Musicians

Vocalists (click here)

Solo Piano (click here)

Guitar (click here)

Vocalists

Frank D'Rone

Frank D'Rone's great voice, musicianship and commanding stage presence, along with his ability to master the interpretation of a song lyric, lend themselves to any entertainment atmosphere and make it easy to understand why he became a recurring guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and was requested by Frank Sinatra to appear in the lounge whenever "The Chairman" was performing in the show rooms of the Las Vegas and Atlantic City venues.

"A singer with an individual sound that invites no comparisons; a singer who can seemingly sustain a note forever; one of the few singers who can change a mood of a room from song to song by moving from one emotion to another naturally. He holds an audience.— Nat "King" Cole

"Frank D'Rone is one of the few finer singers and performers around and creates great vibes with his audiences." Leonard Feather, Downbeat

"A seasoned singer for all seasons. Few equal D'Rone's mix of voice, guitar. The superb jazz improviser somehow manages to combine the best of two worlds: a warm baritone that adeptly expresses melodic nuances and a fluid guitar technique that operates exclusively at the virtuoso level." Howard Reich, the Chicago Tribune

"He is a superbly swinging guitarist and with the presence of the guitar in his hands becomes a jazz singer with a driving exuberance. — New York Times

"Frank D'Rone has every celebrity in town beating a path to hear him."— Irv Kupcinet, Chicago Sun Times

"D'Rone has been a 'singer's singer' who has drawn praise and support from such royalty as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett." — Chicago Sun Times

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Dan Ferris

Lady is a Tramp - Dan Ferris live with the Mike Jeffers Trio (Click here to view video) Luck Be a Lady (click here to listen) Summer Wind (click here to listen) Dindi (click here to listen) Tender Trap (click here to listen)

Whether rendering a ballad or cutting loose on a big band swing tune, Dan Ferris will create the right muscial atmosphere for your event.. Although he usually performs with a jazz trio or quartet, he is available as a solo vocalist, with piano/vocal, or can put together a larger ensemble to fit the occasion. Vocally versant in several styles, for the past several years he has focused nearly exclusively on jazz and the "Great American Songbook." He recently concluded a long-standing Thursday night engagement at Pete Miller's in Wheeling and Evanston, and now performs at GiGi's supper club in Winfield the second weekend of each month.

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Frank Lamphere

Ain't That a Kick in the Head (click here to listen) Be My Love (click here to listen) Second Time Around (click here to listen)

Chicago vocalist Frank Lamphere performs "Rat Pack Jazz" the songs of the great pop and jazz singers of the 1950-' 60s. In his 2000+ repertoire he performs songs popularized by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Jack Jones, Vic Damone, Bobby Darin, Harry Connick Jr, and many others. Frank's CD Ain't Love A Kick - The Unforgettable Songs of Sammy Cahn recorded with his quartet in 2002 is "a memorable listening adventure" — Jazz Review. Rat Pack Jazz is a powerhouse musical experience, not a look-a-like contest! With his ultra smooth, solid baritone and backed by only the finest of Chicago's musicians, Frank Lamphere is creating a new chapter in today's music scene.

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Stephanie Browning

You'd Be So Nice (Click here to listen) Peel Me a Grape (Click here to listen) At Last (Click here to listen)

"Intelligent, versatile young alto vocalist plays at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago on Fridays & Saturdays from 8:30pm 'till midnight. Her voice and technique are superb and her interpretations of tunes -- while usually in the classic vein -- are almost always interesting."

~ Center Stage Chicago

Stephanie Browning is one of Chicago's premier jazz vocalists. Currently performing Saturdays at the #1 hotel in North America, the Peninsula Hotel, Stephanie combines classic jazz standards with contemporary songs that create an atmosphere of excitement and class. Songs made famous by Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Carmen McCray, Bette Carter and many others are all part of Browning's repertoire. She creates and exciting atmosphere for dancing, dining and conversation.

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Ava Logan

At Last (Click here to listen) Speak Low (Click here to listen) The Very Thought of You (Click here to listen)

I"…I think your voice is terrific!...the quality of your voice is great, you really know how to swing! " - Lloyd Sachs, Jazz Critic, Chicago Sun Times

A classically trained vocalist, Ava has performed jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues in Chicagoland and other U.S. cities, as well as in exotic places such as the Caribbean islands (on a cruise ship), Hawaii, and Ghana, West Africa. A recent career highlight was portraying her idol, Ella Fitzgerald, in the Black Ensemble Theater's critically acclaimed musical "Ella - First Lady of Song".

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Alison Ruble

Day In, Day Out (Click here to listen) Skylark (Click here to listen) As Time Goes By (Click here to listen) Bittersweet (Click here to listen) Just One of Those Things (Click here to listen)

Alison Ruble is a dynamic performer on the Chicago music scene. In demand as a jazz vocalist, she headlines at the finest venues in the area, including the Green Mill, Andy's Jazz Club, Pops For Champagne, The Ritz-Carlton and Peninsula Hotels, and the Pump Room. With an established reputation for versatility and an enormous vocal range, she performs annually in the Chicago Cultural Center's Jazz Cafe Series, has been showcased on Chicago's NBC Morning Show, ABC News and WGN-TV, and is a regularly featured performer at numerous City of Chicago sponsored events, including Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at Navy Pier and Veteran's Day Memorial services at Soldier Field. On Monday nights, you'll find her at Pops For Champagne, where she appears weekly with pianist Jo Ann Daugherty, and monthly with her trio.

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Arlene Bardelle

If I Were a Belle (Click here to listen) Ain't Nothing But the Blues (Click here to listen) When Your Love Has Gone (Click here to listen)

Arlene Bardelle has been dazzling audiences with her tasteful vocal stylings for the past several years. Chicago is her home base, where she works with some of the finest musicians in town. She performs every Fridays at the Gale Street Inn with Tommy Muellner, Kelly Sill and Tim Davis. Arlene was a mainstay at the famed Coq D'or in the Drake hotel for many years.

Chicago Jazz magazine says "Arlene's command and presence in a room makes you hope that the evening never ends. She really swings!". Arlene's long time accompanist, the renowned jazz pianist Tommy Muellner says, "Some singers just scratch the surface of the great American songbook, but Arlene digs deep into its core. She really swings, and accompanying her is a pleasant dream come true!"

Arlene has always loved the grand old movies of the 30's and 40's, and has accumulated a vast repertoire of the great American standard songbook as a result. To quote pianist Tommy Muellner, "She sings the real melody, and knows her verses and choruses". Arlene sites jazz vocal icon Ella Fitzgerald as a major influence on her singing abilities. Some of Arlene's other significant influences include Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae and Irene Kral. She also sites Judy Garland as one of her early influences. "I used to have concerts in my parents' garage, and charge the neighbors a quarter" she muses.

Arlene has performed at many top notch Chicago venues such as the Pump Room, the Drake Hotel, Stetson's in the Hyatt, Green Dolphin Street jazz club and Philanders. Arlene also does private gigs such as political fundraiser cruises on Lake Michigan, the Crystal Ballroom at Navy Pier, the Chicago Legal Clinic, and corporate gigs for top Chicago agents.

Arlene has performed with many fine pianists such as Tom Muellner, John Campbell, Jeremy Kahn and Dennis Luxion. She performs with some exceptional bassist as well, including Kelly Sill, Rob Amster (Kurt Elling's bassist), Larry Kohut and Larry Gray (Ramsey Lewis' bassist). She works with many fine drummers, including Tim Davis, Phil Gratteau and Rusty Jones (of George Shearing fame). She has also performed with the great multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, saxophonists Eric Schneider and Ron Dewar, as well as trumpeter Art Davis.

Her latest recording "Blue Gardenia" will be available in the near future. It was recorded in Feb. 2006 at the famed CRC studios in Chicago. It's an exceptional recording with arrangements by Tommy Muellner. Her all-star Chicago band includes pianist Tommy Muellner, bassist Eric Hochberg, drummer Rusty Jones, saxophonist Eric Schneider and trumpeter Art Davis. Brazilian percussionist Geraldo DeOlivera also is on one track.

Arlene has come a long way from singing in her parents' garage!

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Elaine Dame

Comes Love (Click here to listen) If I Were a Belle (Click here to listen) The Best is Yet to Come (Click here to listen)

"Blessed with such purity of sound that clarions could take lessons, Dame expresses wide open honesty, and her clarity is matched note for note by her imagination..."

~ JAZZ TIMES

For the last ten years, Elaine Dame has been performing at the finest venues in Chicago with the city's most sought after musicians. Elaine performs the music by Gershwin, Porter, Rogers and Hart and many more. Elaine works with some of Chicago's top musicians and is perfect for adding excitement and elegance to any event. Perfect for corporate events, wedding cocktail hours and private engagements.

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Solo Pianists
Selecting the perfect piano player for your event is essential when it comes to entertaining your guests. Below are several of Chicago's finest piano players who are experienced with solo piano performance. Because of their experience they will be able to select music that will add to your event.

If you have any questions or would like to book one of our artists please contact us at 773-927-0396 or e-mail us at Entertainment@ChicagoJazz.com

Don Stille

In a review following a recent performance, Howard Reich, Music Critic for the Chicago Tribune, said, "Don Stille proves he is . . . an artist to be reckoned with. . . . . The fluidity of his technique, the depth of his tone and the intellectual sophistication of his improvisations firmly established him as a polished and accomplished artist."

Stille has performed in major cities throughout the country with a long list of nationally and internationally acclaimed jazz artists which includes Clark Terry, Red Holloway, Roy Hargrove, Terry Gibbs, Ira Sullivan, Eddie Daniels and Doc Severinsen.

Some of his achievements include: being proclaimed the Mainstream Jazz Pianist of the Year by the Twin Cities Jazz Society in Minnesota; house pianist and often-featured jazz artist on National Public Radio's First House on the Right (broadcast weekly across the country); and finalist in The Great American Jazz Piano Competition at Jacksonville, Florida (a national competition).

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Corky McClerkin

In A Sentimental Mood (Click here to listen) Cancel Me Out (Click here to listen)

A member of the soul jazz and bebop traditions, Corky has performed with Von Freeman, Sonny Stitt, Ray Brown, Elvin Jones, and Jack Dejohnette. He has accompanied Dee Dee Bridgewater, Earnestine Anderson, and Linda Hopkins, plus Chicago vocalists Sasha Daltonn, Dee Alexander, and Joan Colasso. Thanks to BET video replays of the Corky McClerkin Trio, jazz listeners around the world are aware of his talents. With Curtis Prince on Drums and John Whitfield on Bass, Corky's trio performs throughout the Chicagoland area.

"Irrespective of style or tempo, hard bop, Latin or soul Jazz, McClerkin brings his many years of experience into play as he crafts each tune, making a special and distinctive statement with each". — Dave Nathan, All About Jazz

"…without question, a very talented musician and composer". — Wes Gillespie, Sony Jazz Europe E-zine

Corky "…swings with considerable abandon…is perpetually exciting…with dissonance or striking blues elements in every two-fisted chord he plays." — Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

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Tom Muellner

Tom Muellner is a highly repected Chicagoland jazz pianist. He freelances with many top musicians and often plays for private engagements.

Neil Tesser, the nationally recognized jazz critic and writer sites Tommy is a "pianist and tunesmith of stellar magnitude".

He has performed with many "world class" jazz stars such as Ira Sullivan, Eddie Daniels, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Ojeda, Von Freeman, Richie Cole, and many others.

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Chris White

Rainbow Connection (click here to listen) St Louis Blues (click here to listen) Surrey with the Fringe on Top (click here to listen)

Pianist Chris White hails from Toronto, Canada. After obtaining a B.A. in English from the University of Toronto, Chris decided to focus his studies entirely on music. In 1997 he attended Indiana University's School of Music and pursued his Masters degree in Jazz Studies, graduating with a Phi Kappa Lamda award (National Music Honors Society) and elected to the Who's Who of American College Students in 1999. He moved to Chicago in 1999 and quickly became a busy freelance musician in the Chicago area, performing at countless venues in the area such as House of Blues, Navy Pier, Nordstroms, the Peninsula Hotel, the Palmer House Hilton, and many more. Currently Chris is a member of the Eric Remschneider Trio performing weekly at the world famous Peninsula Hotel in Chicago.

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Ken Spurr

Sometime Ago (click here to listen) You Stepped Out of a Dream (click here to listen)

Ken Spurr has been performing as a jazz pianist and bandleader in the Chicago area for the past 10 years. His trio performed weekly at the Plaza Club from 1997 to 2001. Ken has performed with the Curt Warren Quartet at the Texas Jazz Festival from 1997 to 1999. Ken has performed with many major jazz artists including Louie Bellson, Ira Sullivan, Rufus Reid, Richie Cole, Greg Abate, Marvin Stamm and Joe Gallardo. In addition to, Ken has also played and or recorded with many local jazz artists including Rusty Jones, Nick Toutas, Joel Spencer, Kelly Sill, Larry Grey, Greg Fishman and Bob Rummage.

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Kelly Brand

Windows (click here to listen) Everything I Love (click here to listen)

Kelly Brand is an accomplished jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator who received her B. A. in Music from the U of IL Champaign. In 1978 she performed with Roy Eldridge and Barret Deems at the first Chicago Jazz Festival and has since led her own ensembles there several times. Kelly has also performed at the Ravinia Jazz Series with her own sextet, and then later there with Marian McPartland.

In 2002 Kelly played on Joe Segal's Jazz Cruise, and was also featured at Symphony Center in a lineup of Chicago's top jazz pianists. In 2002 and 2003, she was awarded residencies in composition from the Ragdale Foundation, a prestigious artist's retreat. Kelly's music is presented on several CDs, including her own Sister Luna (Lakeside) and her own A Dream in a Stone (Koch Jazz), plus Mile by Jazz Mile and Ladies in Jazzland, which also includes Abbey Lincoln and Maria Schneider.

Kelly has taught at the Merit Music Program in Chicago, the Ravinia Music Illumination program, and also teaches privately. With the Pangaea Quartet, she regularly presents music to students at Chicago public schools.

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Guitar

Dan McIntyre

Sophisticated Lady (click here to listen) Falling in Love with Love (click here to listen)

As a veteran Chicago area player he worked with Diahann Carroll, Della Reese, Diane Shuur, and Vic Damone. He toured the U.S., Canada, and Europe with Frank Sinatra, Jr. from the late ' 70s through the ' 80s. As the leader of this date, Dan states; "These are a collection of songs that I have enjoyed playing over the years. When I put the material together for this CD I wanted to use all acoustic instruments and feature each musician as a soloist as well as an ensemble player. Nick Schneider and I have been working in clubs together as a guitar/bass duo. Some of our arrangements feature the upright bass playing the melody, as on the Paul Desmond, tune Wendy likes to structure the arrangements loose enough so the players can interact with each other, as do the guitar and piano on Bluesette and Falling in Love with Love.

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