Trombonist Mason Riedel laughed when asked how his Illinois State University Jazz Combo acquired its name. He had just been called by Jazz Up Front owner James Gaston about filling in last minute on a Thursday night.

Billy Apostol was dubbed "Billy Strings" by his mother for his prowess on a number of stringed instruments at a young age.

The words "Congrats you got the job" are likely the five most exciting and terrifying words Ronnie Platt had ever heard.

“When I got to meet Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, I was on ‘10’ because he was my salvation,” said Dexter O’Neal of the R&B legend who passed away in 2013.

An emerging Los Angeles-based post-punk band has been wearing out the turntable at Waiting Room Records in uptown Normal.

Organ music has the connotation of being confined to churches, but that’s not what’s happening Friday night at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

The marriage of rock and bluegrass might seem an odd combination, but for the bluegrass group the HillBenders , it works.

Longtime local musician and promoter Chris Golwitzer realized a dream this month when he opened Nightshop on the north end of downtown Bloomington.

“My connection to Bloomington-Normal is pretty crazy,” said Ike Reilly from his home in Libertyville. He was referring to guitarists Tommy O’Donnell and Phil Karnats, who will be at his side March 15 when the Ike Reilly Assassination returns to the Castle Theatre.

Jazz vocalist and international cabaret star Spider Saloff agreed jazz artists would be wise to incorporate a more theatrical style into their performances.