Mike Jeffers Audio Experience

Harvey Tillis creates original photo art and shoots portraits, events, and documentary projects for nonprofit, corporate, and government agency clients. He applies more than 40 years of experience as a businessman, designer, photographer and artist in the financial, corporate, and advertising communities to his craft. Starting with a successful fifteen year career in the commodity futures industry he moved into a second fifteen year career to follow his life-long passion with documentary and editorial photography. During that time Harvey worked for corporate publications of Fortune 500 companies and ad agencies.

Chris Anderson is the founder and driving force behind the “Jazz Record Art Collective”, held at the Fulton Street Collective, which offers musicians the platform to re-create a classic jazz recording and educate the audience on its influential importance to the artist and the music.

Jim Self is a Los Angeles-based freelance musician. Since l974 he has worked for all the major Hollywood studios performing for over 1500 motion pictures and hundreds of television shows and records. His solos in major films include John William’s scores to Jurassic Park, Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Hook, and was the “Voice of the Mothership” from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Other solos can be heard in James Horner’s Casper and Batteries Not Included, Marc Shaiman’s Sleepless in Seattle and in Jerry Goldsmith’s score to Dennis the Menace. Later films include Wall-E, Troy, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Legend of Zorro, War of the Worlds, King Kong, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Princess and the Frog, Valentines Day, Avatar, Tintin, Toy Story 3, and recently Bridges of Spies and Star Wars 7, The Force Awakens.

No doubt you’ve seen it by now: That viral video of a woman onstage in a bright purple dress, playing one absolute scorcher of a slide guitar solo. That’s Joanna Connor in her home turf of Chicago, with the firepower she delivers to local crowds on a nightly basis.

Tukes is a Luminarts fellow and recipient of the Vivian G. Harsh Emerging Artist Award. He has been featured at the Chicago Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and more. When he's not performing, Tukes is an educator, giving master classes and workshops to students from pre-Kindergarten through undergraduate.

Motéma recording artist Ryan Cohan is a composer of keen intellect and a powerfully expressive pianist. Recognized for his “ingenuity and virtuosity” (Chicago Tribune), his versatility and inventive vision have distinguished him as a vital original voice amongst the elite pianist/composers in today’s global music scene.

Hrayr is a professor of neurology at Northwestern hospital with his clinical focus is diagnosing and treating sleep disorders particulary those in neurological illnesses.

 

He writes a column on Chicago Jazz Magazine, Music and the Brain.

EPISODE 052 CHICAGO MUSIC REVEALED with special guest Vintage Drum Expert Steve Maxwell and Stephen Maxwell from Steve Maxwell Vintage and Custom Drums.

Host Mike Jeffers discusses the how they started the business and how they have grown it to be the top vintage and custom drum shops in the world. Visit www.maxwelldrums.com for more information.

 

About Steve Maxwell Vintage & Custom DrumsSteve Maxwell Vintage and Custom Drums operates locations in Chicago, NYC and also  Fork's Drum Closet in Nashville. They are the world's largest dealer of USA made Gretsch drums and Craviotto drums, and the largest vintage dealer worldwide.The Fork's location is the largest independent DW dealer as well. Through their network of shops you have access to over 6000 cymbals, 500 drum sets, 500 snare drums plus hardware and accessories. They truly believe in the independent drum shop model. They strive to bring you an experience that can not be replicated with an online-only store model. Let them help you find the sound you are looking for!

Billy Branch (born William Earl Branch, October 3, 1951) is an American blues harmonica player and singer of Chicago blues. Branch is a three-time Grammy nominee, a retired two-term governor of the Chicago Grammy Chapter, an Emmy Award winner, and a winner of the Addy Award. In addition, he has received numerous humanitarian and music awards.

Bill’s early training consisted of 13 years of traiditional piano study with Earl Ricker of Sterling, IL. Ricker was an innovative, dedicated piano educator who was one of the first to offer group piano instruction. Bill benefited greatly from taking lessons and playing with four other young piano students. After college, Bill decided that he wanted to continue playing the piano, and this decision led him to undertake a journey into playing jazz. Below you’ll see the stops on this journey:

Studied jazz piano and improvisation with Alan Swain, from 1981-1982

Attended Jamey Aebersold Jazz Combo Clinic in 1979 and 1982

Led his own jazz combo/wedding band 1981 to 1996

Provided solo jazz piano entertainment for hotels, private parties, and private homes 1980 to present

Taught jazz piano at the College of Lake County 1988 to 1996

Taught jazz piano and improvisation privately 1996 to present

Directed and taught group (combo) jazz instruction since 2001 through the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop

Studied with Jim Trompeter, 2011 to present

Played in the College of Lake County Monday Night Jazz Band, 82-84, 95-96, and 2006 to the present. While there, he has played with a host of guest artists, including Bobby Shew, Rufus Reid, Ashley Alexander, and Rich Matteson.

Directed Warren Twp High School pit bands–2012 & 2013–for Annie and Hairspray

Director of Carmel Catholic High School Jazz Combo, 2016-2017 school year