The Steve Duke Trio brings together the talents of saxophonist Steve Duke, pianist Kelly Brand, and bassist Kelly Sill in a unique collaboration in jazz. The three are each artists in their own right, who bring original works and improvisation together to form a lyrical jazz voice.
Contact Steve Duke at
TRIO@steveduke.net
630-579-0746
Steve Duke, saxophone
“… [Duke has] a gorgeous tone and [he] moved easily between … the Coltranesque leaps and the supple fluidity of the Hodges pastiche.”
Known for his improvisation and multi-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.
Kelly Brand, piano
“The latest and best album by Chicago pianist/composer Kelly Brand...good stories told simply and well.”
Kelly Brand, a native of Evanston, Illinois, is an active performer on the Chicago jazz scene playing frequent club and concert dates. In 1999 Kelly joined Marion McPartland on stage at Ravinia for a double piano jazz performance.
In 2001 and 2003 Brand was awarded residencies at Ragdale, an internationally
acclaimed artists' retreat. She was chosen as one of the ten top Chicago
jazz pianists who performed at Symphony Center for Marshall Field’s Great
Day of Music in 2003. Kelly has also performed at the Jazz Showcase,
Ravinia and the Chicago Jazz Festival both as a leader and sideman.
Brand continues to be in demand for performances in public venues and
private events as a soloist, bandleader, and sideman. In addition she is
an experienced teacher and clinician and taught for the Merit School of
Music. Currently Kelly is a teaching artist in the Ravinia Music Discovery
Program and also plays and conducts clinics in the Chicago schools with Pangaea sponsored
by the International Music Foundation, an umbrella group of the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
Kelly Sill, bass
"Sill whose oceanic tone carries on a Chicago bass tradition that starts with Milt Hinton and runs through such artists as Wilbur Ware and Rufus Reid is complementary to Spencer's enthusiasm with a wry and perfectly placed musical aside."
Kelly Sill has worked as one of the top jazz bassist for over 30 years in the Chicago area. His has performed as a house bassist for Rick`s Cafe Americain, George`s, The Jazz Showcase, Pop`s, and The Green Mill. Concert venues include the Chicago Jazz Festival, Ravinia, the Red Sea Jazz Festival, the Elkhart Jazz Festival, and Orchestra Hall (Symphony Center) in Chicago.
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, Billy Eckstine, Don Menza, Clark Terry,Jerome Richardson, Barry Harris, Conti Condoli, Ruth Brown, Cissy Houston, Art Farmer, Red Holloway, Donald Byrd, Ira Sullivan, Anita O`Day, Freddie Hubbard, Herb Ellis, Bobby Watson, Jackie McLean, Dakota Staton, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Burrell, Bill Hardman, Charlie Rouse, Clifford Jordan, Morgana King, Barney Kessel, Urbie Green, Scott Hamilton, Chris Conner, Chris Potter, Mel Lewis, Art Blakey, Louis Bellson, Ernie Watts, Sadao Watanabe, Jim McNeely, Mose Allison, David Newman, Ed Thigpen, and Marvin Stamm.