Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012

8:00 – 11:00 pm

The Elaine Dame Trio

The Dragon Lounge at Sushi House

1107 Lake Street

Oak Park, IL

708-660-8899

Elaine Dame and featured guitarist, Andy Pratt and bassist, Joe Policastro

No cover.

Next is…

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012

thru

Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012

ELAINE DAME at Pete Miller’s in Evanston

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012

6-10 pm

Elaine Dame and featured guitarist, Andy Brown and bassist, Jim Cox

no cover

Friday, Jan. 27, 2012

8-12 pm

Elaine Dame and featured pianist, Chris White and a drummer tba

No cover.

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012

8-12  pm

Elaine Dame with featured pianist, Jeremy Kahn and bassist, Kelly Sill and a drummer tba

No cover.

Sunday, Jan 29, 2012

5-9 pm

Featuring guitarist, Andy Brown and bassist, Jim Cox

No cover.

Pete Miller’s Evanston

1557 Sherman Ave.

Evanston, IL

847-328-0399

Musicians are invited to sit in …

 http://www.petemillers.com

And then…

The Elaine Dame Quartet

at

The Jazz Showcase

806 S. Plymouth Ct.

Chicago, IL

312-360-0234

Sunday, January 29, 2012

4:00-5:00 pm

Elaine is thrilled to be making her debut at this legendary venue, as part of a weekend  showcasing blujazz artists.

She’ll be joined by pianist, Jeremy Kahn, bassist, Joe Policastro and drummer, Bob Rummage.

Last but not least…

“Chanteuse Tuesdays” at Salt Creek

The Elaine Dame Duo

Elaine Dame with featured guitarist, Andy Pratt

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012

7:30-10:30 pm

Salt Creek Wine Bar

8900 Fairview Avenue

Brookfield, IL

708-387-2432

No cover.

http://www.elainedame.com/

CHECK HER OUT!

Our friend, drummer Phil Gratteau, is part of a Pro Jazz Jam which welcomes not ONLY jazz musicians, but other genres too! If you are a pro musician, come out and join in!

Here’s what we hear…

Tom Muellner, piano, Jim Cox, bass, and Phil Gratteau host a  “Pro Jazz Jam” at the Serbian Village Bar and Grill,  3144 W. Irving Park, Chicago, Mondays 9:00 pm – 1:00 am.

Over the past few weeks they’ve had a wonderful array of talent come out to play or just hang. Here are just some of the folks who’ve stopped by;

Tenors saxophonists Ron Dewar, Brad Wheeler, Jarod Bufe, Jerry DiMuzio and Juli Wood; trumpeters George Bean, Al Fontana, Art Davis, and Loren Binford, trombone; vocalists Arlene Bardelle, Stephanie Aaron, Mark Pompe, Sonny G. and Rita McConville; bassists/tubaists/cellists Rich Armandi, Richie Pardo, Al Ehrich, Dan DeLorenzo, Nick Schneider (subbing for Jim); pianists Pete Schwendener, Kevin O’Connell, Kelly Brand, Dan Trudell; violin virtuoso Daniella; drummers Sarah Allen, Bill Walsh, Justin Kramer, Pete Castronova and Rusty Jones (who was truly masterful last week).

On any given night, they’ve easily had several hundred years worth of professional musical experience in the room!

Pro Jazz Jam MONDAYS with Phil, Tom and Jim!

Although it’s being billed as a “Pro Jazz Jam” they would love to see and play with great musicians of any and all stripes.  They’re still looking for their first guitarist to come in and “lock horns, as it were”.  And of course they would be delighted to hang out with old and new friends, jazz fans, music lovers and anyone looking for a guaranteed antidote to cabin fever! A REAL hot time in the old town tonight!

This is Rudy, the proprietor, and he is a gracious host and music lover. He and his son Marcos are there to serve you good food and ample libations at very reasonable prices. So please consider joining them soon on a Monday night, because someone once said,

“It takes a Village…”.

Thanks for the update Phil, keep us posted on all the excitement. We will be stopping in ourselves, just to check in on the fun, hear some GREAT music, and get even MORE photos than we did last time!

Serbian Village Restaurant, a look around!

Photos taken by/property of Chicago Studio Club 2011. Click on them for MORE info!

Serbian Village Restaurant, 3142-44 W. Irving Park Rd.,

Chicago, IL  / USA.  (773) 478 – 2900 Enter/Exit through the double doors . . .  right across from Walgreen’s.EVERY Monday from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am, the PRO JAZZ JAM!Tom Muellner, keys, Phil Gratteau, drums, and on upright bass, Jim Cox.

This trio makes up the house band, so these instruments are already THERE. 

2 drink minimum, no cover.

Come and play, eat, drink, listen and MORE!  

Serbian Village, 3142-44 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL.

Serbian Village Restaurant is on the North side of Irving Park Road and there is only 1 other store before you get to Kedzie. There is on street parking in the area & a free parking lot (when that store is closed) at the corner of Troy & Irving, where there is also a CTA #80 (Irving) bus stop.

All photos taken by/property of Chicago Studio Club.

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDz7pT_7Ss0

Chicago Studio Club video of vocalist

http://www.marcpompe.com/home.html

Marc Pompe singing “Haunted Heart”

LIVE at The Jazz Showcase,

806 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago, IL/USA.

Tom Muellner http://www.tommujazz.com/ on piano,

Jim Cox on upright bass,

Bill Overton on sax and

on drums Phil Gratteau.

Jazz Showcase, Dearborn Station, 806 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago, IL

http://www.jazzshowcase.com/

Founded by James W. Wagner,  the Hyde Park Jazz Society presents . . . SUNDAY JAZZ at ROOM 43, 1043 E. 43rd, Chicago, IL.

"one of the hippest places to spend a Sunday night" – Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

Sunday, October 31, 2010

7:30 – 11:30 pm

THREE ELLAS

featuring

DEE ALEXANDER

FRIEDA LEE

SPIDER SALOFF

Jeremy Kahn, piano; Jim Cox, bass; Charles Heath, drums

Requested donation: $10. Students with university ID and children accompanied by an adult: $5

Food and bar service available. ROOM 43: 1.5 blocks East of Ellis (just past Berkeley) on the South side of the street, at the bus stop sign.  Street parking and at "ONE STOP" (43rd & Lake Park).

Jazz http://www.marcpompe.com/home.html Marc Pompe and Pianist Tom Muellner http://www.tommujazz.com/ on stage together in this video taken in Oct. 2009, at The Jazz Showcase. Heard, but not seen, Jim Cox on upright bass and on drums Phil Gratteau. Marc is singing "Haunted Heart" at the WDCB sponsored Halloween Bash starring Tommy’s Dracula Quartet.

 Jazz Showcase

806 S. Plymouth Court

Dearborn Station

(Plymouth & Polk)

Chicago, IL

(312) 360 – 0234

Feb. 11 and 25, 2010

7:00 – 10:00 pm

Jazz Vocalist Laury Shelley with Jim Cox on bass & Tommy on keyboard

Marie’s Pizzeria, 4129 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL, 773-685-5030

We’ll be performing every other Thursday (March 11 and 25, 2010).

Sat. Feb. 13, 2010

6:30 – 9:00 pm

Spider Saloff Valentine Eve with Tom on piano

Katerina’s, 1920 W. Irving Park, Chicago , IL

(Reservations recommended).

Valentines Day Special

Sun. Feb. 14, 2010

6:30 – 9:30 pm

Jazz Vocalist Julie O’Connell & Tommy on keyboard

L’anne French/Asian Cuisine, 281 Town Square, Wheaton, IL 60189, 630-260-1234.

In the Town Square Mall (Naperville & Butterfield Rds.). 

Reservations recommended.

Tues. Feb. 16, 2010

6:00 – 9:30pm

Jazz Vocalist Sarah Marie Young with Tom on keyboard

Tuscany Italian Restaurant, 1425 W. 22nd St., in Oakbrook, IL.

Fri. Feb. 26, 2010

Tommy’s Trio with Jim Cox & Phil Gratteau

Joplin’s Java Cafe (Family Piano)

114 S. Genesee St., Suite 402, Waukegan IL 60085,  847-775-1988.

Tom gets to play a very good grand piano, and it’s in tune!

Fri., Nov. 20, 2009

6:30-9:30pm

According to her MySpace page:   "Audiences first took notice of Kirsten Gustafson (pronounced “Kir-sten Gus-tuff-son”) with the release of her critically acclaimed CD You Taught My Heart To Sing in 1992. After years of vocal work with an assortment of musical configurations – everything from rock bands to jazz trios – the Atlantic recording put her on the map literally overnight. The late, great Sammy Cahn was so impressed with her singing that he enthusiastically agreed to write the liner notes for her disc. “Miss Gustafson will be among the greats,” he wrote, “you heard it first from me!”

In the years since her stunning debut, Kirsten has concentrated on live performance. In 1994 she joined the latin-influenced Samba Bamba! as their lead singer. The band debuted a 16-month run at Vinyl a popular Chicago nightclub at the time. The wild popularity of Samba Bamba! led to concerts in New York and Los Angeles, as well as a slew of private parties and corporate events.

Along the way, Miss Gustafson had kept her love for jazz music going and in late 1996 returned to her native Northern Michigan for a brief respite before venturing off to Paris for a season spent working the after-hours clubs along the Left Bank..

Kirsten returned to Chicago in late 1998 to continue a burgeoning voice over career and slowly began recording new material and making occasional club appearances before relocating to her home in Marquette, Michigan. In 2007 she toured with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra starring in a tribute show to Ella Fitzgerald. Her recording Live At Montreaux was released in 2002 and Wait Until Dark, her eagerly anticipated new studio recording will be released in 2008.

Gustafson, described as a “singer’s singer” has a deceptively simple approach to music: “I find the essence of the song and share it with the audience.” Audiences from the famed Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, to the Parisian club scene, as well as a host of venues across America, have heartily agreed.

Finally, (and my favorite), " she sounds like mercury poured over velvet AND satin "    . . . imagine THAT! Better yet, hear her LIVE at

Katerina’s / 1920 W. Irving Pk. Rd. / Chicago, IL.

Kirsten Gustafson Quartet

with

Tom Muellner (piano)

 Phil Gratteau (drums)

& Jim Cox (upright bass)

$8.00 cover.

Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009

9:00 pm – 1:00 am

Mark Madsen on guitar and vocals

  Some of Mark Madsen’s (11/21 & 28) supporting players:  Jim Widlowski, Kelly Sill, Jim Ryan and Jim Cox

Pop’s for Champagne / 601 N. State St. at Ohio / 312-266-7677

Jazz Club Hours: Thursday-Saturday 8:00 pm – 2:00 am / Music begins at 9:00 pm.    $15.00 for this event.

Experience LIVE MUSIC and keep it REAL.

Much can be and has been said (All Good Things of course!) about the fantastic vocalist shown here, Jo Belle Yonley.  From personal experience we can tell you this: she is a phenomenal talent and a scintillating presence on stage and off. 

Just in town to visit relatives, she stopped in the Jazz Showcase to say hello to her many friends who were not only in the audience but on stage! Tom Muellner’s Jazz Quartet kept asking her, "HEY VEGAS!" to come to the stage and sing until she finally relented and came up for the last song. She sang the Miles Davis tune  "All Blues". The crowd, of course, went wild. we just want to say how Great  it was to see and hear you, thank you!

we miss you Jo Belle, COME BACK SOON!

Vocalist Angel Spiccia’s Quartet this summer (2009): Maurice on piano, Jim Cox on bass, Phil Gratteau on drums.

Maurice with his wife behind him and his daughter center stage, looks happy!

Contact:

Maurice Spiccia

rees42@aol.com (847) 729-1484 & (847) 729-2304 (fax) 

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

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. 

The song was written by Ray Noble in 1938 and done in this video by Don Stiernberg on mandolin and vocals. Joining Don are Curt Morrison on guitar, Jim Cox on upright bass and Phil Gratteau on drums. This was one hell of a fun afternoon on Towner Green in Long Grove, IL, FREE JAZZ from 4-6pm!

About the song, "I Hadn’t Anyone Till You" is a popular song written by Ray Noble in 1938. Tony Martin sang it with the Ray Noble band in 1938, reaching number four in the charts over a period of twelve weeks. Hadda Brooks sang it in the 1950 film In A Lonely Place, in a scene where Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame attempt to listen to her. Alec Wilder wrote of the song, "It is a smooth, direct, slightly rhythmic ballad of no great range and unmistakably a song of its time, the late thirties. It makes a move in the second half of the B section (the design is A-B-A-C/A) into the key of A major from the parent key of F major, which adds that dash of color needed in a song of so direct and unpushy a nature. It is a song with both sophistication and a flavor of the past."

FYI -  Click on pix – you MAY go places!

Yet another stunning performance by jazz vocalist Angel Spiccia.

 Angel can be heard LIVE at Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard

in Chicago on Wednesday evenings from

5:00 until 8:30pm through August 26, 2009.

On this night Phil Gratteau was on drums, Jim Cox on bass

& Maurice Spiccia on piano. 

She dedicated this song to her folks, saying it was their special song,

which caused the entire audience to collectively sigh & say "Aww".  

Such a sweet daughter!

recently fortunate enough to meet. You may not know

this, but let me fill you in, curt can do impressions too!

  He is good at Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous’

Robin Leech, Al Gore, Robert DeNiro, GHW Bush & more!

He and fellow musician Don Stiernberg were hilarious

the afternoon we saw them perform in Long Grove, IL

for LGAMC on Towner Green.

Curt is smiling because Don is trying to get him to do a few of his impressions! 

Curt Morrison LIVE in Long Grove, Illinois on a sunny July 2009 afternoon.

He plays Mandolin . . .

He dances . . .

He emcees . . .

   He laughs . . .

He means … me . . . ?!!?!

After meeting Don Stiernberg for the first time I can tell you this, he is one multi-talented fellow! He is not JUST a fantastic mandolin player, Don is also a nice, funny guy.

8:00-11:30pm

Tom Muellner’s

Independence Band

featuring

 Art Davis,

Jim Cox,

Bob Rummage

Tom’s brother John "Larry" Muellner.

(Photo by Bill Klewitz)   According to Tom, his brother, " John "Larry" Muellner,   lives in Oregon & is a great stage & film actor! He is also a fabulous jazz drummer.

and there will be other special guests too!

Katerina’s / 1920 W. Irving Pk. Rd. / Chicago, IL

Tom is a wonderful host, always thinking of others, and entertaining while doing so!

Jazz @ The Shedd Aquarium

5:30-9:30 p.m

Petra Van Nuis, vocals, Andy Brown, guitar, Stewart Miller, bass, Bob Ojeda, trumpet, Phil Gratteau, drums.

$12 admission, includes entrance to aquarium, oceanarium, and music on north patio.  The video below gives you a little taste of the fabulous bass playing of Stewart Miller.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Cinemark Theatres

 7-11 p.m

 Corner of Church a & Maple Sts. /  Evanston, IL

Kelly Brand, piano, Kelly Sill, bass, Phil Gratteau, drums. No cover or minimum. The video below is just a bit of the genius of Kelly Sill’s  upright bass playing.

Wednesdays in July and August

(except 7/22/2009)

Andy’s Jazz Club

5-8:30 p.m. 

11 E. Hubbard, Chicago

Angel Spiccia, vocals, Maurice Spiccia, piano, Jim Cox, bass, Phil Gratteau, drums. This is a dimly lit glimpse of gorgeous Angel Spiccia.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

 Free concert!

 4-6 p.m.

Long Grove Village Square, Long Grove, IL

Don Stiernberg, mandolin, Jim Cox, bass, Curt Morrison, guitar, Phil Gratteau, drums. This is a mellow bit of Phil Gratteau on drums.

Katerina’s
June 24th 2009, 8:30 pm
1920 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, Ill 60613
Cost: $8.00
LAURY SHELLEY, featuring: Vijay Tellis-Nayack on piano, Eric Hochberg on bass, Bob Rummage on drums
Get More Info

Marie’s Pizzeria & Liquors
July 24th 2009, 7:30 pm
4127 West Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, Ill 60630
Cost: $0.00
LAURY SHELLEY, featuring: Tom Muellner on piano, Jim Cox on bass
Get More Info

http://www.chicagojazz.com/lauryshelley

 

Katerina’s
1920 W. Irving Chicago, IL

Laury Shelley sings Michel Legrand with Tom Muellner on piano, Phil Gratteau on drums &  Jim Cox on bass. Laury is world renown vocalist, and was with Legrand for over 5 years. She has performed with many world class jazz legends.

Thursday, April 16
7-10pm

Marion Street Cheese Market
100 S. Marion Street Oak Park, IL

Tommy & Kelly Sill duo
sponsored by WDCB

Friday, April 24
7:30pm-10pm

Ai Sushi Restaurant
358 W. Ontario Chicago, IL

Arlene Bardelle & Tommy Duo

Tuesday, May 12
8:30pm-12am

Katerina’s
1920 W. Irving Chicago, IL

Libby York with Tommy on piano