JIM CUOMO TRIO "13 SONGS"

Jim Cuomo: Chicago saxophonist, avant-garde performer, musical director, award-winning story-teller and world-renowned composer. In the day, he collaborated with the likes of Tim Hardin and Thin Lizzy, and performed on Marianne Faithfull’s album ‘Broken English’.These days, besides performing gigs with The Jim Cuomo Trio, he also makes time to mentor my son Euan with his clarinet. They play his original compositions, some jazz classics, and plenty of improvisation – a style that Jim calls “post-jazz” or “jazz different.” As he explains, “It’s a means to position it for people who need categories.” Whatever it is they do, for an hour each week, our suburban home of squabbling kids and domestic chaos seems transported  to a place of intrigue and promise. JIM CUOMO TRIO

FREDDIE PATE "I GOT THE BLUES"

He started learning chords when he was 4 years old, started singing in nightclubs in Los Angeles at 8 years old. Freddie started playing 6 nights a week when he was 15 years old. For the next forty years he traveled coast to coast, border to border and half way around the world playing, learning and honing his craft. He moved to Houston as a 17 year old kid, worked at the world famous Gilley’s playing in the Houston area and all over Texas. Freddie has opened for some of the biggest names in country music, such as, George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, Merle Haggard, Kitty Wells, Alabama, Conway Twitty, Ricky Skaggs, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck, Buck Owens, Ray Price, Jimmy Dean, John Anderson, Asleep At The Wheel, Tracy Byrd, Mark Chestnutt and many, many more.Freddie has been a successful entertainer for a long time. Of his current shows, Freddie Pate’s Jukebox Memories has been playing to sell out crowds for almost two decades! A Grand Ol’ Opry, Branson, Louisiana Hayride inspired live country music show fully costumed with a full 10 piece band and comedy.Freddie’s debut cd release, “Crossroads” proves that he is an ol’ pro, bringing every ounce of his musical experience to every note. The first single release, “All Watered Down” has received critical acclaim! Since it’s release it has been viewed on Facebook over 40,000 times!!! After Freddie performed “All Watered Down” live for Senator Ted Cruz he said, “that’s a song that needs to be sung”. AWD hit the Top 40 on the Texas Regional Radio Charts. FREDDIE PATE

REVEREND RAVEN & THE CHAIN SMOKIN' ALTAR BOYS "MY LIFE - TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY"

Born and raised on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago. After 15 year hitch in the Navy, Chief Raven moved to Milwaukee where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Duke Robillard, Jeff Healy, Tommy Castro and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy's Legends where he has been on rotation as a headliner for 18 years. The Reverend was the Wisconsin Music Industry (WAMI) award for best blues band in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010 and again in 2015. They also received the People's Choice Award in 2006, 2008 and again in 2010 and nominated Artist of the Year and best blues band of the year in 2011 and 2012. They were nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007 for Bamfest 2007. They were nominated by Blues Blast Magazine for best blues band of the year and song of the year in 2011. The band has been voted the Best Blues Band In Milwaukee by The Shepherd Express Reader's Poll in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

REVEREND RAVEN

DAVE WELD & THE IMPERIAL FLAMES "SLIP INTO A DREAM"

Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames, an authentic blues band with versatile talent, variety, and a cohesive show that includes original driving blues. The originals are classic in nature, the standards are revitalized with striking three part vocal harmony, three vocal stylists, blues diva and Rami winner Monica Myhre, Legendary Saxman, Abb Locke, passionate guitar schooled from the masters(J.B. Hutto), and tight, rock solid rythm section.From l Chicago Blues fest, to Buddy Guy's new Legends, the Meridien Hotel (Paris), Canada, Japan, Spain, Holland, Caribbean, Germany, Belgium, France, Sweden, England, North, South, East and West in the USA. Here is what they say about Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames:"We along with our guest are thrilled to see the interaction you have with the audience...your performances have set the standard for consistency, quality and entertainment...your flexibility demonstrates your dependability...Jacques D'Rovencourt, Director of Food and Beverage, The Palmer House Hilton"You guys are great, fantastic, I loved it!!.....Bonnie Raitt"Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames were excellent, particularly Dave Weld, who came offstage to play and give individual attention...myclients have commented how great the band played!"....Vivian Liddell, Area Sales Director, Le Meridien Hotel"On behalf of House of Blues-Chicago, we highly recommend Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames for venue bookings thanks to there consistently high level of talent, dedication, and cooperation........Virginia Jones, House of Blues, Chicago"Using a metal slide, the guitarist draws on lessons from the great JB Hutto and makes his emanations of power and energy ever so purposeful"Frank-John Hadly, Downbeat Magazine September, 2010"this is a killer veteran all-star, real deal Chicago blues band at its house rockin' best... one of the hardest working, longest running, and most talented, cohesive, Chicago blues bands around".......Kevin Johnson, Delmark records, Aug 2010"Dave Weld is one of the friendliest, easiest guys in the music business to work with...never seen a crowd the didn't love him..he put together a peformance that was exactly tailored to the event... I would recommend him highly...an evening with Dave Weld is an evening well spent.....Lois Roewade , Event Makers. DAVE WELD THE IMPERIAL FLAMES
 

ROB BARRON "WHAT'S IN STORE...."

London Jazz pianist Rob Barron presents his debut album "What's in Store..."Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition the album focuses on fresh new arrangements of classic jazz songs drawing influence from the modern New York straight ahead groups and the great pianists of Wyton Kelly, Cedar Walton and Hank Jones. Featuring some of the finest players on the London jazz scence including Colin Oxley on guitar, Jeremy Brown on bass and Josh Morrison on drums. "What's In Store" is a collection of exquisite original arrangements of timeless songs from the American songbook as well as one original blues composition by the leader.Drawing influence from players such as Cedar Walton, Wynton Kelly and Hank Jones as well as more modern piano players from the New York scene such as Mike Ledonne and David Hazeltine, "What's in Store" is a record full of swing and love for the American tradition. ROB BARRON
 

MEHMET ALI SANLIKOL & WHATSNEXT? "RESOLUTION"

Its goal is to explore a cosmopolitan view of the world through the lens of a wide range of Turkish traditions, alone and in conversation with the musics of the formerly Ottoman peoples—Greeks, Jews, Armenians, Arabs, Kurds, mystics—as well as with western and other world traditions including Jazz. The DÜNYA collective includes specialists in contemporary composition, jazz, Ottoman music, early European music, Middle Eastern Christian and Jewish music, ethnomusicology and popular music. In DÜNYA projects, research and translation combine with original composition, improvisation and musical experimentation to create lively presentations, recordings and publications aimed at engaging contemporary audiences. DÜNYA seeks to work with a wide range of cultural and religious organizations and relies on no particular political, governmental or religious affiliation or support of any kind. MEHMET ALI SANLIKOL WHATSNEXT?/DUNYA 
 

JIMMY O' CONNEL SIXTET "ARRHYTHMIA"

Originally from the Metro Detroit Area, O'Connell began playing piano at the age of 7 and trombone at the age of 9.  Soon after discovering the trombone, O'Connell joined the Detroit Symphony Civic Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Marcus Belgrave, and later on Rodney Whitaker.O'Connell went on to study at the University of Michigan, and while attending, played with greats such as Geri Allen, Bob Hurst, Karriem Riggins and Rodney Whitaker.  After his tenure at Michigan, O'Connell pursued his Master's Degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with trombonist Luis Bonilla.  Since moving to NYC, O'Connell has performed with greats such as Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, and Randy Brecker as well as with his own groups and as a sideman at Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Smalls, Fat Cat, Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Zinc Bar, Highline Ballroom, Rockwood Music Hall and many others. O'Connell leads his own sextet, and co-leads a two trombone quintet with trombonist Peter Nelson.  He is also involved in a number of other projects including The Steve Feifke Big Band and The Revive Big Band.  He is also involved in non-jazz projects including The Uptown Party Down, Lindsay Dunphy, and does live performance and studio work with Grammy Award Winning producer 88-Keys (Kanye West, Jay-Z).  Currently, he is adjunct faculty at Manhattan College where he directs the pep band and teaches a number of private lessons. JIMMY O' CONNEL SIXTET 
 

TOM BROWNE "LEGACY"

Consider the songs in our hearts that inspire us toward uplifted continence; melodies that ring out in a manner that is soulful ... even funky! Now think of an artist; an artist who George Benson describes as "joy filled in expressiveness" and "believable in any musical style," topping the jazz and adult contemporary / R & B charts with his kickin' trumpet and rich jazz melodies. That artist ... is trumpeter Tom Browne.Browne began to carve a path for his musical future early on, studying via scholarship under Murray Karpilovsky(principal trumpeter with the NBC Orchestra directed by Arturo Toscanini.) A student at the co -joined High School of Music and Art / Performing Arts in New York (renowned courtesy of the motion picture entitled"Fame,") Browne became a regular on the New York jazz scene and had the fortune of learning first hand frommasters like Jimmy Nottingham, Richard Williams, Woody Shaw and Freddie Hubbard. Browne soon played his first pro level performances as sideman to jazz greats Weldon Irvine and Sonny Fortune for which he earned domestic and international recognition. It was no surprist that Downbeat Magazine would single out his "warm trumpet" during the review of Fortunes' 1976 "Infinity Is" album. TOM BROWNE
 

ANDREAS LOVEN "DISTRICT SIX"

Andreas Loven is a pianist and composer from Oslo, Norway, signed to the acclaimed Norwegian jazz label Losen Records.He departed from his career in engineering, moved to South Africa and ventured into jazz in his early twenties. He has since performed extensively all over South Africa with artists such as Shane Cooper, Mandla Mlangeni, Buddy Wells, Keenan Ahrends, Jonno Sweetman, Nick Williams, Romy Brauteseth, Clement Benny and others.
Recent performances in Europe include Oslo Jazz Festival, Canal Street and the National Jazz Scene.In January 2015, Andreas released his debut album, Nangijala, to high critical acclaim at Losen Records. The album consisted of duos with south african sax-legend and close friend, Buddy Wells and also Spha Mdlalose on vocals.In February 2016 Andreas Loven releases his second album recorded with his south african quartet, rooted in both south african jazz traditions, nordic folk and other inspirations. ANDREAS LOVEN