Heather Moran Brings 'Naughty Housewife Jazz' To Skokie Theatre 11/21

Want a little sultry with your coffee? Come to the Skokie Theatre November 21st. You can catch one of Chicago's top multi-genre vocalists, Heather Moran, as she explores what put the "itch" in those lovely kittenish 1950's girl singer stylings. Moran will be surrounded by some of Chicago's hottest young jazz musicians as they delve into the tunes of 50's jazz singer greats, such as Julie London, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and June Christy.
Moran is no stranger to performing throughout Chicagoland. Notably she has performed on Navy Pier's two premiere dinner cruise ships Mystic Blue and The Odyssey. Other recent appearances include: Katerina's, Drury Lane Water Tower, The Park West, Tivoli Ristorante, Bistrot Margot, Grant Park, Magnum's Steakhouse, Davenport's, Gold Star Sardine Bar, and Martyr's. Moran also delighted audiences at The Plush Room in San Francisco and will be performing her Rosemary Clooney show in January 2010 at Wilson Center of the Arts in Milwaukee. Pianist Damian Espinosa, bassist Marc Piane and drummer Frank Parker joinHeather Moran for this magical night. You can bet that the Skokie Theater never swung so sexy.

These Gentleman Can Swing...

Damian Espinosa (Piano): Live music is a collective experience of shared emotions and Damian Espinosa continues to bring that experience to venues around Chicago. He has played piano in many diverse musical settings as both a jazz leader and as sideman, as a solo pianist, accompanist, for stage productions, operas, Second City , and even for a silent film. His piano style combines elements of jazz, classical, rock, and latin. The music yields a wealth of tantalizing harmonic colors and rhythmic grooves that span the continuum of jazz. Currently, Damian is involved in many creative projects that include traditional jazz, mainstream jazz, pop, funk, and avant-garde. He also stays busy as a composer and arranger. Damian has shared the stage with such notable musicians as Harrison Bankhead, Yosef ben Israel, Mwata Bowden, Joel Brandon, Zach Brock, Douglas Ewert, Burgess Gardner, Chris Greene, Marquecia Jordan, Lady T, Leon Joyce, Heather Moran, Dushun Mosley, Audley Reid, Dan Shapera, Robert Shy, Denise Thimes, Malachi Thompson, Michael Whelan, Corey Wilkes, and Natalie Yokley.

Marc Piane (Bass): Marc came home to Chicago after being at Knox College under the instruction of Scott Garlock and Earl Gately. He has since played and recorded with talents throughout Chicago including Myles Hayes, Heather Moran, Erin McDougald, Jesse Palter, Lady T, Beaky Johnston, Dan Cray, Robert Shy, Rusty Jones, Frank Parker Jr, Randy Murray, Tommy Bradford, Laura Hoffman, Brienn Perry, The J. Davis Trio, Radiant Darling, The Chris Greene Quartet, The Damian Espinosa Trio, QBlue, The Lori McClain Trio, The Hunter Adams Trio, Jazz Conspiracy, and many others. He has arranged, composed, engineered, and produced material for several theatres throughout Chicagoland. He also teaches privately at the Chicago Center School of Music. His influences range from Ray Brown and Paul Chambers to Dave Holland, Drew Gress, and Stanley Clarke. Marc has had the chance to play some of the finest rooms in Chicago as well as touring the U.S. and Europe. Some of the recent venues he's played include Green Dolphin Street, Pops For Champagne, Pete Miller's Steakhouse, Jazz Showcase, Andy's, Velvet Lounge, Chicago Cultural Center, The Signature Room, Navy Pier, Jazzin at the Shedd, African American Music Festival, Taste Of Chicago, MGM Grand - Las Vegas, clubs throughout Barcelona and many more.

Frank Parker (Drums): Recognized for his work with drums and percussion, Frank Parker has quickly emerged as a rising talent in the music industry. He has performed with Patricia Barber, Jerry Butler, The Impressions, Gene Chandler, Billy Paul, Orbert Davis, Tanya Reed, Peven Everett & Seance Divine, Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, Kurt Elling Quartet, Ross Bon & The Mighty Blue Kings, Nine Point Nine, Ryan Cohan, Zzaje', Dee Alexander, Bobbi Wilsyn, The Cerqua Rivera Art Experience, Maggie Brown, Tammie McCann, Julia Huff, Nannette Frank, Sachal Vasandani, The New Black Repertory Jazz Ensemble, Project Stop-Time, Mr. Ali, Bill McFarland, and The Chicago Jazz Ensemble. He has also worked with ensembles which featured Benny Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Andy Bey, Mark Murphy, Joe Lovano, Bobby Watson, John Patitucci, Marcus Belgrave, Bobby Broom, Bunky Green, Willie Pickens, Kevin Mohogany, Karl Denson, Jon Hendricks, Bob Sheppard, Martin Short, Arturo Sandoval, John Fedchock, Jim Snidero, Herbie Mann, Von Freeman, Chris Potter, and John Murphy. Frank attended Western Illinois University where he performed with the Jazz Studio Orchestra. He performed on two recordings with the band, the Grammy nominated Jazz At The Crossroads (1992) and The Third Degree (1994). He has performed concerts in the U.S., South America, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia and has been featured at the Chicago Jazz Festival, Sante Fe Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Pescara Jazz Festival, and the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention (IAJE). Frank has also served as an instructor teaching drums, percussion, and music business courses at Benedictine University and Columbia College. Currently, Frank spends much of his time composing, arranging, and producing his original music and music for other artists. His compositions incorporate jazz, funk, dance, pop, Afro, Latin, dance, and electronic music styles. Frank Parker can be heard on the following releases: Frank Parker (The Lounge Sessions Vol. 1), Kurt Elling (Man In The Air), Laurence Hobgood Trio (Crazy World), Chicago Jazz Ensemble (Kenton a la Russo), Western Illinois University (Jazz At The Crossroads), Western Illinois University (The Third Degree), Charles Matthews (Mr. Keys), Joan Callaso/Larry Hanks Trio (Live), Ryan Cohan (Real World), Bobbi Wilsyn (It's About Time), Erin McDougald (The Auburn Collection), Natalia Nazarova (Listen With Your Heart), Brad Wheeler (The Future Was Yesterday), Orbert Davis (Live with Strings Attached-video), Andre Harris (Africa), Peven Everett (Gabriel), La Tira (Son de La Tira), Larry Wilson (Freely), Tanya Reed (The Debut), Shannon Harris (Desperado El Montuno, Black Asiatic Women).

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.