The Band...

The Band...

Jeff Hedberg, Vocals and Leader
Jeff Hedberg is a 28-year-old Blujazz recording artist, jazz vocalist, flugelhornist and trumpet player. His musical training includes a Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Elmhurst College. During his time at both institutions Jeff had the opportunity to perform with both the EC Jazz Band and the NU Jazz Ensemble, both well-known collegiate big bands. During which he played both lead trumpet and jazz chair. Through his schooling, as well as his own pursuits, Jeff has studied with Doug Beach, Mark Colby, Jackie Allen, Brenda Lualdi, Bob Rummage, Mark Streder, Libby York, Jeff Deustch, Phoebe Fuller, Rob Parton, Don Owens, Joel Spencer,Mike Kocour and Judy Roberts. Jeff's last small group project, "The Summer Knows," released on the Blujazz label, received international airplay and garnered critical acclaim from the press, jazz magazines and radio DJ's.

Rich Moore, Alto Sax
bio to come...

Mark Colby, Tenor Sax
Mark has performed with Gerry Mulligan, Jaco Pastorius, Frank Sinatra, Maynard Ferguson, Bob James, Charlie Haden and Mose Allison. He is a first call studio musician, and has played on over 2,000 commercials in the competitive Chicago market. He has been a jazz faculty member at DePaul University since 1983, as well as Elmhurst College. Currently, he is performing as a guest soloist and clinician/ adjudicator at high schools and colleges throughout the United States representing the Selmer Company.

Dave Levine, Bari Sax
bio to come...

Joe Lill, Trumpet
Joe is one of the most versatile trumpeters in the Chicago area; it's not uncommon for him to perform with a jazz group, an orchestra and/or his dance band, Six of One, within a period of a few days. He is the Director of Bands at North Park University

in Chicago, where he conducts the Concert Band, directs the Jazz Ensemble and teaches trumpet. He holds a B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University, an M.M. from DePaul and a D.M. in Trumpet Performance from Northwestern University, where his primary teacher was Charles Geyer. Joe has been featured as a soloist in both the jazz and classical arenas with numerous Chicagoland ensembles, and is also an active guest conductor and clinician.

Nick Drozdoff, Trumpet
Chicago area trumpeter and Maynard Ferguson Orchestra alum, Drozdoff has been a fixture in Chicago’s jobbing arena for many years since he left Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1981. After many years running his own contracting business and completing his masters in classical trumpet, he began leading a double life in 1991 when he took on a “day gig” as a high school physics teacher. Drozdoff has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, allowing him to easily slip into a high school physics class. Drozdoff currently teaches physics and APB physics at Winnetka’s New Trier High School. He has been leading a double career existence, garnering awards as a high school science teacher and developing endorsement deals as a jazz trumpeter at night. Drozdoff currently endorses the New York Trumpet Company Stage 1 series of trumpets and plays their California model.

Steve Duncan, Trombone
bio to come...

Matt Monroe, French Horn

Matt’s varied experiences include touring China as a chamber musician, teaching horn students at Oregon State University, and opening a Chicago Bulls game with the National Anthem. He has music performance degrees from Arizona State University, the University of Oregon, and Northwestern University. Matt is Second Horn with the Kalamazoo Symphony and the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra. He has played in backup orchestras with The Moody Blues, Pink Martini, Dave Brubeck, Dick Hyman, Bernadette Peters, Collin Raye, Garrison Keillor, and has recorded with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra on their Grammy Award winning première of Krzysztof Penderecki's Credo. He has also played with the Milwaukee Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, New World Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Madison Symphony, and the Oregon Symphony. On occasion, he also tears himself away from the horn to run a 5K or marathon.

Rich Armandi, Tuba
Richard Armandi is one of the most versatile and in-demand musicians and educators on the Chicago scene today. As a jazz bassist he has performed with such luminaries as Marion McPartland, Barry Harris, Bobby Shew, David Baker, Jamey Aebersold, Dick Hyman, Scott Hamilton, Carl Fontana and many others, and has performed with such stars as Rosemary Clooney, Bob Newhart, Martin Short, Phyllis Diller, Rich Little and many others. As a tubist he has performed with the Lyric Opera, American Ballet Theater, Grant Park Orchestra, Chicago Brass Quintet, and as featured soloist with the New Philharmonic, Ethos Chamber Orchestra, Concordia University Wind Ensemble, and at the 1992 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference. He has been recorded on many album projects including three with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, and on many commercial jingles. He is in constant demand as a bassist and tubist in almost every conceivable musical genre. As an educator he currently serves on the faculties of College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL), Triton College (River Grove, IL), and St. Xavier University (Chicago, IL) teaching bass, low brass, jazz combo and improvisation. He has also served on the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1990.

Ken Spurr, Piano
Ken Spurr is a jazz pianist, teacher and bandleader who has been active as a professional musician in the Chicago area for over 10 years. Ken has performed weekly at the Plaza Club on the top floor of the Prudential Building Building from 1997 to 2001. He also 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, Ken has also played and/or recorded with many local jazz artists including Rusty Jones, Nick Tountas, Joel Spencer, Kelly Sill, Larry Grey, Greg Fishman and Bob Rummage. Ken is an active member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians and A.P.O.L. (Association of Professional Orchestra Leaders). In May of 2001 he released his first CD recording, Sometime Ago, which is available on Amazon.com and CD Baby. Ken received a B.A. in Music from Valparaiso University and currently teaches piano at Elmhurst College and Harper College College. Ken has studied piano with William Foster, Larry Novak, Allan Swain, David Kikoski and Terry Dybvig.

Josh Shapiro, Bass
Josh Shapiro was born July 15, 1980 in Chicago IL. He began studying the bass at age 16. From 1998 to 2002 he attended Rutgers University in New Jersey where he studied privately with bassist Mike Richmond and received a BM in Jazz Performance. At Rutgers, Josh also studied with Ralph Bowen, Stanley Cowell, Kenny Barron, William Fielder, Ralph Peterson Jr., and Vic Jurris. In 2003 Josh moved back to Chicago and attended Northwestern University were he received a MM in Jazz Pedagogy. Josh’s interest in many different styles of music has led to a versatile performance and teaching schedule around Chicago – recently performing with Orbert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and teaching a music theory class at Wright College.

Darren Scorza, Drums
Darren began undergraduate studies at Eastern Illinois University in 1989. There he studied percussion with Johnny Lee Lane, and Jazz with Henry Butler. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1993. Since returning to Chicago in 1994, Darren has worked as a freelance musician and private percussion instructor. He has had the pleasure of performing with many jazz artists, including, Bobby Enriquez, Richie Cole, Kevin Gainer, and Devin Cole. He spent two years as the house drummer at Chicago’s famed Pump Room with singer Rim Rollins. He has also recorded with many local artists including Michele Thomas, Ted Hogarth, Ari Seder, and Hard Art Groop. Darren also has led the Big Joe’s Sunday Night Jazz Jam for three years. Darren has also been the percussion instructor for Maine South High School in Park Ridge, IL since 1995. He also teaches at Notre Dame High School and Wunder Studios.