Recording Session

June 2019

On June 2, the band gathered at Transient Sound with Featured Guest Artist Bob Lark to record what would be the album documenting our favorite and best charts we played this year, "Contrast".  Four hours later we left exhausted, but in between we had a lot of fun recording.  More information about our 2018-19 album, Contrast, is available here.

Spring Concert -

April 2019

As the band was gathering for the spring concert featuring Guest Artist Bob Lark, we learned that one of our trumpet players was sick with strep.  Fifteen minutes before the concert, Tim Bales walked in (having driven all the way from Chicago to Crystal Lake) and sight read the concert with no preparation!  Bob performed with beauty and fire, the band played the concert without a hitch, and got to see how a pro like Tim (Ides of March and many other groups) deals with a challenge.

Winter Concert -

January 2019

This year, our Winter Concert in Warrenville was the second of three performances in eight days for the band.  We previewed many of the Ellington tunes for those who would not be able to hear us play them at IMEC.  Featured Guest Artist Rick Haydon provided a musical history lesson as we played music from Ellington to Pat Metheny with him.

This year, our Winter Concert in Warrenville was the second of three performances in eight days for the band.  We previewed many of the Ellington tunes for those who would not be able to hear us play them at IMEC.  Featured Guest Artist Rick Haydon provided a musical history lesson as we played music from Ellington to Pat Metheny with him.

Jazz Showcase -

January 2019

It's always wonderful to play the Jazz Showcase, and this January was no exception. On the 16th we opened for Mark Colby, and with that also had the opportunity to feature him as our Guest Artist (which he would repeat 8 days later with us at IMEC). The very walls of the Showcase seem to demand the very best, and we pushed ourselves to live up to the history of the room.

It's always wonderful to play the Jazz Showcase, and this January was no exception. On the 16th we opened for Mark Colby, and with that also had the opportunity to feature him as our Guest Artist (which he would repeat 8 days later with us at IMEC). The very walls of the Showcase seem to demand the very best, and we pushed ourselves to live up to the history of the room.

Fitzgerald's -

November 2018

Many in the audience were curious...how would the band sound, performing an opening set for Bill O'Connell's big band, with only four rehearsals under their belt?  Well, the band rose to the occasion, joined on a couple tunes by Dave Katz in the trumpet section (a Featured Guest Artist in the prior year).  And thus we had a great kickoff to a strong season.