Lucas Gillan
Apr
24
7:00 PM19:00

Lucas Gillan

From Lucas:

“I'm excited to bring my longstanding jazz quartet, Lucas Gillan's Many Blessings, to The Old Elburn Hall this coming Wednesday April 24. I'm not quite making it all the way back to the NIU School of Music, but it's a mere 15 miles East of DeKalb, where I first hatched the idea for Many Blessings way back in 2006(!!!) with Marquis Hill, Jonathan Edwards and Kevin Doyle.

I'm delighted to have the excellent Millie Ahearn filling in on trumpet for this gig, alongside the always thrilling Hunter Jay Diamond on sax and Daniel Jackson Thatcher on bass.

Many Blessings usually only plays out a couple of times per year, so every gig feels like a special event to me -- I hope some of you who live within a stone's throw of Elburn/DeKalb might be able to join us.”

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Cat Gaddis
Apr
10
7:00 PM19:00

Cat Gaddis

ABOUT CAT GADDIS

Cat Gaddis began performing professionally at the age of 16 in Davenport, IA and at the age 

of 19 she moved to Chicago to perform as the opening act for former Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, Ernie Terrell.
 

While performing with Terrell she met the legendary King of Blue-eyed Soul, Wayne Cochran, and he convinced her to go on the road with him and his world renowned band, the CC Riders. She performed all over the world with Wayne Cochran, first, as a backup singer and, later, as his opening act, appearing in such places as Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles CA, and making appearances with Wayne and the CC Riders on:
The James Brown Show.
The Dinah Shore Show
The Merv Griffin Show
 

In 1979, after settling in Miami, Cat Gaddis formed her own act, she was signed to TK Records as a solo artist, a producer, song writer, and sound engineer where she was stable mates with:
Bobby Caldwell
KC and the Sunshine Band
Betty Wright
Benny Latimore
Peter Brown
Anita Ward
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Jimmy "Bo" Horne
Timmy Thomas
George and Gwen McCrae
T-Connection
 

In 1987 she relocated to Chicago, IL where she has performed with:
What the Funk.  
Downtown Charlie Brown's Blues Band
The Q-Balls
The Chi-Town Showstoppers
Rhythm Kitchen Blues Band
 

In 2022 she reunited with the Downtown Charlie Brown's Blues Band and performed a guest appearance at

Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago, IL, where she received rave reviews for that performance.
 

At the age of 69, Cat Gaddis has been inspired to come out of retirement and to do what she loves most, perform and

she formed The Cat Gaddis Project with four of Chicago's best blues and jazz musicians:
David Kellen, keyboardist
Glover Washington, drummer

David Jordan, guitarist 

Reggie Harrington, bassist.
 

The Cat Gaddis Project is currently producing a solo album, “The Cycles of My Life " at Gremlen Recording Studios in Aurora, IL with engineer, Jeremy Kollross,

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VINNY KABAT TRIO
Mar
13
7:00 PM19:00

VINNY KABAT TRIO

Vinny Kabat is a freelance electric bassist throughout Chicago and the Midwest. He can frequently be seen as a sideman playing with saxophonist Anthony Bruno, Blues Artist Demetria Taylor, Steel Drum Fusion band Callaloo and Wanees Zarour’s East Loop among many others. Vinny is most passionate about music that allows him to stretch the traditional boundaries of the electric bass guitar with unorthodox techniques and use of effects, which his original music highlights. 

trio will feature Greg Essig(drums) and Parker Stluka(guitar)

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Chris Greene Quartet
Feb
28
7:00 PM19:00

Chris Greene Quartet

“Chris Greene is a Chicago jazz treasure. One of my favorite musicians.”-Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune

The Chris Greene Quartet has been a highly visible part of Chicago’s jazz scene since 2005, and has maintained a stable lineup from the beginning, with the exception of Steve Corley, who has held the drum chair since 2011. Damian Espinosa on piano and keyboards and Marc Piane on acoustic and electric basses have been onboard since the beginning. Unique among Chicago bands, most of whom feature, by necessity, constantly shifting personnel, the CGQ has been able to develop a true group sound and feel, harking back to bands from the classic age of jazz when groups could stay together for long periods of time. While honoring the tradition, the CGQ incorporates elements of funk, hip-hop, rock, pop, the blues and reggae, reflecting their diverse backgrounds.

CGQ’s most recent album “PlaySPACE 2 - Play Harder” was voted one of the best albums of 2021 by DownBeat Magazine.” The band was also recently honored at the 2018 Chicago Music Awards with an award for “Best Jazz Entertainer” and recently won the “Best Jazz Band” category in the Chicago Reader “Best of Chicago” Poll. 

chrisgreenejazz.com

instagram.com/chrisgreenejazz

twitter.com/chrisgreenejazz

facebook.com/chrisgreenejazz

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John Wojciechowski Quartet
Jan
31
7:00 PM19:00

John Wojciechowski Quartet

John Wojciechowski: Saxophone

Jack Buratczak: guitar

Clark Sommers: bass

Neil Hemphill: drums

Saxophonist John Wojciechowski, of whom the Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich wrote: “…technically accomplished, musically profound and harmonically daring” is originally from Detroit and has spent the last 20 years performing and teaching in Chicago. In addition to leading his own groups, he has performed or recorded with The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Woody Herman Orchestra, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Clark Terry, Charlie Haden, and Kurt Elling among many others. John was also a third place finalist in the 1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. John is currently a member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Dana Hall’s spring, the Jeff Campbell Trio (w/ John Hollenbeck), the collective “Tenor Time” (with Geof Bradfield and Scott Burns) and Ryan Cohan’s Sextet and Quartet. Frequently listed as a ‘rising star’ in Downbeat magazine’s critics poll, John has appeared on dozens of recordings as a sideman, and has three recordings as a leader: “Lexicon", released in 2009 and “Focus” which was released in the fall of 2015 on Origin records to critical acclaim.  His third recording “Swing of the Pendulum” was released in August 2023 on the AFAR Music Label. 

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Jimmy Farace Quartet
Jan
17
7:00 PM19:00

Jimmy Farace Quartet

Jimmy Farace - saxophone

Meghan Stagl - piano

Mary Halm - bass

Paul Barrilles - drums 

Jimmy Farace works as a freelance jazz musician in Chicago, Illinois and has established himself as one of the up-and-coming baritone saxophonists. In addition to receiving a full tuition scholarship to the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Jimmy received his Masters of Music at DePaul University. As a baritone specialist, Jimmy has performed in numerous world class big bands featuring soloists such as Chris Potter, Randy Brecker and Jeff Hamilton. Jimmy has been a member of the Hugh Jackman World Tour Orchestra, as well as the Disneyland All-American College Band. Though he feels at home in a saxophone section, Jimmy has no shortage of work as a small group soloist. Jimmy leads various ensembles under his own name ranging from chordless trio to nonet. He has performed with Chicago legends such as Mark Colby, Scott Hesse, Clark Sommers, Ethan Philion, Katie Ernst, Pete Benson and Bill O'Connell. Jimmy Farace is a continuation of the rich history of the baritone saxophone and has studied this tradition with baritone masters Gary Smulyan, Brian Landrus and Paul Nedzela; as well as saxophone masters Walter Smith III, Greg Ward, Tom Walsh, and Scott Burns.


Website: JimmyFaraceMusic.com

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Bella's Second Shot Band
Dec
13
7:00 PM19:00

Bella's Second Shot Band

"Sometimes All You Need is a Second Shot"

Second Shot is a Premier Wedding and Event Band in the Chicagoland Area.  9 Piece Band Instrumentation:  Male and Female Vocalists, Horns (Trumpet/Sax/Trombone), Piano, Drums, Guitar, Bass.  We play a large variety of music:  Big Band Swing, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Motown, Disco.  Second Shot was recently established in 2022.   The band consists of professional freelance musicians that have performed together often.

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Grey Matter Quartet
Nov
15
7:00 PM19:00

Grey Matter Quartet

Grey Matter Quartet (GMQ) is an ensemble that focuses on fusion styled jazz, originated by the masters of the style (Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, George Duke, Weather Report, YellowJackets, Snarky Puppy, etc)

As all jazz should include original content infusion by the performing musicians, you will find pieces of all of us in the presentation of these compositions. We also consider it our honor and privilege to bring these compositions to our audiences - in non-threatening terms. Be it in a restaurant, dinner party or concert setting. We do not beat you in the head with it, we tastefully offer it up. Inevitably folks will be tapping their feet, bobbing their head and knowing that they have heard the songs before and liked them!

Historically, GMQ started out as a trio. Originated by drummer and founder; Andrew Hix and keyboardist / co-founder Stew Levin. Andrew and Stew have played in numerous ensembles together since the 1990's consisting of the wedding ensemble; Late Shift Orchestra, a (5) piece pre-curser ensemble called "Soulfiztication", and numerous jazz pick up bands.

Andrew is also the drummer for the jazz group - Slyvan Street. They released two LPs that dropped in 2007 & 2014. Andrew also plays in a number of other ensembles in the area and is the founder of the Hix Brothers teaching studios and music stores.

Noah Dee, bassist / composer joined the trio in 2019. Noah is an accomplished pianist/composer as well as bassist, Noah played bass with Stew in an original material ensemble called "Goodwood". Noah produced and co-wrote the LP "Wicker" which dropped in 2015. (Available on Itunes & Spotify)

GMQ became a quartet when we had the good fortune to have Jeff Ford (Saxophones) add his voice to the ensemble in 2020. Jeff is an accomplished composer / teacher and performer. Jeff taught music and woodwinds at Wabaunsee College, Jeff also has his own woodwind repair business and plays with ensembles all over the Midwest. Jeff wrote and produced his LP - "Saxophoning" that dropped in 2021.

The unmistakable characteristic and founding principal of the ensemble is that we love the music that we play, love playing it together, and love presenting it to you.


In summary: Grey Matter Quartet is:

Andrew Hix - Drums and Cymbals

Stew Levin - Keyboards

Noah Dee - Bass

Jeff Ford - Saxophones

http://www.greymatterquartet.com/

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