Angel Bat Dawid, vocalist and multi instrumentalist is the guest on the "The Future is Now" podcast on the Chicago Jazz Audio Experience hosted by Monica Staton.   Visit https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/the-oracle for more information on her new release.   IG - angeltheoracle  

Chicago Jazz Audio Experience

Angel Bat Dawid - The Future is Now with host Monica Staton

Ms. Younger has an innovative approach to teaching, and works exceptionally well with students of all levels and ages. Her encouraging and supportive teaching style helps motivate students within musical style and variations. With an extensive background in classical music and jazz, Ms. Younger has an eclectic variety of musical techniques to offer. Ms. Younger has taught at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, Adelphi University, Nassau Community College and is currently on the faculty at The Greenwich House Music School in lower Manhattan. She also has a private studio on Long Island and Manhattan. She is the Vice President of the Long Island and Metro NYC Chapters of the American Harp Society, and presents masterclasses and workshops internationally, in which she promotes the use of harp in multi genres. She is currently accepting a limited number of new students in Manhattan and Long Island.    

Episode 093 Chicago Music Revealed with guest Brandee Younger

Johnny Iguana grew up in Philadelphia, where he studied piano from age eight and played piano and organ in blues bands from age 16. He moved to New York City at age 22, where he met one of his greatest musical heroes, Junior Wells. He was hired by Junior after auditioning live at the Boston House of Blues, and moved to Chicago in February 1994. He toured with the Junior Wells Band for three years, toured with Otis Rush and recorded with Carey (and Lurrie) Bell, Lil’ Ed and more. Johnny went on to play on Grammy-nominated albums by Junior Wells, Chicago Blues: A Living History and the Muddy Waters 100 Band, and he played all the piano on the “Chicago Plays the Stones” album (2018). Those releases saw Johnny play on record with Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Derek Trucks, Gary Clark Jr., Johnny Winter and more. Now, after appearing on dozens of blues albums released by other artists, Johnny is set to release his debut blues-piano album as a leader in 2020 on the legendary Delmark Records label. “Johnny Iguana’s Chicago Spectacular!” features Lil’ Ed, John Primer, Billy Boy Arnold, Bob Margolin, Matthew Skoller, Billy Flynn, Kenny Smith, Bill Dickens and Michael Caskey.    

Episode 092 Chicago Music Revealed iwht guest Johnny Iguana

Jesse Fischer is a Brooklyn-based pianist, composer, and producer. Known for his warm, soulful touch and emphasis on melody, groove, storytelling and emotion, his unique voice combines elements of his own Jewish heritage with music of the African diaspora, jazz, hip-hop, indie, and singer-songwriter genres. A two-time ASCAP Plus Award winner, Fischer has performed with many notables in the jazz, pop, and world music scenes, including Mino Cinélu, Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Becca Stevens, Grace Kelly, Lakecia Benjamin, Deva Mahal, and Takuya Kuroda. He has released several records as a leader, including Day Dreamer (Ropeadope, 2015), his Herbie Hancock/Head Hunters tribute Vein Melter (Tru Thoughts, 2015) — jointly created with producer/multi-instrumentalist Sly5thAve — and most recently, the Cross Currents EP (self-released, 2019), featuring drummer Nate Smith and saxophonist Marcus Strickland.   He is also a core member of the groundbreaking Brooklyn Afro-pop/jazz fusion collective Ajoyo and producer & engineer of their sophomore release, War Chant.Fischer has brought his unique voice as a composer and bandleader to stages around the world. With over 700,000 plays on Spotify to date, his music has been featured on Spotify’s flagship editorial playlists like State of Jazz, Butter, and Fresh Finds, as well as taste-making radio shows including Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6), Jeremy Sole (KCRW), Miller Time with legendary bassist/producer Marcus Miller (Sirius/XM) and Wicked Jazz Sounds (Amsterdam).    

Episode 091 Chicago Music Revealed with guest Jesse Fisher

Blues guitar virtuoso Nick Moss and harmonica wizard Dennis Gruenling have been on a winning streak since they first joined forces in 2016. With relentless nonstop touring and the release of their Alligator Records debut, The High Cost Of Low Living, in 2018, The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling has been playing for wildly enthusiastic fans and winning over critics and radio programmers worldwide. Debuting at #3 on the Billboard Blues Chart, the album topped many 2018 “Best Of” lists. UK tastemaker magazine Mojo said, “Guitarist and singer Nick Moss shows the world his fearsome guitar chops and his complete familiarity with the great tradition of Chicago blues music. Partnered with harmonica-player Dennis Gruenling, Moss creates a two-headed monster that takes the band thundering through crisp originals.”    Their self-made lucky streak continued into early 2019, when down-and-dirty guitarist Moss – a 30-year veteran of Chicago’s take-no-prisoners rough and tumble West and South Side blues clubs – won the Blues Music Award (BMA) for Traditional Blues Male Artist Of The Year. Gruenling, one on the hottest players on the scene today, took the BMA for Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica. And now, with the odds heavily in their favor, they unleash their dynamic new album, Lucky Guy!.    

Episode 090 Chicago Music Reealed with guest Nick Moss

 WEDNESDAY   Master drummer Ralph Peterson continues to advance the continuum of his late mentor Art Blakey on Onward & Upward, his ambitious and expansive 25th release as a leader. On this historical release, due out September 18th, Peterson brings together 14 former Jazz Messengers and three Legacy Messengers to write a new page in the Messenger Legacy songbook.   Spearheaded by Peterson, the expansive lineup on Onward & Upward features Joanne Brackeen, Kevin Eubanks, Robin Eubanks, Essiet Essiet, Steve Davis, Craig Handy, Philip Harper, Brian Lynch, Lonnie Plaxico, Bill Pierce, Melissa Slocum, Jean Touissant, Peter Washington, and, in the spirit of mentorship, rising pianists Zaccai Curtis and Anthony Wonsey and percussionist Reinaldo DeJesus. The first single "El Grito" was released on May 20th, Ralph Peterson's 58th birthday. 

Episode 089 Chicago Music Revealed withguest Ralph Peterson

EVENT HORIZON JAZZ QUARTET is a Chicago-based group comprising four of the finest jazz musicians the Windy City has to offer. Reedman JIM KACZMAREK, keyboardist SCOTT MERTENS, bass player DONN DESANTO, and drummer RICK VITEK have played with some of the biggest names in jazz and pop. Their eponymous debut album is a collection of 11 original compositions written by either Kaczmarek or Mertens.   The Quartet are regulars on the Chicago jazz scene. Kaczmarek is the driving force behind the band’s creation, but he emphasizes “Although Scott and I contribute our original tunes, we’re really a collective. Each band member has his own strengths and unique voice that shape every arrangement. Oftentimes, Rick or Donn will come up with an idea that largely changes and improves upon my original concept.” EVENT HORIZON is a richly textured album that encompasses a wide variety of styles and attitudes. Jim Kaczmarek and Scott Mertens are top-notch composers who deserve a wider audience. All four musicians, including Donn DeSanto and Rick Vitek, have created a joyful musical expression through the entire range of human emotions.

Episode 088 Chicago Music Revealed with guests Jim Kaczmarek and Scott Mertens

Brian Scarborough is a top call trombonist, improviser, composer, and educator in the greater Kansas City area. He can be seen performing around Kansas City with his own ensembles, and is a member of the People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, the Boulevard Big Band, Zen Brass, The Kansas-Nebraska Act, and is a sub for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. Brian has also appeared with the Fountain City Brass Band. Additionally, Brian can be seen working with musical theatre companies throughout the metropolitan area, having performed for more than 50 different productions with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Starlight Theatre, New Theatre Restaurant, Owen/Cox Dance Group, Spinning Tree Theatre, Musical Theatre Heritage, The Chestnut Theatre, and Music Theater Kansas City, among others. He can also be seen performing for touring Broadway productions and with touring acts, such as The Temptations, when they stop in the area. Brian has also performed in jazz, classical, and chamber settings in Germany, Sweden, and England.

Episode 087 Chicago Music Revealed with guest Brian Scarborough

Chicago based bassist/composer and bandleader, Matt Ulery, has developed an instantly recognizable sound. Known for his sweeping lyricism, unconventional phrase structures, expressionistic emotionalism, Ulery’s music, from small, diverse chamber ensembles to full orchestras, is informed by the entire spectrum of jazz, classical, rock, pop, and folk– specifically American, South American, Balkan, and other European folkstyles. He has been performing for 23 years on upright, electric, and brass basses.For a decade, Ulery has been the leader of his own groups and frequent collaborator. Ulery has produced and released 8 albums of all original music under his name including three recent releases of critical acclaim, “By a Little Light,” “Wake an Echo,” and “In the Ivory,” on Dave Douglas’s Greenleaf Music record label in 2012-2014 and his latest, “Festival (2016),” and “Sifting Stars (2018)” on his own label, Woolgathering Records. Ulery earned a Master of Music degree at Depaul University and Bachelors degree in music composition at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and has played in bands with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Fareed Haque, Howard Levy, Patricia Barber, Goran Ivanovic, Greg Ward, Jeff Parker, Zach Brock, Jimmy Chamberlin, Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill and countless others. As a composer, Ulery has collaborated with diverse ensembles such as Eighth Blackbird, Miami String Quartet, New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago, Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Festival of Lexington, Axiom Brass, Wild Belle, and the Guimaraes (Portugal) Jazz Festival.

Episode 086 Chicago Music Revealed with guest Matt Ulery

Surprising is the word that perhaps best describes Thana Alexa, an extraordinarily creative force in music.  An awe-inspiring vocalist, composer, and arranger – for whom the voice is both a lyrical and experimental instrument – her music pushes the boundaries of the genre into new and unexplored territory with deep seeded roots in jazz and overtones of contemporary soul and world music.   “...a jazz singer with a global perspective...” — The New York Times Voted a Downbeat Critic’s Poll Rising Star Vocalist for four consecutive years, Alexa is perhaps best known as the formidable vocalist and composer of her 2015 release, Ode to Heroes (Harmonia Mundi/ Jazz Village), a beautiful and poignant ode to the most influential musicians and personal heroes in her life. She toured this album to critical acclaim in the U.S. and Europe, was nominated for Best Jazz Composition by PORIN, the Croatian Music Academy (an honor equivalent to the Grammy® Awards in America), won the Alpe-Adria International Composition Competition for the title track, and was runner up in the Made in NY Jazz Competition for her arrangements.

Episode 085 Chicago Music Revealed with guest Tana Alexa

Singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Jimmy Burns is a contemporary bluesman who combines his Delta roots with R&B and soul to come up with a sound uniquely his own. Burns is a charismatic performer with an expressive, soulful, voice and a melodic guitar style to match. With a keen sense of his musical heritage Burns has created an upbeat style that has won critical acclaim both at home and abroad. Born near Dublin, Mississippi in 1943, Burns was fascinated by music early on. He loved the sounds coming out of the church, and the blues he heard on the streets. Burns’ sang in church and taught himself how to play guitar while he was still in the Delta. One of his particular favorites was Lightnin’ Hopkins, His oldest brother, renowned Detroit bluesman Eddie Burns, is also a guitarist who played with John Lee Hooker for a number of years before striking out on his own.

Episode 084 Chicago Music Revealed with Blues guest Jimmy Burns

Jeannie Tanner is a singer-songwriter and trumpeter who performs and records her original music - a mix of jazz, pop, R&B and Latin rhythms. She has earned six ASCAP Composer Awards and has seven Grammy-considered albums. Her album WORDS & MUSIC was named by the Chicago Tribune as one of the Best of 2017 (top 10).  “I’m reminded of what we call standards," explained Jason Marck of NPR in describing Tanner's writing style. "That’s not just Tin Pan Alley with your Gershwins, Porter, your Rodgers and Hart; I also hear Brill Building influences like Mann & Weil, King & Goffin and Bacharach & David…”   Ms. Tanner’s songs have been featured in many television shows and movies including “Culinary Travels with Dave Eckert” (PBS/The Travel Channel), “Revenge” (ABC), “Single Ladies” (VH1 - produced by Queen Latifah) “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo), “Young and the Restless” (CBS) and many Hallmark holiday movies including “Christmas Cookies” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas.” She is proud to be signed to Heavy Hitters Music in L.A. And, her music can be heard on local, national and international radio via traditional stations, Sirius XM and on the internet where she has her own Pandora station.    Tanner has performed in the Chicago area for 15 years, doing public and private gigs 5-7 nights a week at venues including headlining at Andy's Jazz Club, Winter's Jazz Club, the Skokie Theatre and Davenport's Piano Bar. She plays solo, duo, trio and with her quartet - depending on the needs of the club owners/clients. These days, Tanner is composing, recording in her home studio and working on new projects with Abigail Riccards - including their weekly Facebook Live-streams together. They've been doing their DESPERATE MEASURES MUSIC SERIES: 2 Voices/2 Pianos since mid-March. Tanner has been excited to blend her voice with Abby's every week singing harmonies, playing piano, some trumpet and a little percussion. Abby & Jeannie have a great time - just two friends making music, sharing laughs and telling stories about their lives.   Chicago musician Abigail Riccards has made an international name for herself in the jazz and pop music community for nearly 20 years. After launching her career in New York City in 2002 at storied clubs like Birdland, the Jazz Standard, Smalls, and the Kitano, she continued to garner praise as a selected semifinalist in the 2004 Thelonius Monk International Jazz Competition.    After nearly a decade on the east coast, Riccards broadened her scope to the iconic Chicago jazz scene, where she frequently headlines legendary clubs such as the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase and Winter’s Jazz Club. After releasing her 3rd studio album in 2013, she performed on the main stage at the Chicago Jazz Festival with Matt Wilson’s Honey and Salt tour. She has also collaborated with artists such as Jane Monheit, Peter Bernstein, Joel Frahm and Mulgrew Miller.     Her live engagements have been met with generous praise from top critics. The Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich referred to her as “a breath of fresh air...possessing a textured but radiant quality” and Christopher Loudon from JazzTimes said “Abigail Riccards has mastered the increasingly dangerous art of making less, more. Think Doris Day with Anita O'Day jazz smarts."

Episode 083 Chicago Music Revealed with gusts Abigail Riccards and Jeanie Tanner

A charismatic and dynamic saxophonist and bandleader, Lakecia Benjamin fuses traditional conceptions of Jazz, HipHop, and Soul. Benjamin's electric presence and fiery sax work has shared stages with several legendary artists, including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots, and Macy Gray. As the bandleader of Lakecia Benjamin and Soul Squad, she melds the vintage sounds of James Brown, Maceo Parker, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Meters with soaring, dance-floor worthy rhythms. Benjamin's grooves take the classic vibe to a whole new level with sultry alto saxophone creating something special on every cut - be it a smoldering late-night ambiance, or a forceful jazz intensity, or even the tight funk multi-horn harmony sections.A streetwise New York City native born and raised in Washington Heights, Lakecia Benjamin first picked up the saxophone at Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. From there she joined the renowned jazz program at New York's New School University. However, even at that early stage, Benjamin was already playing with renowned jazz figures like Clark Terry and Reggie Workman, which introduced her to opportunities to play and tour with an array of artists such as Rashied Ali, the David Murray Big Band, Vanessa Rubin and James "Blood" Ulmer. With her deep jazz roots, she was soon in demand as an arranger and horn section leader, landing stints with such acclaimed artists as Anita Baker. Currently Lakecia Benjamin's latest album "Pursuance" is an intergenerational masterpiece that takes one on a journey through the lineage of the music with the works of John and Alice Coltrane. Benjamin pays homage to those who have come before by featuring innovative bandleaders of her generation, such as, Reggie Workman (Coproducer and playing ), Ron carter , Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridegwater, Meshell Ndegecello, Regina carter, Bertha Hope, Last poets, Greg Osby, Steve Wilson, John Benitez, Marc Cary, Marcus Gilmore, Keyon Harrold, Marcus Strickland, Brandee Younger, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Jazzmeia Horn.

Episode 082 Chicago Music Revealed with guest Lakecia Benjamin

After describing her brilliant voice as a perfect mix of Nancy, Sassy, and Lady Day, it came only naturally that the late legendary jazz trumpeter Clark Terry would, at New York’s historical Flushing Town Hall, select Denise Thimes as that night’s featured vocalist.This truly unique and inspirational artist is often asked by fellow noteworthy musicians “why haven’t we heard of you”? Not to worry. With a voice as noticeably (as Terry puts it) “ranks with all of the greats,” it won’t be long. Over the course of a multi-faceted career spanning just a little under 3 decades, Thimes is no stranger to the music world, growing up in a home surrounded by all types of music from her father & radio icon, the late Lou “Fatha” Thimes. Thimes has performed with such jazz notables as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra,(St. Louis, MO) the late Clark Terry(The Blue Note-NY), Dr. Billy Taylor, Earl May, Benny Powell,(Flushing Town Hall) and James Moody(Blue Note-NY). She has also graced the stage with the likes of Houston Person, Jimmy&Tootie Heath, Bobby McFerrin, and Bucky Pizzarelli.

Episode 081 Chicago Music Revealed with guest Denise Thimes

In childhood, Williams and his half-brother James "Pookie" Young received encouragement and tutelage from their uncle, the blues guitarist, songwriter and recording artist J. B. Hutto, and by 1975 the half-siblings had formed the first version of the Blues Imperials. Since 1989, the band's lineup has been Williams (lead guitar and vocals), Michael Garrett (rhythm guitar and vocals), James Young (bass) and Kelly Littleton (drums). Living Blues magazine described the band as "Rough-and-ready South and West Side blues...Ed's swirling, snarling slide guitar work can be riveting, and The Imperials pound out blues-rock riffs and rhythms behind him as if they're overdosing on boogie juice." Guitar Player called the band "a snarling boogie-blues machine."   A decade later, Alligator Records offered them the chance to record a track, "Young Thing", for a compilation album, New Bluebloods (1987). Producer and label owner Bruce Iglauer encouraged them to record additional material, and they cut a full album's worth of material at that session, released as Roughhousin' (1986). They then appeared at music festivals and toured widely. Their second album, Chicken, Gravy & Biscuits, was released in 1989, and their third, What You See Is What You Get, in 1992. At this point the group disbanded. Williams issued two solo albums, Keep On Walking, on which he was joined by Dave Weld, a former member of the Blues Imperials, and Who's Been Talking (1998), pairing Williams with Willie Kent.   In 1999 the release of Get Wild marked the group's reunion. It was followed by Heads Up (2002), Rattleshake (2006), Full Tilt (2008) and Jump Start (2012).   Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials have appeared multiple times at the Chicago Blues Festival and festivals and clubs around the world. In June 2008, Williams played on Magic Slim's album Midnight Blues. In June 2009, Williams was a guest on the radio quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, produced by Chicago Public Radio and National Public Radio, Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials have been nominated for eight Blues Music Awards as Band of the Year and have won that award twice.    

Episode 080 Chicago Music Revealed with Lil' Ed

Interviews and show previews with national, international and local jazz artists

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Chicago Jazz Audio Experience

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