Steve Duke

“… [Duke has] a gorgeous tone and [he] moved easily between … the Coltranesque leaps and the supple fluidity of the Hodges pastiche.”

- Allan Kozinn.
New York Times

Known for his improvisation and multied-styled performances Steve Duke has soloed at festivals throughout the United States, Canada, France, Greece, and Denmark. He has performed with notable jazz artists such as Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Wess, Roland Hanna, Grady Tate, Zoot Sims, and Charles McPherson. Duke has premiered and recorded a multitude of acoustic and computer/acoustic solo works, including works by composers Larry Austin, Dexter Morrill, William O. Smith, Rodney Waschka II, Cort Lippe, James Phelps, Jan Bach, Elaine Lillios, Les Thimmig, and Robert Fleisher.

Duke’s solo recordings include solo albums Monk by 2 (Sony/Columbia) and Saint Ambrose (Capstone). Other solo recordings can be heard on CDCM Series, Centaur, and EMF. Steve Duke is a Professor of Music and Distinguished Research Professor at Northern Illinois University.

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Zvonimir Tot

“Zvonimir Tot is the hot new voice in the world of jazz guitar virtuosos.”

- Judy Roberts,
Chicago Jazz Magazine

Jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger Zvonimir Tot is deeply rooted in the jazz tradition and flavors it with his European origin. His compositions span various styles of jazz and concert music. He has performed at festivals and concert venues in the United States, Holland, Germany, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia, and Romania. Tot has performed and/or recorded with Johnny Frigo (violin), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (double bass, Denmark), Paul Wertico (drums), Scott Hamilton (tenor sax), Billy Harper (tenor sax, New York), Reggie Workman (double bass, New York).

Zvonimir Tot teaches at University of Illinois-Chicago, College of DuPage, and McHenry County College. Zvonimir's biography has been included in the 2005 Marquis Who’s Who in America.

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Marlene Rosenberg

“In modern jazz, the bass has two functions, rhythmic catalyst and front-line soloist: few bassists do as good a job as Marlene Rosenberg of integrating these roles into a voice that can either lead or support.”

- Neil Tesser,
author of
"The Playboy Guide to Jazz"

Marlene Rosenberg has emerged as one of the most talented and multi-faceted young bass players on the scene today. She has played professionally throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and Japan, performing with innumerable jazz luminaries, such as Kenny Barron, Frank Foster, Stan Getz, Albert "Tootie" Health, Joe Henderson, Marian McPartland, Cedar Walton, Wallace Roney, David "Fathead" Newman, Monty Alexander, Kevin Mahogony, Frank Morgan, Frank Wess, Joe Williams and Nancy Wilson, to name a few. Her stylistic range encompasses everything from traditional Big Band to intimate experimental ensembles.

In addition to her versatility as a bassist, Rosenberg is an accomplished performer of ethnic music. She has performed and recorded with the Balkan Rhythm Band, which focuses on traditional music from Yugoslavia, Serbia and Greece. Her enthusiasm for the drumming and dance of West Africa has promoted study with master drummers from Ghana as well as participation in an African drumming group in Chicago.

Rosenberg made her debut as a leader and composer on her compact disc Waimea (Bassline). Her latest CD Pieces of ... (Bassline) presents her as arranger as well as composer.

Marlene is an applied artist and music faculty teaching jazz bass at Northern Illinois University and jazz bass and combo at Roosevelt University.

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