Bassist Larry Gray demonstrates an impressive versatility and an uncommon musical curiosity. Originally a jazz guitarist, Larry switched to the double bass and quickly developed a reputation as a first-call sideman. Within a short time, he began to work at Chicago’s premier jazz club, the Jazz Showcase, where he appeared with increasing frequency, often with drummer Wilbur Campbell and pianist Willie Pickens.

Fred Simon has been making music for more than thirty-five years, composing for records, live performance, film, dance, and television, with instrumentation ranging from solo piano to symphonic orchestra. Fred has recorded and/or performed with Ralph Towner (Oregon), Paul McCandless (Oregon), Larry Coryell, Lyle Mays, Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Steve Rodby and Paul Wertico (Pat Metheny Group), Bonnie Herman (Singers Unlimited), Kurt Elling, Fareed Haque, David Onderdonk, Ingrid Graudins, Ross Traut, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, and many others.

Evanston SPACE        1245  Chicago  Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202          (847) 492 – 8860

$12 in advance – $15 day of – $20 reserved table seating

Evanston SPACE, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, IL / USA.

Ollie and John will be performing in Chicago again, with The Rattlers,  Monday, March 1st (first), 2010, Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL at 8:00 pm. Tickets: $7.00.

Both photos with Rich Armandi on upright bass at Chambers.  

As a tubist he has performed with the Lyric Opera, American Ballet Theatre, Grant Park Orchestra, Chicago Brass Quintet, and as featured soloist with the New Philharmonic, Ethos Chamber Orchestra, Concoridia University Wind Ensemble and at the 1992 International Tuba Euphonium Conference.
He has been recorded on many album projects including three with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, and on many commercial jingles. He is in constant demand as a bassist and tubist in almost every conceivable musical genre.

As an educator he currently serves on the faculties of College of Dupage (Glen Ellyn,IL), Triton College (River Grove, IL), and St. Xavier University (Chicago, IL) teaching bass, low brass, jazz combo and improvisation. He has also served on the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1990.

Russell’s real love is live performance, where he soars. Jazz writer Dave Freeman writes, "For the complete Frank Russell bass experience, see him live, he’s one of the escapees from Monster Bass Island". Lazaro Vega writes, "Frank never crossed into tasteless grand standing during his charged solos, but showed more musical worth playing his ensemble roles with verve and taste". Frank also garnered first prize in the 1992 Hennessy Best of Chicago Jazz Search with Chicago pianist Ken Chaney. Frank has played many jazz festivals across the country including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Telluride Jazz Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival and many others.

Frank has also displayed his versatility by performing in theatre productions that includes "The Beehive" at the Briar Street Theatre (Chicago) where he was given the only solo bass spot in the many companies performing the play. "Evelyn and the Polka King" at the prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre and "Nomathemba" the internationally known South African singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo where he was the only American musician. The production performed at the Steppenwolf Theatre (Chicago), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), the Crossroads Theatre Company  (New Jersey) and the Huntington Theatre Company (Boston). He also appears playing bass in the movie "Cold Justice" starring Roger Daltry.

Frank’s latest endeavor is the release of his first CD under his own name, the aptly titled "Covering All Basses" where he plays fretless four and five string and acoustic bass guitars. Critic Chuck Deggans writes, "Russell does literally cover all basses through traditional, urban, South African and Latin jazz arrangements. The dexterity of Russell is phenomenal  in this recording session as he illustrates awesome control of his basses and reveals a fluid creativity not commonly found among most bass players."

LIVE at Room 43, 1043 E. 43rd St.

7:30 – 11:30 pm

Sun., Nov. 22, 2009 Frank Russell, bass guitar, Greg Spero, piano, Peter Lerner, guitar & Charles Heath, drums.

Contact Frank E. Russell at:

773-502-5869

or eMail:

ferbass2@hotmail.com

Sat., Nov. 7, 2009 – 7:30pm
Patriots Theater at War Memorial 1 Memorial Drive Trenton, NJ 08608 609-984-8484

Sat., Nov. 14, 2009  -  7:30pm  Our Lady of Grace Auditorium  430 Avenue W. Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York 11223 718-627-2020

Sat., Dec. 12, 2009 @ 7:00pm
Orpheum Theatre Slosburg Hall  409 S. 16th St.
Omaha, Nebraska 68102 Jay & The Americans bassist Billy Corston.

Bring Jay AND The Americans  back to Chicago  to see all of us Billy!

We thought electric bass player Steven Hart did a good job

backing up legendary blues guitarist Joe Kelley, and Joe thought so too.

Steve not only plays several OTHER instruments he has been playing

"for longer than he cares to admit".  With an extensive resume and

busy schedule Steven stopped in, as did Joe, to check out the

Pro Blues Jam which is every Wednesday night. The sign in sheet

for musicians is on wall at front door, The house band starts around

9:30 or so and after they (the Nate Manos Band) play, they call the

jammers to the stage.

3019 N. Broadway (near Wellington), Chicago, Il,  is on the east side

of the street and you go up a few stairs and you are there:

 Monsignor Murphy’s!

F Y I — Click on pix   . . . you MAY go places!

Always be sure to call the venues before leaving the house as changes do occur … unbeknownst to us!

Wed., October 28, 2009

8:00pm & 9:30pm

Tommy’s Dracula Quartet

With Bill Overton on tenor sax,

Jim Cox on  upright bass,

Phil Gratteau on drums,

and special guest vocalist

Arlene Bardelle

JAZZ SHOWCASE

Dearborn Station

806 S. Plymouth Ct.

Chicago, IL 60605

(312) 360-0234

(Polk & Dearborn)

Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL

This event is sponsored by WDCB jazz radio. 

 

Bassist Frank Bandy

IS

 Teardrop Records!

He is also a longtime friend of and

performer in the J.B.Ritchie Power Trio!

Adding to all of this Frank Bandy is the man to see when

the band goes on break. Help support live music and the

musicians and see Frank Bandy for all kinds

of fun goodies (t-shirts, CD’s, more!) whenever

you go out and see the J.B. Ritchie POWER TRIO! 

F Y I — – Click on Pix – You MAY go places!!

What a treat it is to not only hear the smooth bass of Mr.. Stewart Miller but to see this musician perform. He is such a cheerful bassist! He dances with that bass and it is a joy to see.

In the next photo Stewart is right next to his buddy, jazz drummer extraordinaire Ernie Adams. They smile, they laugh, but oh my, do THEY PLAY!

  He just looks so serious here, totally into his thing.

Be sure to watch the short video (above) to see different phases of his playing.

Stewart Miller will be playing bass

with The Jim Ryan Quartet

on Thursdays, from 5:00-8:30pm,

through August 27, 2009 @ Andy’s Jazz Club . 

We had the pleasure of hearing Tim Green LIVE on upright bass last night at Ai Sushi in the Red & Black Lounge. What a treat! Tim is a wonderful bass player and has quite a sense of humor as well!

More information on Tim: http://www.myspace.com/timgreenmusic  and   http://www.timgreenjazz.com/

More video of Tim Green at:  http://www.youtube.com/traceyacesurface

                                                                                            Harlan Stern

Ollie O’Shea – fiddle / John Rice- guitar/fiddle / T.C. Furlong – steel guitar / Barney Shwarz – bass / Bill Schaefer – drums.

http://www.ollieoshea.com/           

Saturday, May 23, 2009

 9:00pm Cover:$8