The Revolution Ensemble
a different kind of band
In 1998 Peter Saltzman formed The Revolution Ensemble with the express purpose of tearing down artificial musical walls. Saltzman, a composer, pianist and singer, had written for and performed in a great variety of genres, but with a strong emphasis on jazz, pop and classical. In forming TRE he sought to bring them together in an organic way. TRE's premiere concert took place in May of 1998 at Harold Washington Library in Chicago. with a group considerably larger than the one represented here: a 30-piece hybrid orchestra. In addition the to standard orchestral strings and winds, the TRE orchestral included a horn section, electric bass and guitar, keyboards, and drums.
TRE's subsequent performance came in various shapes and forms including trios, string quartet, and jazz quartet until it arrived at it final and perhaps inevitable form—the combination of jazz quartet, string quartet and vocalist represented on Kabbalah Blues/Quantum Funk. It is the perfect blend of jazz, classical and pop traditions that Saltzman has been working in his entire musical life.
Peter Saltzman
composer, piano, keyboards, vocals
As a composer, singer and pianist, Peter Saltzman has been leading a variety of Chicago-based ensembles since the late 1980’s. These include the Peter Zak Band (his erstwhile stage name), which exclusively performed Saltzman’s pop songs, and released the album “Songs From Two States” in 1988; The Revolution Ensemble, a mixed jazz-classical group of varying sizes (3 to 30) which has performed everything from Saltzman’s hybrid orchestral works to chamber jazz, and released the critically acclaimed CD “Kabbalah Blues/Quantum Funk” in 2000; and most recently the Peter Saltzman Band, which performs a combination of Saltzman originals and wild renditions of everything from Irving Berlin to Bob Dylan, and who released the CD Things Better Left Said in 2003.
Saltzman, who studied Jazz at Indian University (Bloomington) and composition at Eastman School of Music, has also composed for almost every musical medium, including orchestra, chorus, film, dance, opera, chamber music and solo piano—along with song. His compositions have been performed and recorded internationally by groups as diverse as the Czech Nation Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago a cappella and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. He recently composed the score for Eric Forsberg’s feature film “Alien Abduction” (2005, Asylum). Many of his choral, vocal and piano works are published by Oxford University Press. Saltzman is the recipient of numerous awards, grants and commission, including an ASCAP composer’s prize and an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship grant.
Saltzman is currently at work on a major new musical theater work, a trilogy entitled “The Loner Diaries”. The first installment, “Voices in My Head”, which is completed, is expected to be premiered in 2007. Parts 2 and 3 (“Goldcoast Ephiphanies” and “Tyrants Under Your Bed”) are in the process of being written. Top
Katherine Hughes
violin & vocals
Katherine Hughes is a versatile musician who has played the violin for over thirty years. Twenty of those years have been spent as both a professional performer in and a contractor for a broad range of groups. She has appeared with such internationally known artists as Burt Bacharach, Tony Bennett, George Benson, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bolton, Garth Brooks, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Lyle Lovett, Bobby McFerrin, Yo-Yo Ma, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, and Barry White. She was a member of and toured with Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues, and may be heard on CD with that group. Other CD credits include Rain, featuring original music written by Ms Hughes and her husband Collins Trier, and Pomegranate with the popular band Poi Dog Pondering. She has also produced a rock video, TV Sages, which was shown on MTV. In the more traditional arena, Katherine is a regular member of the Metropolis Symphony. She is also known for premiering works of contemporary composers both at universities and with the groups Cube and The Revolution Ensemble. Ms Hughes performs on many commercials for radio and television. Top
Jim Gailoretto
saxophones
Jim Gailloreto is a graduate from De Paul University and has received a Masters in Music in Composition from Northwestern University. Recently his composition Part of the Human Mind has been premiered at the IAJE convention in New Orleans. Also, Justina with Strings (for soprano sax & string quartet) received critical acclaim from Ted Shen of the Chicago Tribune,... "a venturesome work, using African rhythms to prod along the soprano saxs seductive arabesques. The sax soars, dives, pirouettes with the sensuous abandon of Debbussys Faun." His performing, composing and arranging can be heard on the Ensemble 9 CD entitled Children of the Night. As a Soloist, he has performed with Chicago String Ensemble, Symphony of the Shores, the Arts Center Jazz Ensemble, Patricia Barber, Bill Russo and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Blue Note Recording Artist Kurt Elling. Jim was selected as a finalist in the Woodwinds On Fire talent search. He recently performed with Deanna Witkowski in the Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center.Jim is proud to have worked with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite. Jim is currently artist in residence at Columbia College teaching Techniques of Improvisation, jazz saxophone studies, arranging and music composition. Top
Gingi Lahera
vocals
The half Cuban Gingi Lahera is one of the top performers on the Chicago musical scene. Equally at home in an intimate Cabaret setting or an energetic big band presentation, her rich repertoire ranges from classic American jazz and swing songs to Brazilian tunes sung in the traditional Portuguese. Miss Lahera inaugurated the Late Night Torch Singing Series and is a favorite featured a capella vocalist at the Poetry Slam at the city's famous Green Mill. Since 1995, Gingi has been a featured performer with Bradley Williams and his Original 21st Century Review in both the ten-piece and smaller incarnations of the group. With the 21st Century Review, she has played some of Chicago's finest jazz clubs including: the Jazz Showcase, Green Dolphin Street, Pop's for Champagne, and the Green Mill. Gingi and the 21st Century Review were also privileged to perform at the first Jerusalem Jazz Festival in 1999. Gingi Lahera also performs with guitarist/vocalist Paulinho Garcia. Paulinho, a master of the art of Brazilian music, has been Gingi's teacher and singing partner for many years. In 2004 they were featured together at the Brazilian Festival held at the Hot House, and at a concert recreating the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim for the Brazilian Cultural Center at the International House. Top
Rob Kassinger
acoustic & electric bass
Robert Kassinger was appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1993. Prior to Chicago, Rob performed as assistant principal bass with the Colorado Symphony and also played with the New Orleans Symphony. In addition to his busy schedule with the Orchestra, he is an active chamber musician. Rob performs with the Revolution Ensemble, the Orion Ensemble, Ars Viva, The Art Institute of Chicago chamber series, the Symphony Center chamber series, MusicNOW, the Chicago Humanities Festival, and in broadcasts on WFMT and WTTW. Rob grew up in a family of musicians in Boulder, Colorado. He began his bass studies with Frank Carroll at the University of Colorado. In 1985 he moved to New York to study with Homer Mensch at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree. Rob then pursued his MasterŐs degree at the Juilliard School, continuing his studies with Mr. Mensch. He later went on to study with Bruce Bransby at Indiana University. Some of Mr. Kassingers most influential experiences as a student were his two years as principal bass of the New York String Orchestra Seminar, conducted by Alexander Schneider, and the two summers he spent as a fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival, studying with Stuart Sankey and Bruce Bransby. In 1989 Rob was the winner of the Aspen Double Bass Competition. Rob's experience as a jazz performer dates back to his early teens, and through the years he has performed with the Woody Herman band, Conte Candoli, Charlie Rouse, Charles Brown, Art Lande, Richard Stoltzman, Gary Burton, Alex Acuna, Laurence Hobgood, and Bobby Lewis. In 1998 and 2000, Rob toured India with the Chicago Jazz Express, and he can be heard on their recordings Voyage to India and The Rhythm Section. He also appears on Bobby Lewis' latest CD, Just havin' some fun. In addition, Rob is featured on Daniel Barenboim's Brazilian Rhapsody on the Teldec label, and Kabbalah Blues/Quantum Funk by the Revolution Ensemble. Rob is professor of double bass at DePaul University. He is also in demand as a coach and master clinician, serving in this capacity for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Juilliard School, and the Mannes School of Music. In the summers of 1999 through 2002, it was Rob's honor to teach at the West-Eastern Divan Workshop, a ground-breaking workshop that brings young musicians from Israel and various Arab countries together to study orchestral music with Daniel Barenboim, Yo-Yo Ma, and members of the CSO, Berlin Philharmonic, and the Staatskapelle Berlin. Robs latest project has given him a chance to rekindle his relationship with the bass guitar. His alternative rock group NYCO, and his cover band Hoochie Suit, can be heard in many of ChicagoŐs hottest clubs. Top
Jill Kaeding
cello
Jill Kaeding began her study of the piano at age seven and the cello at age ten. She earned her degree at DePaul University where she studied with Gilda Barston and Joseph Sciacchitano and the late Frank Miller both of the Chicago Symphony. In addition to numerous solo recitals, Ms. Kaeding has appeared as guest soloist with many orchestras in the midwest and is a founding member of the highly acclaimed Metropolis Symphony. Recently she was invited to participate in the renown Banff Festival of the Arts in Canada which included extensive concertizing throughout British Columbia. As a member of Trio Elan (with a new nationally distributed CD), Kithara Trio, and Ensemble D'Accord, she has performed in many chamber music concert series including the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series where Ms. Kaeding is heard frequently on nationally syndicated broadcasts on WFMT radio. Known for her versatility in all mediums of chamber music, Ms. Kaeding has performed with contemporary multi-media ensembles as well as jazz standard deconstruction and rock with Lyle Lovett, Ray Charles, the Revolution Ensemble, and with her husband Jim Gailloreto's Jazz String Quintet. In her 14th year with Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues,The Naples Daily News Critic has recently heralded Ms. Kaeding's cello work as "...world-class." She can be heard on all three of the Chamber Blues recordings. Top
Benton Wedge
viola & guitars
Ben Wedge is the violist and a composer of material for the Revolution Ensemble. Ben Wedge received his bachelors and masters degrees from Northwestern University, where he studied with Peter Slowik. After graduating, he spent three years in Lisbon, Portugal, as co-assistant principal viola of the Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa and violist of the Fidelio Quartet. While there, he performed numerous solo recitals and taught chamber music at the Conservatory. He has served as principal violist of the Spoleto and Sarasota Opera festivals and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. Ben Wedge, displaying versatility, also works as the guitarist and singer/songwriter for the rock bands Biker Swig and Stanley and the Gentleman Farmer, as well as playing banjo and guitar and writing for a bluegrass band. Top
Mark Agnor
violin
Mark Agnor, violin, enjoys exploring his interests in a variety of musical genres. As a highly sought after freelance artist, he has focused his energy on performing chamber music in a variety of settings presenting numerous world premieres. Agnor is interested in the works of living composers, and as such has performed with many innovative critically acclaimed groups like the Jazz String Quintet, and Revolution Ensemble. Although Agnor has worked with Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues for many years from time to time, this will be his sixth year as a full-time member of the ensemble. Previous season highlights with Chamber Blues have included performances at Denver's Arvada Center, Aspen's Wheeler Opera House, the Cleveland Playhouse Square Center, Winnipeg International Folk Festival,New York Chautauqua, and performances in France. Recently, Chamber Blues premiered a concerto grosso for symphony written for them by Academy Award winning composer, Joseph Renzetti, with orchestras in Illinois and Michigan. Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues has been featured on syndicated broadcasts of Larry King Live, Dan Aykroyd's House of Blues Radio Hour, a special feature on Public Television's "Art Beat" and Chicago Tonight, and National Public Radio's "Morning Edition with Scott Simon", Voice of America, and features in publications of Musician, Jazziz, Billboard, Blues Revue and Down Beat Magazines. Agnor holds Bachelor and Masters degrees from Baldwin-Wallace and University of Michigan in violin and euphonium. In a previous decade, Agnor has toured extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia with the Mantovani Orchestra having served as the concertmaster, as well as having served as concertmaster of the Sarasota Opera in Florida. Mark Agnor can be heard on the live third recording on Alligator Records titled the Traveling Chamber Blues Show. Top
Jeff Stitely
drums
Jeff began his career as a jazz drummer building a reputation in Chicago by playing with such superb artists as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Randy Becker, Eddie Harris, Larry Coryell, "Groove" Holmes, Kathleen Battle, Zoot Sims, Patricia Barber, Von Freeman, Bobby Shew, the Grant Park Symphony, Sinfonieta, Fulcrumpoint and many others. Jeff won "Best Soloist" at the 9th International Jazz Competition of Belgium and has been awarded 2 National Endowment for the Arts grants. The Jeff Stitely Quartet recorded three CDs. "Chameleon Eyes" won the distinguished award of "Top 10 CD's of the year" by WBEZ and the Sun Times. They toured both the U.S. and Europe and were finalists in the Hennessey National Jazz Competition. Jeff studied and performed African drumming and dance with Gideon Foli Alorwoyie for five years. This great musical tradition is about bringing spirit to the rituals of the community like weddings, harvests and births. In that same spirit, Jeff started Stitely Entertainment in 1994 to combine dance music with his desire to provide quality music for our traditions. In addition to playing music, Jeff is currently a Ravinia Jazz Mentor working with High School jazz musicians. He performed with the Chicago Symphony "Gershwin-Bernstein Ensemble for 5 years and has been on faculty at Northern Illinois and Northeastern Illinois Universities teaching percussion. Top