PERSONNEL FILES:
Paul Martin- Musical Director, Bass Guitar
Bassist Paul Martin studied jazz at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with noted educator and saxophonist Jerry Coker. Paul has been a member of the Chicago musical community for over 25 years, and performs regularly at local theaters, jazz venues, and corporate events ....he has recorded and performed with saxophonists Victor Goines, Ernie Watts and Richie Cole, keyboard artist/producer Robert Irving III, guitarists Stanley Jordan and Henry Johnson, drummer Redd Holt from the Ramsey Lewis Trio and Young Holt Unlimited, singers Dee Alexander, Joe Williams, Allan Harris and Vanessa Rubin, and Singaporean jazz artists Jeremy Monteiro and Jacintha. He has recently gained notice as an arranger for his adaptations of two Dinah Washington favorites for Dee Alexanders' jazz group with string quartet. She has since performed them throughout the world as part of her electrifying vocal tribute show honoring Dinah and singer/pianist Nina Simone.
Neal Alger- Lead/Rhythm Guitar
After graduating summa cum laude from Northern Illinois University with a bachelors' degree in jazz guitar performance, Neal moved to Chicago in 1995 and has since freelanced there as a jazz guitarist. Neal has performed or recorded with Lin Halliday, Howard Levy, Luciano Antonio, Leslie Gore, Ed Thigpen, and most notably, singer/pianist Patricia Barber. Neal has toured Europe, Canada, and the U.S. with Patricia and he is featured on her Blue Note Records releases VERSE (2002), LIVE: A FORTNIGHT IN FRANCE (2004), MYTHOLOGIES (2006), and THE COLE PORTER MIX (2008). Neal has also appeared on recordings by Chicago-based musicians/groups including Matt Geraghty, Nick Bisesi, Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, BMR4, John Goldman, and Lisa Lauren.
Tim McNamara-Baritone and Tenor Saxophones
Saxophonist, flutist and clarinetist Tim McNamara has been part of the Chicago music scene since 1992 and returned to school to finish a degree at DePaul University(’95). He was a member of the CJE from ’96-’99 on bari as well as tenor and re-joined in 2009 just before starting with The Bad Sneakers Orchestra.Though Jazz is his primary focus, he has had the pleasure of working with a variety of local and national acts, including Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, the Four Tops, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Frankie Valli, Lil’Anthony and the Imperials, Mary Wilson, Lynyrd Skynyrd (on CMT at Milwaukee Fest), Bobby Caldwell, Johnny Mathis, Kevin Spacey (as Bobby Darin) as well as jazz greats Jon Faddis, Branford Marsalis, Steve Wilson, Phil Woods, Benny Carter, Frank Wess, George Freeman, Bob Mintzer and Buddy DeFranco. In 2004 he released a CD of jazz originals entitled Earth Sign, as well as a recording of tunes with his wife, vocalist Ellen Germaine.
John Mose-Trombone
John Mose has been playing trombone in and around Chicago for more than 30 years. His professional career began as a show musician playing locally for such luminaries as Joan Rivers, Frankie Avalon, The Lettermen, Manhattan Transfer, The Spinners, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Bob Hope, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Bob Newhart, Frank Sinatra Jr. and many, many others. He also spent time playing musicals such as Forty Second Street, A Chorus Line, How to Succeed in Business, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ as well as recording jingles for Toyota, Popeye’s, Kraft and CD’s for various Chicago based bands. He has recently toured Germany and Vietnam with The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band and Kimotion, respectively.
Jim Massoth-Tenor and Alto Saxophones
Saxophonist Jim Massoth has been a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene for many years...... as an in-demand sideman, he is frequently heard performing in greater Chicago’s leading jazz venues. He is also a gifted recording engineer, owner of Jim Massoth Recording and working very often at Steve Yates' popular Skokie studio.
Stevie Robinson-Lead Vocals
Stevie is one of the foremost R&B vocalists working today ANYWHERE....his impassioned, crackling delivery puts a new fire into the familiar Steely Dan sound.......hear and believe........Stevie has numerous jingle credits, and has worked with Chicago musical luminaries the Eric Stang Project, Moshetry, Momentum Talent Group, Josie Aiello, Rick Biordi, The Mose Wanted Band, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Carl Albert, Trina Davis Music, THE CHICAGO CATZ, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Durrell Daniels and Soul, Denise Brigham, Sharon Irving, and Marshall Titus.....
Kent Wehman-Keyboards
Meet Kent Wehman, one of Chicagos' best kept secrets..........an extraordinarily versatile and compelling keyboard artist, Kent has played on the society orchestra circuit for many years, as well as with such luminaries as virtuoso cellist Yo Yo Ma. He also serves as the pianist/music director for the "Evening with the Presidents" act featuring political humorist/ impressionist Bill Mellberg. He is the "musical mayor" of his home suburb of Park Ridge, and is currently on a mission to impart piano mastery to each and every one of its' citizens ........ he possesses multiple college degrees on a dizzying array of musical instruments.........
Michael Harvey-Lead and Background Vocals
Vocalist Mike Harvey has an impressive resume that includes background vocal tracks on Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go" albums, as well as Donald Fagen's solo album "Morph the Cat"......he recently sang backgrounds for Stevie Wonder's "Songs In the Key of Life" concerts in Chicago and Detroit.
Neal Wehman-Drums
Neal began playing drumset at the age of 11. Since then he has played with many outstanding professionals from all over the world. Neal has received several awards and scholarships including the Bertha Foster music scholarship to the University of Miami, and a Downbeat Magazine award for his involvement in the University Funk Fusion Ensemble. In 2007 Neal graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor in Jazz performance. Currently residing in Chicago, Wehman is a member of many musical groups including, the Jacob Wilson Trio, electro rock group Breakers Broken, hip hop band Ghosthouse, the Kevin Kizer Quintet, and free jazz trance group Atmospheric. In addition, he has worked for many bandleaders at private functions and events and has played at almost every music venue Chicago has to offer. Wehman most recently recorded Breakers Broken 2010 E.P., Ghosthouse 2009 E.P., and Kent Wehman’s 2009 jazz CD. He also has begun production of his own solo album to be released in late 2011. Neal continues to play very regularly in his home base of Chicago and tours the U.S. with his many musical projects.
Pat Fleming-Lead/Rhythm/Acoustic Guitars
Guitarist Pat Fleming had his first professional performance at age 12......since then he has: opened for Sting at the Montreux Jazz Festival (with the Fareed Haque quartet), toured the country with Howard Levys' Balkan Rhythm Band, and played lead guitar with his own band "Mother Root" that has appeared in concert with Deep Purple, Blue Oyster Cult, Kansas, the Allman Brothers Band, and Joe Walsh. In 2005 he performed onstage in a NYC musical written by John Mellencamp and Steven King (!), and is currently performing with former Flecktone Howard Levy in "Howard Levys' Acoustic Express"..... When Paul Martin ran into Pat at a Steely Dan concert, he knew he'd found a kindred spirit and was that much closer to realizing the most authentic Steely Dan cover band possible.....Pat agreed to learn the signature guitar solos from the classic SD hits, and performs them with startling expertise.
Ameerah Tatum-Lead and Background Vocals, percussion
Ameerah is one of Chicago's most dynamic soul/R&B/gospel vocalists, and is skilled at propelling grooves with her spirited percussion work.
She's had the honor of performing with Stevie Wonder, and many other acclaimed artists.
John Erickson-Keyboards
Raised in Southern California, John’s professional music career began while finishing a degree in jazz performance in San Diego. He relocated to Chicago in 1997. In addition to writing and arranging for his own trio, John tours nationally as a keyboardist for acclaimed smooth jazz and soul guitarist/vocalist Nick Colionne. He has also played for artists Steve Cole, Eric Darius, Gerald Albright, Buddy Fambro, Stephanie Browning, and many others. He is on staff at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Chicagos' north side.
B.J. Cord, Trumpet
Trumpet player and composer B.J. Cord holds degrees in Classical and Jazz Performance as well as a Performance Certificate from the world-renowned Indiana University School of Music. At home in a jazz club, recording studio, or on stage with a full orchestra, B.J. has performed and recorded with some ot the most acclaimed musicians in the country. As a composer he has written music for small jazz groups and big bands, and is now composing for film.
Maggie Burrell-Lead and Background Vocals
Maggie Burrell has been one of the most versatile singers on the Chicago music scene for the last decade, lending her chameleon-like skills to every genre from blues to rock. She was one of the featured singers on Blue Chicago’s Mojo Mama’s cd and is the vocalist and lyricist for the Chicago Yestet Jazz Orchestra. Maggie has worked with several top society bands and is an established jingle and session singer.
Maggie fell in love with the music of Steely Dan as a young girl and saved her allowance to buy their albums, her first being “Pretzel Logic.” But it was the “Aja” album with its complex textures and cool vocals that inspired her to declare, “When I grow up, I want to be a Steely Dan background singer!” Unfortunately, the elusive nature of Fagen and Becker coupled with their unwillingness to tour and a 19 year “hiatus” from writing and recording as Steely Dan crushed any hopes of that ever becoming a reality. Being a part of the Bad Sneakers Orchestra will finally allow Maggie to experience the essence of that dream.
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".....real cool! Can't wait for Gaucho!"-Robert Glick, Reggies Music Joint, Chicago
