"They lash out into bracing swing vamps, streaked with melodic overtones and triumphant choruses, occasionally injected with moody interludes amid garrulous soloing sprees. McEvers even melds tricky, Zappa-esque time signatures into a few of his original comps" -Glen Astarita, All About Jazz
Aaron McEvers
After completing graduate studies at the prestigious Eastman School of Music and nearly three years at sea as a musical director with Carnival Cruise Lines, Detroit born saxophonist, arranger, composer and bandleader Aaron McEvers settled in Chicago in 1999. At home playing alto, tenor, soprano saxophone and flute, Aaron has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. He is the founder of M13, for which he composes or arranges all the music. He is also a member of Chris Siebold’s PSYCLES, The Chicago Groove Collective, Maggie Speaks, Out of Control, The Swing Shift Orchestra and composer John Elmquist's Hard Art Groop. An active educator, he teaches music theory and jazz saxophone at the Merit School of Music, private lessons in Chicago (Lane Technical High School) and in Winnetka at the acclaimed New Trier High School. Aaron passes on the teachings given to him by his instructors Russ Mallare, George Benson, Donald Sinta, Trent Kynaston, Ralph Alessi and Ramon Ricker.
Aaron has been a staff arranger for both Carnival Cruise Lines and Arlen Musical Consultants. Currently, he serves as staff arranger for Magnificent Events, a multifaceted entertainment company. He writes commercial music for T.V. spots (through producers John Ovnik and Catfish Music) and continues to write for other organizations and individual performers in Chicago and abroad. Several of his horn arrangements can also be heard in the 2011 feature film “Hoodwinked Too”, where he can also be heard on the soundtrack.
"[McEvers] also has a good ear for color, having absorbed lessons last half century's worth of arranging, including organ-reed writing that distinguished the rock-jazz bands of the 60s; the yearning brass textures of Woody Herman's later orchestras; the cinematic sound sculptures that proliferated in the 80s. ...the way he combines them - the music's specific DNA - gives the music a distinct identity." - Neil Tesser, Grammy Winning jazz writer (Chicagomusic.org)
Aaron has been a staff arranger for both Carnival Cruise Lines and Arlen Musical Consultants. Currently, he serves as staff arranger for Magnificent Events, a multifaceted entertainment company. He writes commercial music for T.V. spots (through producers John Ovnik and Catfish Music) and continues to write for other organizations and individual performers in Chicago and abroad. Several of his horn arrangements can also be heard in the 2011 feature film “Hoodwinked Too”, where he can also be heard on the soundtrack.
"[McEvers] also has a good ear for color, having absorbed lessons last half century's worth of arranging, including organ-reed writing that distinguished the rock-jazz bands of the 60s; the yearning brass textures of Woody Herman's later orchestras; the cinematic sound sculptures that proliferated in the 80s. ...the way he combines them - the music's specific DNA - gives the music a distinct identity." - Neil Tesser, Grammy Winning jazz writer (Chicagomusic.org)
Paul Mutzabaugh
Keyboardist Paul Mutzabaugh works consistently in both live and studio settings throughout Chicago and abroad, enjoying a wide variety of musical genres. In addition to M13, he currently leads his own original jazz/fusion group The Renegades, and is a founding member of the band Crawl. He performs regularly with notable local artists/projects such as Typhanie Monique, John Elmquist's HardArt Groop, and Scott Anderson's Nia Quintet. Paul also serves as a musical director for Casa de Luz church, which has included performances with renowned Hispanic artists including Héctor Hermosillo & Torre Fuerte, María del Sol, and Ernesto d'Alessio. Holding a Bachelor of Music in Composition from DePaul University ('98-'02), he also enjoyed a 4-year tenure on tenor drums with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (FMM '97-'00).
Tom Hipskind
Tom Hipskind has been playing drums for well over 30 years. He received his undergraduate degree in jazz performance at Northern Illinois University, where he played with the NIU Jazz Ensemble and accompanied many jazz legends for three years, before doing graduate work at DePaul University and taking residence in the Chicago area. He has performed, recorded and toured extensively with many artists, such as Howard Levy, Kenny Werner, Patricia Barber, Fred Simon, Kimo Williams’ Kimotion, Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band, and many others. Currently, he’s a member of the Chicago-based jazz/fusion group Kick The Cat, and is on the band’s latest CD, “Scramble”. Tom is a highly-regarded studio musician, having recorded on dozens of TV and radio commercials, film soundtracks, and record dates. He’s also found a home in Broadway-style pit orchestras, performing on Chicago-based productions of “The Lion King”, “Shrek” and “Dirty Dancing”. Since 2004, Tom has been adjunct faculty in the music department at Columbia College Chicago, teaching private lessons and classes.
Todd Boyce
Todd Boyce began his studies at DePaul University in the fall of 2000. During this time, Todd studied with numerous professionals including Mark Colby, Peter Ballin, Larry Novak and Bobby Broom. He also played in the DePaul University Big Band under the direction of Bob Lark from 2001-2004. After completing his music business degree at DePaul in 2004, Todd has immersed himself in the Chicago music scene playing many different genres of music with a host of bands. Todd has performed with the Rhythm Rockets, World Class Noise, Brother John, The Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra, BMR4, The Rob Parton Jazz Tech Big Band, Bill O’Connell’s Chicago Skyliners Big Band and others playing at the Green Mill, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Joe’s Bebop Café, Pops for Champagne, Andy’s Jazz Club, Shaw’s Crabhouse, Pete Miller’s Steakhouse, Fitzgerald’s, The Taste of Chicago and many other clubs and restaurants. He has also performed with multiple theatre shows in Ron Hawking’s “His Way” at the NBC Theatre, in “Nothin’ But The Blues” and “Grey Gardens” at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and “WINGS” at the Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park
BJ Cord
Trumpet player and composer Benjamin Cord is a very active musician in several different musical genres. He holds degrees in Classical and Jazz Performance as well as a Performance Certificate from the world-renowned Indiana University School of Music. At home in a Jazz club, recording studio, or on stage with a full orchestra, Benjamin has performed, studied, and recorded with some of the most acclaimed musicians in the country. He has been nationally recognized for both his Classical and Jazz playing, and in addition performs in theatrical, pop, hip-hop, latin, and experimental settings. As a composer he has written music for small Jazz groups and big bands, and has recently branched out into composing for film. He is also busy as a music teacher, teaching private lessons both independently and for several schools in the Chicago area and is a former faculty member at Chicago's Sherwood Conservatory of Music. He has worked with students of all ages.
Ryan Shultz
Bass trumpeter Ryan Shultz has performed with a wide variety of internationally acclaimed jazz stars including saxophonists Anthony Braxton, Ari Brown, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Don Menza, Dave Liebman and Nick Brignola, trumpeters Randy Brecker, Johnny Coles, Paul Smoker, John McNeil and Bobby Shew, percussionists Killer Ray Appleton, Manolo Badrena, Steve Barrios, Robby Ameen and Steve Houghton, french hornist Tom Varner, and multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan. Shultz has received two artistic grants from the City of Chicago for original compositions, including a four movement suite for bass trumpet, cello, bass and percussion, and works for solo bass trumpet, bass trumpet quintet and octet, duo with percussion and trio with bass and percussion.
Chris Siebold
I am a guitarist, composer/songwriter, arranger, singer, free-lance ornithologist . Some of the bands/artists I play/have played/recorded with include PSYCLES, M13, Kick the Cat, Howard Levy, The Renegades, Chase, Paul McCartney, Andrew Ripp, Graham Czach, Soleil Moon, Vinnie Colaiuta, Sandip Burman, Michael Brecker, Cathy Richardson Band, Tributosaurus, Duck Dunn, The People's Band and Congress of Musicians, Jenna Mammina, Anne Harris, Michael Thompson, Bonnie Koloc, Patricia Barber, Leland Sklar, Bernadette Peters, Ryan Shultz Quartet, TMS Trio, Kimotion, Maggie Speaks, Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band, and HardArt Groop. Also, I am the musical director at Willow Creek Community Church (Chicago campus). I'm truly blessed to play with so many inspired souls. I love a great baked potato. Also, a nice cup of soup is quite a treat! I have written music for theatre: "Notes from the Sandbox Presents A Circus of Truth" (10/04 Lipa Gallery, Chicago), "Brain Humor" (9/05, 1/06 Donny's Skybox Theater, Chicago), and Striding Lion's "Birdsongs" (2008 Gallery Space, Chicago - 2010 Northwestern University Dance Center, Evanston). I performed in Striding Lion Inter-Arts Workshop's production of Frank Zappa's "Billy the Mountain" throughout the Spring and Summer of 2005 and have begun preparations for the mounting of Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage" with members of that company. I have nine years of experience teaching jazz improvisation at the college level (private instruction and ensemble leadership, Elmhurst College 1998-2007). In my spare time, I keep bees. I've also been an active session guitarist for the last eight years; playing on countless record projects and some jingles . Apart from guitar, I also play bass, lap steel, dobro, mountain and hammered dulcimers, mandolin, banjo, and mandocello. I also try my hand producing local bands/artists such as Kick the Cat, PSYCLES, E-mics, Stephen Ferris, Jimmy Callahan, and Bonnie Koloc. I'm featured as "Man Of The Year" in the current issue of Us magazine. 3 cheers...
Steve Duncan
Steve Duncan was born and raised in Naples, FL, the third of four siblings. After a self-indulgent youth of beach combing and lawn darts, he is now happy to be a part of Chicago's vibrant and inspiring music community. Steve especially delights in regularly having his face and ears melted off by his bandmates' playing and by Aaron's writing in M13.
Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson (36), has been living in Chicago for 12 years. He attended The University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and also Indiana University School of Music. He moved to Chicago in 1999 and has been very active on the music scene in Chicago playing a variety of venues and working with countless groups in and around the Chicago-land area. Ranging from the Chicago Children's Choir, John Burnett Orchestra, Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra and countless others you can catch him performing at venues such as the Green Mill, Pritzker Pavilion and Harris Theater.
Scott has a original jazz quintet called the Nia Quintet from which he has two Nationally recognized CDs. They have charted on National Radio Charts across the United States and in College Music Journal charts all around the country.
Scott has played or performed with Akira Tana, Rufus Reid, Tim Hagans, Fred Hersch, Walt Weiskopf, Freddie Redd, Buddy Guy, Chris Potter, Beach Boys, R. Kelly and many more. He has played festivals around the country and abroad such as the Pittsburgh, Melon Jazz Festival in 1998 along with the Blues Passions Festival in Cognac France 2010 and others.
Here in Chicago, Scott has played trumpet for several shows and been Musical Director for the Mercury Theater's "Come Fly With Me" show, a musical review of the music from the likes of Dean Martin to Frank Sinatra etc. He has also recently played trumpet/acted in the world premier of the Kennedy Center award winning play "Katrina, the Girl Who Wanted Her Name Back." He is currently an active performer, teacher and clinician here in Chicago.
Scott has a original jazz quintet called the Nia Quintet from which he has two Nationally recognized CDs. They have charted on National Radio Charts across the United States and in College Music Journal charts all around the country.
Scott has played or performed with Akira Tana, Rufus Reid, Tim Hagans, Fred Hersch, Walt Weiskopf, Freddie Redd, Buddy Guy, Chris Potter, Beach Boys, R. Kelly and many more. He has played festivals around the country and abroad such as the Pittsburgh, Melon Jazz Festival in 1998 along with the Blues Passions Festival in Cognac France 2010 and others.
Here in Chicago, Scott has played trumpet for several shows and been Musical Director for the Mercury Theater's "Come Fly With Me" show, a musical review of the music from the likes of Dean Martin to Frank Sinatra etc. He has also recently played trumpet/acted in the world premier of the Kennedy Center award winning play "Katrina, the Girl Who Wanted Her Name Back." He is currently an active performer, teacher and clinician here in Chicago.
Tim Fox
Since Moving to Chicago from Florida in 1993, Tim Fox has established himself as one of the most in-demand bassists in the city. In addition to M13, Tim is currently a member of several Chicago based groups, including Chris Siebold & Psycles, Matt Lewis & The Union, and has enjoyed long standing chairs in Rob Parton's Jazz Tech Big Band, the Illinois USO Troop, and Jeff Newell's New-Trad Octet. Tim has toured in the U.S. and Europe, and often appears with artists passing through Chicago on their tour, such as Dick Oates, Dave Berkman, George Garzone, Uri Caine, Ralph Alessi, Don Byron and Jim Black. While living in Florida, he worked regularly with Nat Adderly and Buddy DeFranco. Tim has degrees from Florida State University and DePaul University, and has taught at Lake Forest College and Maine East High School. He currently resides in Crete, IL with his wife and two children.
Brian Schwab
Brian Schwab was performing professionally well before he attended the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio. But it was at this distinguished school that he became keenly interested in the recording arts. A quick study on everything from four tracks to DAT, ADATs and Tascam machines, Brian opened his first music studio in 1996. At the same time, he was making a name as a strong trumpet player in Cincinnati—he played with The Drifters, Herman’s Hermits, Patti Page, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, and more. After launching and then selling a mobile recording business, Brian moved to Chicago in search of new opportunities in 1999. In the summer of 2000 he toured with Don Henley of the Eagles and in the fall played in Chicago Broadway shows “Cinderella” and Mel Brooks’ “The Producers.” With an ongoing parade of new and exciting projects and the move to a digital ProTools environment, Brian more than kept up with recording industry standards. With this studio Brian has continued to enrich and hone his many musical skills. A tracking and mixing engineer, a specialist in music preparation for a wide range of digital media, and an expert in Finale and Sibelius music notation software, Brian is an in-demand copyist, arranger, and performer in Chicago and beyond.
Mark Hiebert
Mark Hiebert grew up in Tullahoma, Tennessee and began playing piano at age 6 and clarinet at age 11. After high school, he moved to Chicago to study Music Education at DePaul University. There he studied with Mark Colby, Tom Matta, and Michael Lewanski.
After receiving his B.M. in Music Education, Mark began playing and teaching in the Chicagoland area. He has performed and recorded on saxophone and woodwinds with Jeff Hamilton, Malik Yusef, Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Tito Puente, Jr., Daphne Willis, and Too Live Crew, along with fine bands like the Mulligan Mosaics, Joe Clark, Rob Parton, Model Citizens, Tom Matta, Bill O’Connell Chicago Skyliners, Pete Ellman, and Jazz Consortium Big Bands.
Mark continues to perform and record regularly in the Chicagoland area on saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute, and has his Masters degree in Jazz Composition, also from DePaul University.
After receiving his B.M. in Music Education, Mark began playing and teaching in the Chicagoland area. He has performed and recorded on saxophone and woodwinds with Jeff Hamilton, Malik Yusef, Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Tito Puente, Jr., Daphne Willis, and Too Live Crew, along with fine bands like the Mulligan Mosaics, Joe Clark, Rob Parton, Model Citizens, Tom Matta, Bill O’Connell Chicago Skyliners, Pete Ellman, and Jazz Consortium Big Bands.
Mark continues to perform and record regularly in the Chicagoland area on saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute, and has his Masters degree in Jazz Composition, also from DePaul University.
Corbin Andrick
Chicago based freelance saxophonist Corbin Andrick is a dynamic youthful voice amongst the Second City music scene. Originally from Decatur, IL, Corbin moved to Chicago in 2007 to attend DePaul University. This led to performances with Jeff Hamilton, Phil Woods, Tim Ries, Ira Sullivan, and Jimmy Heath. After achieving his bachelor of music in 2011, Corbin was accepted to pursue a Master’s degree in Jazz Composition from DePaul.
As a sideman, he performs with a slew of different ensembles including Bumpus, Greg Duncan’s Latin Ensemble, M13, Joe Clark Big Band, Ryan Adamsons’ Medium Ensemble, Nootka Sound, Rich Daniels “City Lights Orchestra”, Billy Wolfe, and The Tommy Dorsey Big Band.
In addition to jazz, Corbin is also active among the funk and rock scene in Chicago. He has performed with Bumpus, Syl Johnson, J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Clip-Art, Terrible Spaceship, The Right Now, B.S. Brass Band, Afro-Zep as well as many other studio projects.
You can catch him on Corbin Andrick’s “Accidently On Purpose”.
As a sideman, he performs with a slew of different ensembles including Bumpus, Greg Duncan’s Latin Ensemble, M13, Joe Clark Big Band, Ryan Adamsons’ Medium Ensemble, Nootka Sound, Rich Daniels “City Lights Orchestra”, Billy Wolfe, and The Tommy Dorsey Big Band.
In addition to jazz, Corbin is also active among the funk and rock scene in Chicago. He has performed with Bumpus, Syl Johnson, J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Clip-Art, Terrible Spaceship, The Right Now, B.S. Brass Band, Afro-Zep as well as many other studio projects.
You can catch him on Corbin Andrick’s “Accidently On Purpose”.
James Davis (Extended Family, Trumpet)
James Davis is an active trumpet player, composer and educator in the Chicago area. He received his Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas and Undergraduate Music Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Mr. Davis is on faculty at Triton College, Wheaton College, and is an active private instructor in the Chicago area.
James has toured and recorded with many musically diverse projects including his own Quintet, Zing!, Julie Meckler, Karl Schwonik and others. He regularly performs with many ensembles including Chicago Goes West, Balkano, Pianofail, the Ian Torres Big Band, and the Jason Steele Quartet. Davis has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, where he was frequently featured as a soloist.
Davis was a finalist in the 2007 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition held in Tucson, Arizona and a finalist in the 2004 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition held in Denver, Colorado. In 2008 Davis participated in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and the Steans Institute Program for Jazz at the Ravinia Festival.
James has toured and recorded with many musically diverse projects including his own Quintet, Zing!, Julie Meckler, Karl Schwonik and others. He regularly performs with many ensembles including Chicago Goes West, Balkano, Pianofail, the Ian Torres Big Band, and the Jason Steele Quartet. Davis has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, where he was frequently featured as a soloist.
Davis was a finalist in the 2007 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition held in Tucson, Arizona and a finalist in the 2004 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition held in Denver, Colorado. In 2008 Davis participated in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and the Steans Institute Program for Jazz at the Ravinia Festival.