Jazz Americana

media release: Ernie Brusubardis IV, violin - Ben Dameron, guitar- John Christensen, bass - Hannah Johnson, drums

Ernest Brusubardis IV began musical studies at the age of 4, studying piano from his Mother and Grandfather.  At 6 he began violin with Mary Ellen Meyer, and continued his studies with Dr. Bernard Zinck at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.   After receiving a Bachelors in Fine Arts (Violin Performance) from UW-Milwaukee in 2012, Ernest went on to earn a Masters in Music (String Emphasis) from UWM in 2016.  During his graduate studies, Ernest was coached by Dr. Zinck and Professor Elena Abend, as a member of the Sorkin Institute of Chamber Music. Performing in Latvian Song Festivals in the S and Canada, Ernest has also collaborated with the Riso Quartet, the Milwaukee Latvian String Quartet, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and was Concertmaster of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra for their 99th (2017) and 100th (2018) seasons.

Ben Dameron is a sought after performer, composer and pedagogue based in Milwaukee, WI. He received his degrees in classical guitar from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, having studied with Kevin Callahan, Sergio Assad and René Izquierdo. In 2021, he recorded his first studio album “Voyage to Phrygia Session”, a collection of original compositions for jazz quartet. He currently performs in his group Badland as well as Heirloom, Match Stick and Cream City Hotclub. Ben resides on the guitar faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. 

Award winning bassist, composer and Shifting Paradigm recording artist John Christensen supplies an open-hearted solidity and adventurous spirit to all of his music endeavors. With an appetite for expressing in many musical genres and situations, John has found a unique compositional voice, as demonstrated on his highly acclaimed debut album as a leader, Dear Friend.  While an ardent student and practitioner of improvised Black American Music, John’s music also has deep roots in Rock, Folk, and Americana. Content to have his bass playing compared to Charlie Haden’s lyricism, as in reviews for Johannes Wallmann’s latest album Precarious Towers, he’s also happy to have comparisons difficult to find. His compositions strive toward a hopefulness and appreciation for the beauty and awe of life, and the wonder of small, important things. 

Hannah Johnson provides an adventurous and joyful approach to her musical endeavors. Hannah’s desire to express herself in various genres keeps her busy composing and playing drums within the jazz idiom as well as folk + indie music. n her Milwaukee based quartet, Heirloom, she brings a mesmerizing optimism and compositional voice. Her awe of rhythm, emotive harmonic structures and a touch of chaos drives Hannah's musical approach. You can hear her enriched sound within her song "ISF" - a harmonically elusive yet personable homage to Duke Ellington’s “Isfahan.”  Hannah has become a highly sought-after side musician, playing with numerous regional and international artists and bands. She recently toured with soul and R&B artist, Durand Jones, who opened for country musician, Orville Peck, on his North American “Stampede Tour”.