LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

DUO - guitar and bass

The Judy Night (now) Quartet now features the soulful Brian Wilkie for new standards. We had a wonderful evening of music on October 13 and will present another on Thursday, November 10.

Brian Wilkie: Pedal Steel
In Central Illinois where Brian grew up, Brian was heavily influenced by country music, which is the genre in which Brian focuses much of his talents given his passion for the pedal steel guitar. Brain told me when I asked him to join us for the gig: “I don’t read music with the pedal steel–I can’t: I don’t play the pedal steel–it plays me.”

Bitten hard by the music bug Brian got his start in the University of Illinois music program, where he dove into jazz on guitar. Skills refined there would allow him to take his talents to Nashville and work as a session player and tour with Allison Krauss, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan and others. In addition, Brian has appeared on “Nashville Now” and led that band on a national television telethon in L.A.

Judy is a physician who left her medical career in 2009 to pursue matters of the heart, including music and playing the piano. She has recently hit the Chicago scene, and has recently completed a year of monthly residency with her larger ensemble at the Serbian Village Restaurant. During her undergraduate career, she was enriched by two summer semesters at Berklee School of Music, but also had a rich jazz experience at Harvard University, playing in the top ensemble there with many wonderful musicians, including acclaimed saxophonist Joshua Redman. Guests that came to work with the Harvard Jazz Band during her tenure included Gerry Mulligan, Wynton and Ellis Marsalis, Clark Terry, Illinois Jacquet, Harry Connick, Jr., and Carla Bley. Judy is joined in her trio by two phenomenal musicians, Justin Kramer on drums and Jackson Kidder on bass.

Justin Kramer, drums, has a degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois (1992). He went on to play in many ensembles around the Chicagoland area including The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band and the progressive jazz group Spazztet, including guitarist Aaron Weistrop and violinist Zach Brock. After a two-year stint in New York City, Justin returned to Chicago and currently enjoys playing with The Judy Night Ensemble and teaching high school English in the western suburbs.

Jackson Kidder, bass, moved to Chicago 5 years ago to pursue his music degree from DePaul University. At DePaul he studied with Kelly Sill, Jason Heath, and Dennis Carroll. During his third year at DePaul, Jackson was a member of the top jazz ensemble, culminating in performances with Randy Brecker at the Jazz Showcase in May of 2014. Since graduating in 2015, Jackson has enjoyed continuing his musical journey through teaching, playing with innovative new organizations such as Chicago Fringe Opera, and playing in the Judy Night Ensemble, among others.

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The Nick Bell Band has performed at various venues and festivals across the country such as the 75th Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota, Buddys Guys Legends, The Arcada Theater, The Hard Rock Cafe, The Double Door Chicago, Chicago Blues Festival, The Mancow Show, New Life Radio, The Harmonica Collective, True Blues Radio, and countless others.... See Nick in a venue near you!
Nick Bell has performed and worked with the likes of Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Here Come the Mummies, Tower of Power, Magic Dick (J. Geils Band) Jason Ricci (New Blood), Tallan Latz (America's Got Talent), J.B. Ritchie (Chicago Blues Hall of Fame), Dean Zelinsky (Dean Guitars, DBZ Guitars), Dirty Dan Buck (Boyzz) Michael Tafoya (B'zz) Haley Reinhart (American Idol), Richard Sleigh, Pistol Pete, Paul Kappa (Amazing Kappa Band), Deak Harp, and James Conway to name a few.

Dance off your Turkey and get the Holiday Season started right!

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