

Scott Earl Holman

Born: June 4, 1954

7 TIME GRAMMY WINNER Paul Wertico says, "...a musical statement that takes you somewhere you might have always wanted to go but never knew existed."

Crumblehead Records proudly presents the worldwide release of 'Faith And Works' 2009 featuring Paul Wertico on drums and Larry Gray on bass. While at the Chicago Blue Note, the Scott Earl Holman Trio opened for Maynard Ferguson, Leon Russell, Maria Muldaur, G.E Smith ('Saturday Night Live' bandleader), and many more.

He has performed with legends like Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman, Lin Halliday, Richie Cole, Larry Gray, Eric Alexander, Paul Wertico and others.

Greg Waters

Born: September 3, 1953

G(GregWaters) started playing guitar at the age of 13.Because of a health problem,his Dad brought home a guitar to fill his boredom,and well,you know the rest!His first song learned on guitar was "House Of The Rising Sun".He would sit on his front porch and play that song over and over.He soon joined a band and began playing other songs,"Hang On Sloopy","Wipe-Out" and other popular songs of the times.Before he knew it he and the band were being taken,by G's Dad, to the local VFW to play every Friday night for the whopping pay of $13.00 each.From there the group would be taken out to the local ice cream shop for treats.Of course each member payed their own way with the money they had just made.After those years of (invaluable!) experience,G started a group in High School,named,The Montegos and Shaft,you remember the song...right"Shaft"...Shut Your Mouth!The group was an all white band backing up 5 black singers,who did steps to each song,performing Motown and Rock!Again G's Dad assisted whenever needed.The band did quite well actually,performed with Betty Wright,"Clean Up Woman",a r&b singer and a solo singer,Lobo..."Me You And A Dog Named Boo".From there G attended college locally at Mount Olive College,for classical music and then Berklee School Of Music for jazz.While attending Mount Olive College he took private lessons from the in-residence guitarist Rick Madriguera(took master classes under Andre Segovia).While at school locally,he was instructing guitar at a local military base or night classes at the local community college.After music studies,G went"on the road",traveling up and down the East Coast and through the Mid West,playing mainly cover songs.He later started opening shows for or appearing with,The Temptations,Barry White,Delbert McClinton,OC Smith and many others.G was performing with The Breeze Band for those shows and appearances.To date he has performned in the US,Europe and Saudi Arabia(with the StaircaseBand).He has also written and produced jingles for radio stations and commercials for tv. G's cd's are a musical experience in many styles of music,playing Jazz,Funk,Blues and New Age and Acoustic.These various styles can be found on both, "The Journey"and the "Slo-Vib" cd's.Both cd's maintain the melodic feel and playing,other musicians call"tasteful".There are music samples for both cd's and also,can be purchased on a per song basis or the complete cd at www.freewebs.com/gguitar .So please check out the jams.And there are some great"music tips"for aspiring players and great"links"to go to also,at the site.Peace .........and this page is dedicated to my Mom and Dad who,without them,none of this could have happened.......G(Greg Waters)

Jason Kao Hwang

Born: 1957

The music of Jason Kao Hwang (composer/violin/viola) explores the vibrations and language of his history. His compositions are often narrative landscapes through which sonic beings embark upon extemporaneous, transformational journeys. His most recent releases, The Human Rites Trio (w/Andrew Drury and Ken FiLIANO), Conjure (duo with Karl Berger), and Blood, performed by Burning Bridge (octet of Chinese and Western instruments), are receiving critical acclaim. In 2019, 2018, 2013 and 2012, the El Intruso International Critics Poll voted him #1 for Violin/Viola. In 2017 Downbeat Magazine named his quintet recording Sing House (Eunoymus) as one of the Best CDs of the Year

Kenn Smith

Born: April 27, 1962

When the family move to the south-side of Chicago in 1975, Smith began his guitar studies at age 13 with a visit to the local music store purchasing two Mel Bay books. In 1977, the family moved to Maywood, Illinois, were at age 16 he began classical studies with guitarist Bruce Walters for a year, and later continue studies at Jack Cecchini Studio in Chicago till 1982. While attending Proviso East High School, he played electric guitar and timpani in the Proviso Township Orchestra and guitar and bass in the Proviso East High School jazz band, were he received the Louis Armstrong Award for Outstanding Jazz Improvisation during his senior year. In 1982, Kenn began his career teaching guitar at Robinson's Music Academy in his home town of Maywood, Illinois, as well as performing with local funk and fusion bands in said town and the Chicago area

Corey Wilkes

Born: June 3, 1979

As a child, Corey Wilkes was surrounded by the sounds of Blues, R&B, Soul, Funk and Jazz. He picked up the trumpet for the first time at the age of 10. Starting with the school band, Corey's natural talent immediately began to flourish. He dominated his peers in both group and solo competitions, always taking first place. His confidence and maturity were well beyond his years. As a student at Rich South High School in Richton Park, Illinois, his hard work and dedication secured a spot in the Illinois All State Honors Jazz Combo; the first student in the school's history to do so. Corey further honed his craft at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts

Joel Moore

Born: July 9, 1973

Chicago native Joel Moore (b.1973), a highly talented and versatile tenor saxophonist specializing in both jazz and rhythm & blues, received an M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy from the Berklee College of Music and The Boston Conservatory in 2000. While living in Boston, he studied with Jeff Harrington, Bill Pierce and Ed Tomassi and interacted with renowned saxophonists Rick Margitza and Bob Berg during their respective clinics and performances. Joel also performed at the House of Blues and Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA and toured throughout New England with a variety of ensembles. Prior to Berklee, Joel lived in Louisiana and began graduate studies at the University of New Orleans

Eric VanDuyne

I studied George Russel's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization for a year with Ben Schwendener of the New England Conservatory. The whole thing is based on the notion of "tonal gravity" and is a great new way to think about chords, melodies, and how they relate to one another. I use aspects of it almost all the time in some way shape or form.

Paul Wertico

Born: January 5, 1953

Hailed in the press as "One of the most versatile and musical drummers in music today", Paul Wertico was born January 5, 1953 in Chicago. He gained worldwide recognition as a member of the Pat Metheny Group from 1983 to 2001. During his tenure with Metheny, Wertico played on ten recordings and four videos, appeared on numerous television shows, and frequently toured around the world. He also won seven Grammy Awards (for "Best Jazz Fusion Performance," "Best Contemporary Jazz Performance," and "Best Rock Instrumental Performance"), magazine polls, and received several gold records.