Mr. Chair

×

Expand

Kristin Shafel

The trio Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair

Each June brings an embarrassment of riches for music fans when the Madison Jazz Festival returns, this year from June 7-16. Coordinated in partnership by Arts + Literature Lab and the Wisconsin Union Theater, the schedule features an array of concerts and a couple special events focusing on the late Richard Davis, including a screening of the new documentary String Theory: The Richard Davis Method, with a discussion by director Michael Neelsen and others (7 p.m., June 13, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art). Friday's concert (7:30 p.m., Arts + Lit Lab) focuses on vocal jazz, with Adekola Adedapo, Donna Woodall and Michelle DuVall. And the action moves to the UW Memorial Union Terrace on the weekend, with headliners the Orrin Evans Quartet (7 p.m. Saturday) and Dee Dee Bridgewater’s We Exist quartet (7 p.m. Sunday). Find the full schedule at madisonjazzfestivalwi.org.

media release: Wednesday, June 12, 7pm: Mr. Chair’s Strings & Things at Cafe CODA (Free). Mr. Chair looks like a jazz combo, enchants like a string quartet, and electrifies like a rock band. Mr. Chair features Ben Ferris (bass), Jason Kutz (piano), Mike Koszweski (drums). Band website: https://www.mrchairmusic.com/

June 12 features special guests

 Jon Hoel on tenor sax

and a string quartet of: Sherri Zhang & Wes Luke, violins; Christopher Dozoryst, viola; and Aaron Fried, cello.

Winner of the 2021 Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award for Best Jazz Artist, Mr. Chair brings a truly unique performance to every stage they play. Mr. Chair looks like a jazz combo, enchants like a string quartet, and electrifies like a rock band, all while delighting listeners with their fresh and authentic sound. As classically-trained musicians well-versed in jazz, electronics, prog rock, world music and beyond, Mr. Chair is a contemporary fusion ensemble for music fans of all backgrounds. Their sound palette is diverse, and used to tell stories in styles cinematic, surreal, romantic, funky, and whimsical.

Ben Ferris is a bassist and educator from Madison, WI. A student of NEA Jazz Master Richard Davis, he graduated with a music-education degree from UW-Madison in 2013. Ben performs regularly in the midwest, especially with the Ben Ferris Trio, a creative music ensemble that focuses on new compositions by musicians in the band. His group the Ben Ferris Quintet released their debut album, “Home” in 2016 featuring original compositions by Ben and other members of the ensemble. Ben plays and writes music for “Mr Chair,” a contemporary ensemble of electronic trombone (Mark Hetzler), keyboard (Jason Kutz), percussion (Mike Koszewski) and electronic upright bass. As a sideman Ben performs with Nuggernaut (jazz-funk), The Jon Hoel Trio (original compositions with saxophone led trio), Gabe Burdulis Band (Nashville based original pop/rock music), as well as a number of performances in the classical, jazz, rock and contemporary music scenes.

Jason Kutz is a musician based in Madison, WI, playing, performing, teaching, and composing all styles of music. He is rooted in contemporary music and improvisation, often combining acoustic and classical piano styles with electronic synthesis. He studied recording technology and music business at UW-Oshkosh and completed his Master's in Piano Performance at UW-Madison. He is a founding member of Mr. Chair, an innovative and inimitable ensemble that plays music in its own style. Mr. Chair was the WAMI Jazz Artist of the Year 2021; has released two acclaimed albums of original music; has reimagined Stravinsky's Pulcinella; worked with Filipino singer/artist Leslie Damaso to create an opera-like stage work featuring Filipino art songs and contemporary myth; and is working on an orchestral hip-hop album with First Wave Scholar, activist, poet, and Atlanta-based singer Dequadray White. In 2018 and 2019 Kutz was commissioned by Dr. Stephen Meyers, Vilas Distinguished Professor of Geoscience at UW-Madison, to write two pieces of science-inspired music. He was also commissioned by the Wisconsin Academy for Arts, Letters & Sciences in 2022. This work was inspired by Bruce Crownover's prints from The Last Glacier, and the final piece was a music video that accompanied an animation of Crownover's work entitled Melody for a Melting Glacier. In 2023 he completed a project showcasing 23 special concerts, each one featuring new music.

Mike Koszewski is an experienced musician from Madison with a diverse background in percussive arts. As a chamber musician he has performed and held masterclasses throughout the midwest and east coast and was recently a featured guest percussionist with Oakwood Chamber Players for their 2016/17 season. He is an versatile drum kit player and pit orchestra musician, regularly performing with Four Seasons Theater and Capital City Theater, as well as experimental jazz/rock combo Lovely Socialite and the Ben Ferris Jazz Octet.

The 2024 Madison Jazz Festival returns on Friday, June 7, 2024, with 10 days of jazz across Greater Madison, culminating with two days at the Memorial Union Terrace, June 15-16. There's something for everyone - free concerts, presentations, and ticketed shows featuring some of today's finest jazz artists.

The schedule (Watch for updates at madisonjazzfestivalwi.org).

Friday, June 7, 7pm: “Puccini, My Love” by B.I.T. Duo at ALL (Free)

Saturday, June 8, 10:30am: Chuck France presents "At the Intersection of Sarah Vaughan University and Richard Davis Lane," Pinney Library (Free)

Saturday, Jun 8, 8pm: Raul Midón, "Lost & Found" at Cafe CODA (Tickets on sale now! $25 advance online, $30 at door)

Sunday, June 9, 5pm: The Dan Cavanagh Quartet, Summer Sunday series at Allen Centennial Garden (Free)

Sunday, June 9, 7pm: Marbin, progressive jazz-rock at High Noon Saloon (tickets soon at https://high-noon.com/)

Monday, June 10, 6-7:30pm: The New Orleans Tribute kicks off the NewBridge Summer Concert Series at Warner Park (Free)

Monday, June 10, 7:30pm: Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo “El Arte Del Bolero” at ALL (Tickets on sale now!)

Tuesday, June 11, 7pm: Lenard Simpson Quartet at North Street Cabaret (Free)

Tuesday, June 11, 9pm: Madison Jazz Jam feat. Leonard Simpson Quartet at North Street Cabaret (Free)

Wednesday, June 12, 7pm: Mr. Chair's Strings & Things at Cafe CODA (Free)

Thursday, June 13, 7pm: Screening of String Theory: The Richard Davis Method with producer Peter Dominguez, director Michael Neelsen, RDYB Executive Director Catherine Harris, Ben Ferris, and Chuck France at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (Free)

Friday, June 14, 7:30pm: Celebration of Vocal Jazz feat. Adekola Adedapo, Donna Woodall, and Michelle DuVall at ALL (Free)  

Saturday, June 15: Jazz on the Terrace: MJF High School All Stars 1 p.m., Gerri DiMaggio 3 p.m,., Heirloom 5 p.m., Orrin Evans Quartet 7 p.m., Betty Guererro & La Combi (Celia Cruz tribute) 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 16: Jazz on the Terrace: Anders Svanoe's Teleporting Rhythmic Orchestra 1 p.m., John Christensen Quartet with Russ Johnson 3 p.m., Pawan Benjamin 5 p.m., Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet 7 p.m.