Entertainment

Live Music Schedule, April 2012
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ARTIST BIOS

Joan Collaso
Emmy award winner, and international vocalist, Joan Collaso, is blessed with an awesome gift. She has the ability to weave smooth, sensual melodies and improvisations that can burst into the excitement of her big and soulful sound, combined with a sensitive and sincere spirit that will capture your ear and your heart. Her capacity to fuse Jazz, R&B, Blues and Gospel sets her apart, and has been greatly enjoyed by music lovers all over the world, most notably, 4 times at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands (to standing room only crowds), Estonia (Russia), Osaka, Japan, Italy, and the World Port Jazz Festival in Rotterdam where she opened for world renowned Jazz/Gospel artists Take 6. In 1997, Joan appeared in the history-making movie Soul Food, and has been featured on countless jingles and commercials. In Chicago Joan is a loved and respected artist: working in theater (as a playwright and actor), performing for school aged children. Joan performed weekly for 3 years at Chicago’s famous Jazz club, Andy’s, along with saxophone legend, Art Porter. Art and Joan made they’re maiden voyage to the North Sea Jazz Fest together in 1990, with Ears Jazz Ensemble. Joan stays busy doing concerts and events for various charitable and community organizations. Joan and her husband Larry Hanks are staples at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago.

Larry Hanks
Larry Hanks is an accomplished pianist, composer, orchestrator, conductor and college professor. He earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees at University of Illinois at Chicago. To listen to Larry play is an opportunity to explore his soul and share in his love and compassion for music, as he brings to the stage the sum total of his life’s experiences. Larry’s many accomplishments include scoring and conducting the orchestra for renowned Soul artists Curtis Mayfield’s and Jerry “The Iceman” Butler’s “Reunion Tour.” In the late 70’s and 80’s, He and his first writing partner, Rodney Massey penned songs recorded by nationally and internationally known artists such as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Melba Moore, The Stylistics, The Emotions, Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble, Jerry Butler, and their own group, OMNI, hitting the Billboard charts regularly. As a young man in his early 20s, Larry was chosen by Jerry Butler to conduct his orchestra, which consisted of a six-piece rhythm section, three background vocalists, and was often augmented by local orchestra players that would include nine horns and seven string players from various cities along the tour. In the 90’s Larry found another writing, and ultimately life partner in Ms. Joan Collaso. They’ve traveled parts of the world, created, and played music together for the last 18 years. Larry has been the resident pianist for the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago since 1995. And in 2006 his wife, Joan Collaso became the first featured vocalist for Four Seasons, entertaining audience from every part of the globe. And if you’re in town you can bring in 2010 with Joan Collaso and The Larry Hank Orchestra at the Four Seasons’ New Years’ Eve party!

Lynn Hilton
In the spirit of the legendary Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae, and Nina Simone, the baton has not only been passed but the banner flies high and steady in the capable hands and voice of Lynn Hilton.

Composer, Arranger, Vocalist, Instrumentalist, Music Director, and Educator – she continues to expand of her proven track record of professionalism, creativity and charisma. This modern day Renaissance woman is one of most sought-after musicians in the industry. Ms. Hilton energizes her audiences with charismatic and exciting performances, both nationally and internationally.

According to Russia’s St. Petersburg Times: “Lynn Hilton captivates the most demanding audiences with her innovative style and wit.”

Beginning her career as a teenager, she was appointed musical director for the KUUMBA repertory theater in her native Chicago. She represented the U.S.A. in the International Festival of Song and Voice competition where she was awarded “Best Arrangement” and “Best New Composer” honors.

Ms. Hilton continues her long distance work on behalf of American Theatrical companies by serving as musical director in absentia for several theatrical productions including Fences, and Jitney. She continues her hallmark of excellence as composer of several theatrical scores, including Kasimu and the Coconut Palm, and Thunderstorm by award-winning playwright Shongodina Ifatunji.

Continuously working the live jazz scene, Ms. Hilton is one of the most sought-after performers on stage and in the studio with her versatile repertoire that includes Jazz, Blues, Latin, Gospel, and today’s contemporary music. She has shared her unique performances with fans in many countries in the Caribbean, Far East, Middle East, South America, Africa, and Europe. Her unique keyboard and extraordinary vocal styling has resulted in her affiliation with a variety of luminaries including Sherry Scott, Morgana King, Jonathon Butler, Marion Meadows, Hugh Masekela, and Steve Winwood.

As a composer Ms. Hilton has written and arranged many national television and radio commercials often serving as composer, contractor, pianist, vocalist and voice-over announcer.

In every generation the universe catapults a special star that blazes a new path. That special star is Ms. Lynn Hilton. Catch her rising star and treat yourself to the colors and sounds of this extraordinary pianist and singer.

Fred Simon
Fred Simon has been making music for more than forty years, composing for records, live performance, film, dance, and television, with instrumentation ranging from solo piano to symphonic orchestra. Since childhood he has been convinced that he is a singer/songwriter trapped in the body of someone who can’t sing.

His recorded work includes seven albums of original music under his name: SHORT STORY and TIME AND THE RIVER (Quaver), USUALLY/ALWAYS (Windham Hill), OPEN BOOK (Columbia), DREAMHOUSE (The Naim Label), REMEMBER THE RIVER (The Naim Label), and, most recently, SINCE FOREVER (The Naim Label); three albums (as principle composer) with the Simon and Bard Group: MUSAIC, TEAR IT UP, and THE ENORMOUS RADIO (Flying Fish); as well as TWILIGHT (NorthSound Music Group), a collaboration with reed player Paul McCandless and guitarist Teja Bell; THE MUSIC OF THE BEACH BOYS (NorthSound Music Group), an album of solo piano arrangements of Brian Wilson songs; and numerous appearances on compilations released by Windham Hill, Columbia, Narada, Private Music, Imaginary Road, NorthSound Music Group, Jazziz Magazine, and, currently, The Naim Label.

Fred has recorded and/or performed with Ralph Towner (founding member of Oregon), Paul McCandless (founding member of Oregon), Larry Coryell, Lyle Mays, Iain Matthews (founding member of Fairport Convention), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist), Steve Rodby and Paul Wertico (both with Pat Metheny Group), Bonnie Herman (Singers Unlimited), Kurt Elling, Fareed Haque, David Onderdonk, Ingrid Graudins, Ross Traut, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, and many others.

Erin McDougald
In 1999, The Chicago Cultural Center named McDougald the Emerging Jazz Artist of the year. Chicago Tribune journalist and host of WGN radio Rick Kogan introduced the young singer as one from “another Era… a staple in Chicago jazz…” and “one of the best voices in jazz.”

With three albums in six years under her belt, receiving national airplay and notoriety, McDougald has maintained long-term residency as the headliner in Chicago’s most respected clubs and showrooms, including: The Pump Room, The Intercontinental, The Metropole, Yvette, Toulouse on the Park, The Plaza Tavern, Green Dolphin Street, The Palmer House and many others.

Miss McDougald has also appeared numerous times at Davenport’s in the showroom, the internationally renowned Jazz Showcase and concert halls and stages throughout the country. She has performed to packed houses in Europe and appeared at the Grammy’s Salute to Jazz, honoring Oscar Peterson, Barry Harris and Hank Jones. Erin has performed in Washington DC for lobbyists and Clinton’s administrators and in the National Cathedral. She has been selected and featured by The China Jazz Project and is on the board as a freelance portfolio advisor for music students at Columbia College. She has also been commissioned countless times by corporations such as Mercedes, Chrysler, Disney, Glaxo Smith and Kline etc. for private concerts.

Gracing numerous magazine covers in the last four years and featured on a CBS documentary of “people and places to see on Route 66”, McDougald has been recognized for her outstanding vocal ability, rhythmic jazz interpretation and artistry in arrangements. Chicago Social named her Best Jazz Singer three years in a row, Metromix viewers continuously choose her as the number one jazz entertainment to see live and Dossier Magazine calls Erin “The one stellar voice that shines above the rest”. In memory of her grandfather, Erin donates her time and talents to charities such as Hospice while keeping active singing in clubs and concerts every week.

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Cécile Savage and Calvin “Koco” Brunson
Cécile Savage (bass and vocals) and Calvin “Koco” Brunson (piano and vocals), who co-lead the jazz group “Komango,” perform at Benny’s. They offer a culturally diverse repertoire steeped in the African American, French and Brazilian traditions.

Cécile’s musical voyage started in Paris and meanders through Europe, Africa and North America. Cécile plays who she is: a blend of French Cabaret and American Jazz. Born in Martinique, raised in Paris, she studied piano for many years. She moved to New York City where she joined the Living Theater for a while and then decided to devote her life entirely to music. She studied guitar with Ted Dunbar through the Jazzmobile program.

It is then that she started to play electric bass with blues harmonicist Sugar Blue, with whom she also toured with Memphis Slim, and Willie Mabon. She then decided to move to Chicago where she performed with blues and jazz musicians such as Jimmy Dawkins, Von Freeman, Franz Jackson, Floyd McDaniel, George Freeman, Oscar Brown Jr., Redd Holt and many more.

She performed at the 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival: Tribute to Malachi Favors. She mainly plays a 5 string Alter Ego electric upright bass, made in Rome, Italy. She combines all musical elements in a style which is truly her own.

Her music reflects her many influences: French lyricism, bluesy melodies and passion, and her own jazz compositions with Brazilian overtones.

With jazz, blues and musical theatre the major focus of his work, Calvin “Koco” Brunson has collaborated with the late, great playwright, Oscar Brown Jr. in writing plays entitled In De Beginnin’, Journey Through Forever, and Sliced Apple. Koco is also an “Artist-in-Residence” with Urban Gateways. Koco, as a principal composer and co-founder of “Komango”, brings heart-felt musical dialogue, and passionate drama colored in pastels of worldwide rhythms and genres. Coupled with inventive harmonies and truly deft keyboard skills, the music “speaks” with emotion.

Stuart Mindeman
Stuart Mindeman first took an interest in music as a child, and in 2009 was graduated from the famed Northern Illinois University with a degree in piano performance. He is an active performer and educator throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, skilled in various styles of music, from classical to jazz, to Latin and contemporary popular music. He has performed throughout North and Central America with such artists as Fareed Haque, Tito Carillo, John Wojchechowski, Rodney Whitaker, Claudio Roditi, Charles McPherson, Antonio Hart, John Clayton, and The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, among others.