Zhou Brothers

Over the past 30 years, the Zhou Brothers have developed a collaborative creation technique that is completely unique and visionary. The concept of the “Dream Dialogue” being the primary means of communication between two artists during the act of creation is one that has implications outside the act of art creation in and of itself. It inspires a curiosity in what such collaboration could mean for other areas of the human experience.

Rob Parton’s JazzTech Big Band

Rob Parton’s JazzTech Big Band features the many styles of big band jazz music ranging from Count Basie to Buddy Rich. Founded by Rob Parton in 1984, JazzTech has been performing and recording in Chicago since 1990. On Friday, March 7 starting at 7:00 pm, you can come dance the night away at Marquette Park, 6734 S. Kedzie Ave, in Chicago. This is a Free event sposored by the  Jazz Institue of Chicago  jazzinchicago.org.

Rob Parton is well known nationally and internationally for the JazzTech Big Band and its six critically acclaimed compact discs’ on the Sea Breeze Jazz label. Parton enjoys assembling some of the finest musicians in Chicago to perform cutting edge big band jazz. The band features regularly the many styles of big band jazz music ranging from Count Basie to Buddy Rich. The JazzTech Big Band has performed numerous times at the MidWest Clinic in Chicago, Jazz Unites Tribute to Duke Ellington, numerous collegiate Jazz festivals and professional jazz festivals all over the country.

Jim Ryan

Saxophonist, composer, poet and visual artist Jim Ryan once played bebop on trombone and studied philosophy in his native St. Paul. Later he played flute and sax while living in Paris. Now based in Oakland, CA, Jim leads free jazz ensembles and exhibits monotypes and watercolors. Over the next two weeks, Ryan displays the colors of both his sonic and visual palettes as he leads his Forward Energy Quintet in gigs at the Black Dog Café (February 22nd) and Clown Lounge (February 25th) in St. Paul, and (along with a display of his artwork) at the Center for Independent Artists (February 24th) in Minneapolis. From the Twin Cities, the band will move on to Champaign, IL for a performance at the Krannert Art Museum (February 28th) and to Chicago for shows at the Velvet Lounge (February 29th) and Brown Rice (March 1).