Sill, Muellner, Villanueva Trio

Jazz. $20.

press release: Join us for a great performance and an experience unlike any other in the Madison area!

Cover charge $20, tickets available at the door.

Kelly Sill is a bassist, composer, teacher, and producer.

He has worked for over 35 years in the Chicago area as a house bassist for Rick’s Cafe Americain, George’s, The Jazz Showcase, Pop’s, Andys, and the Green Mill.

Concert venues include the Chicago Jazz Festival, Ravinia, the Red Sea Jazz Festival, the Elkhart Jazz Festival, Orchestra Hall (Symphony Center) in Chicago, and the Thessaloniki Concert Hall in Greece.

Kelly has performed with: Hank Jones, Woody Shaw, Dave Liebman, Eddie Jefferson, Snooky Young, Cedar Walton, Red Rodney, Eddie Harris, Johnny Hartman, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Henderson, Clark Terry, Barry Harris, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard, Herb Ellis, Bobby Watson, Jackie McLean, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Burrell, Chris Potter among many others.

Tommy Muellner is a very respected Chicago jazz pianist and composer. He teaches jazz theory and harmony privately on a limited basis. His style includes a focus on harmonic movement, improvisation and musical interplay. He freelances with many top musicians and often plays piano for private occasions. Jazz critic and writer Neil Tesser cites that Tommy is a "pianist and tunesmith of stellar magnitude."

Hammond organ jazz master Joey DeFrancesco stated, "Tommy swings, grooves, is soulful, and in total command of his instrument, plus I love him, he's one of my favorites!" Tommy has worked with many jazz musicians, including Ira Sullivan, Eddie Daniels, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Ojeda, John Fedchock, Warren Kime, Mark Colby, Richie Cole, Von Freeman, Ron Dewar, Michael S. Smith, Isaac Redd Holt, Donny Osborne and Barrett Deems. Tommy has worked with vocalists, including Arlene Bardelle, Hinda Hoffman, Spider Saloff and Catherine Whitney.

Rodrigo Villanueva

Drummer, composer, producer and director; Rodrigo Villanueva holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. He has played and recorded with several jazz, classical and pop artists from Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the U.S. Among them are Stefan Karlsson, Lynn Seaton, Eddie Gomez, Fareed Haque, Ed Saindon, Ben Sidran, Liam Teague, Rodolfo Sanchez, Lee Tomboulian, Hiro Morozumi, Jangeun Bae, Carlos Guedes, Takayoshi Yoshioka, Jon Anderson, Carlos Prieto, Roberto Limón, Sandra Kaye, Carla White, Tony Monaco, Reggie Thomas, Craig Butterfield, Anders Svanoe, Alex Mercado and Latin Pop singers: Lucero, Shaila Durcal and Alejandro Fernandez.

Rodrigo has taught drumset courses, clinics and workshops at many institutions of higher learning in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Korea, Singapore, Japan and the U.S. He has been featured at many international jazz festivals and conferences, including International Association for Jazz Education, Jazz Education Network, Percussive Arts Society International Convention and the International Band and Orchestra Midwest Clinic. He also has published several original compositions for large jazz ensembles (ASCAP). Rodrigo is currently a Full Professor of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University where he teaches jazz drumset, jazz arranging and directs the NIU Jazz Ensemble. Rodrigo performs regularly with his jazz trio and quartet, the Eddie Gomez Trio, the NIU Jazz Faculty Group Nucleus, Dan Moore Jazz Trio, Daniel Wong Trio, and Anders Svanoe Trio. Rodrigo endorses Sabian Cymbals, Yamaha Drums, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks and Latin Percussion. He also teaches at Birch Creek Percussion and Steel Pan Summer Program. In 2010 Rodrigo launched his own record label, Jazzling Records. the first production of this project was the Eddie Gomez Trio album: Live In Mexico City with the legendary Eddie Gomez on bass, Swedish pianist Stefan Karlsson and Rodrigo Villanueva on drums (© Jazzling Records 2010).