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| LA’s JAZZ 4 US brings award winning talent back to the great Midwest, October 19 -25th Midwest native and Jazz4us founder, Wayne Biessman brings virtuoso jazz artists back home this October 19th through the 25th. Concert features two great leaders, Grammy winner, John Proulx (piano, vocals) in a tribute to jazz Legend, Chet Baker, and composer, vocalist, drummer and leader, David Tull. The Midwest tour opens in Evanston, IL at the Musical Offering's Nichols Concert Hall on Wednesday, October 19 at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $22.50 to $65.00. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.jazz4us.info. The Jazz4us Midwest tour runs Wednesday, October 19 through Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at the following venues respectively; October, 19 - 7pm at the Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston, IL October, 20 - 6:30pm at North Central College Fine and Performing Arts, Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville, IL October, 21 - 6:30pm at Elgin Community College, Blizzard Theater in Elgin, IL October, 22 - 6:30pm at Rockford University, Clark Arts Center Maddox Theater in Rockford, IL October, 23 - 7pm at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Lecture Hall in Madison, WI October, 24 - 7pm at Edgerton Performing Arts Center in Edgerton, WI October, 25 - 6:30pm at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Peck School of the Arts, Helen Bader Concert Hall in Milwaukee, WI "Proulx is front and center, overflowing with fresh zeal and sparkling energy." ~ Christopher Loudon Jazz Times, Dec. 2006 The John Proulx Quintet, featuring John Proulx on piano/vocals and Andrew Distel on trumpet, will open each show with a tribute to jazz legend Chet Baker. John graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago, where he studied jazz piano with Eddie Baker and Frank Caruso, improv with Scott Mason, and voice with Jennifer 'Shelton' Barnes. His director at the time was trumpeter, Rob Parton. He and Andy Distel went to Roosevelt together, and sang in the college's vocal group called "Rush Hour." During his tenure there (1996-2001) he played at many of the jazz clubs in town, including the Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, Andy's, Catch 35, and Fitzgerald's. Andrew's second album is due out later this year and features Grammy award winners Peter Martin, Carlos Henriquez, Howard Levy and Jim Gailloreto. The second set will be led by drummer/vocalist/songwriter David Tull, who regularly tours with Chuck Magione, and will just be returning from Barbara Streisand's US tour. The evening will be supported by the dream team ensemble, in addition to vocalist Jack Wood, monster guitarist Barry Zeig and another fellow Chicagoan, bassist Larry Gray. Audiences can look forward to hearing David sing lead on some of his original tunes from "I Just Want To Get Paid", and his upcoming CD, "Texting and Driving." The set will round out with a couple of classic standards from singer Jack Wood, instrumental tunes featuring Barry Zweig on guitar, and Andrew Diestal on trumpet. 'I Just Want to Get Paid!" is swingin', romantic and laugh out loud funny — everything we love about jazz! ~ Doug McIntyre KABC Radio, Aug 2012 David Tull regularly tours with Chuck Magione, and will just be returning from Barbara Streisand's US tour. Vocalist Jack Wood recently performed a fully orchestrated tribute to Frank Sinatra at Brigham Young University - the sold out concert had three standing ovations. Barry Zweig, has recorded and performed with Peggy Lee, Buddy Rich, Ray Conniff, Keely Smith, Herb Alpert, Dinah Shore, Sammy Davis Jr. among others. Bassist Larry Gray, has worked with numerous jazz legends, including McCoy Tyner, Jack DeJohnette, Danio Perez, Branford Marsalis, Benny Green, Freddy Cole, Benny Golson, Steve Turre, George Coleman, Lee Konitz, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Fortune, Ira Sullivan, Junior Mance, David "Fathead" Newman, and many more. The Jazz4us Midwest tour runs Wednesday, October 19 through Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at the various venues. Tickets are $22.50 to $65.00. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.jazz4us.info. ARTISTS' BIOS John Proulx • The jazz scene is abuzz about singer/pianist/composer John Proulx (pronounced "Proo"). His piano playing is hot and swinging, and his voice recalls the smooth, mellow sounds of a young Chet Baker. In fact, John's 2009 CD on MAXJAZZ, "Baker's Dozen-Remembering Chet Baker" is a tribute to the late trumpet player and vocalist, featuring trumpet Phenom, Dominick Farinacci. John's latest CD, "The Best Thing For You" (2012), co-produced with pianist Bill Cunliffe, showcases a wide variety of outstanding musicians including Chuck Berghofer, Joe LaBarbera, Larry Koonse, Bob Sheppard, Ron Stout, Jeremy Boersma, with guest vocals by Sara Gazarek and Michael Feinstein! These releases, beginning with John's 2006 debut CD, "Moon and Sand", have garnered national and international acclaim, and his fan base is quickly growing. In addition to his own trio, John has performed with the likes of Anita O'Day, Melissa Manchester, Michael Feinstein, Natalie Cole, and Marian McPartland. John is also a Grammy-winning composer. Jazz legend, Nancy Wilson, recorded "These Golden Years", a song that John co-wrote with lyricist D. Channsin Berry, for her 2006 Grammy-winning CD, "Turned to Blue". Jazz singer, Mary Stallings, also recorded "Stuck in a Dream" (2005, "Remember Love"), and "Before You Know It" (2010, "Dream"), two songs John co- wrote with lyricist K. Lawrence Dunham. In addition, Deana Martin recorded "Stuck in a Dream" on her latest release, "Destination Moon". John's most recent collaboration includes a song co-written with Melissa Manchester for her recent CD, "You Gotta Love The Life", featuring Melissa along with Al Jarreau on vocals. John began his formal musical education at the age of 3 in Grand Rapids, MI on Suzuki violin, but quickly switched to classical piano lessons. His grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist with the Clyde McCoy Big Band, and introduced him to the world of jazz. Hooked on the freedom of improvisation, his education took him to Chicago to study at Roosevelt University's Chicago School of Performing Arts. In 2001, John moved to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits. He has emerged as a young talent on the Los Angeles jazz scene and loves the wide-range of opportunities the city has to offer. Dave Tull • Drummer/Vocalist/Songwriter • For twenty-five years Dave Tull has been known in the Los Angeles area as a world-class jazz drummer. In recent years, however, Dave has been making a name for himself as one of the country's finest jazz vocalists. With his new CD, "I Just Want To Get Paid", Dave cements that reputation, and adds songwriting to his list of talents. Dave has toured the world since 2000 as drummer and lead vocalist for Chuck Mangione. Dave's vocal on Mangione's "The Children of Sanchez" and his bebop scat vocal on "Dizzymiles" has been featured at hundreds of concerts including The Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl and The Blue Note in New York City. Singer Cheryl Bentyne (of the Manhattan Transfer) had Dave sing on two tracks of her CD "Moonlight Serenade" (King Records, 2003) including the song "Tull Tales", so-named because Cheryl was so knocked out by Dave's scat soloing! Three times Dave has performed with Bentyne for a week at Tokyo's Cotton Club where he has sung a nightly duet with Cheryl on "Blue Moon". Dave wrote the vocalese lyric for Bentyne on "All of You" for her 2009 Cole Porter Songbook CD. Dave’s many original songs are available on his new CD, “I Just Want To Get Paid”. The songs range from humorous to heartfelt. Put simply, they are future standards that are just being discovered! Many of Dave’s songs are tongue in cheek snap shots of moments familiar to the working musician. Dave wrote and arranged the hilarious “I Just Want To Get Paid” which he has performed with The Clare Fischer Big Band, Buddy Childers Big Band, The Steve Huffsteter Big Band and the Ron Jones Influence Big Band. He also composed the wry “The Airplane Song” which he has performed live with the Les Brown Band. Chuck Mangione is only one of many bands Dave plays drums with. Dave plays on four of singer Michael Buble’s CD’s including Buble’s notable version of “Moondance.” Dave has played drums for several recent episodes of the FOX TV show “Family Guy.” He has been working this year with Richie Cole’s Alto Madness Orchestra, and Cole has arranged two of Dave’s original songs for the band! He is the drummer on six of Cheryl Bentyne’s CD’s including her 2005 release “Let Me Off Uptown” and the brand new “Gershwin Songbook” which came out in September 2010 on Artishare Records. Dave has played with Jack Sheldon’s Quartet and Big Band since 1991. Dave is on Jack’s 2007 CD, “Listen Up” on Butterfly Records. Dave has played with the Steve Huffsteter Big Band since 1998 and is on Steve’s CD “Live at Café 322.” He has been a member of The Les Brown Band of Renown since 1999, playing on that band’s CD, “Session 55.” Dave was the drummer for The Steve Allen Big Band and Trio for 5 years and performs regularly with The Paul Smith Trio. Dave sang and played drums for several years with The Page Cavanaugh Trio. Dave is on faculty at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA, teaching individual drum set lessons there. Dave has also been brought in by the jazz band director and even the jazz vocal professor at PCC to work with students on various aspects of playing and singing in the jazz style. A Yamaha Performing Artist, Dave plays Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Heads and Vic Firth Sticks exclusively. write your comments about the article :: © 2016 Jazz News :: home page |