TICKETS are $10 General/$5 Student. End time is estimate.

Max Bowen - guitar

Kenji Lee - saxophone

Andy Peck - bass

Brad Billmaier - drums

LISTEN

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=1277256109293470

https://www.facebook.com/bluellamajazzclub/videos/1228716384140588

https://www.bradbillmaier.com/media

Max Bowen is a jazz guitarist based in southeast Michigan. A 2019 graduate of the University of Michigan's MM in Improvisation program, he has performed at venues around the midwest including Cliff Bell's (Detroit), The Blue LLama (Ann Arbor), the Jazz Estate (Milwaukee) and the Riviera Theater (Chicago).

Andy Peck studied bass at New England Conservatory with John Lockwood, Cecil McBee and Donald Palma. Later, he was a grad student at University of Michigan under Prof. Robert Hurst, and studied briefly with John Hébert while the latter was on faculty at Western Michigan University. He has played or recorded with Eddie Daniels, Donnie McCaslin, Brian Lynch, Andrew Bishop, Jean-Yves Jung, Brad Phillips, Jiggs Whigham and others from 2018 to 2020, Peck was instructor of bass, improvisation and ensembles at the Jazz and Creative Institute in Kalamazoo and is currently bassist for Ypsilanti rock unit Cracked and Hooked.

“Lee achieved the principles of truth, goodness and beauty with his music.” (Filipe Freitas, Jazz Trail) ... Kenji Lee is a saxophonist, composer-improviser, and educator based in Southeastern Michigan. ... Born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised in the seaside town of Laguna Beach, California, Lee began studying music at an early age and spent most of his childhood immersed in music. He spent a decade learning from the late-great bassist and educator Roger Shew. Lee attended the University of Michigan, where he studied privately with Andrew Bishop, Robert Hurst, and Miles Okazaki. Upon graduation, he spent time in both the Detroit & Seattle scenes performing with a wide array of musicians. To name a few: Wayne Horvitz, Robert Hurst, Marion Hayden, Dr. Prof. Leonard King, Kayvon Gordon, Andrew Bishop, Lex Korten, Jonathan Barahal Taylor, Andy Peck, and Estar Cohen. All these folks are musicians of the highest order, and he feels extremely fortunate to have had each one of them shape his journey through music. ... Lee’s latest album, “Kyūdō” is available now and features his working ensemble: The Fortune Teller Trio (bassist Andy Peck and percussionist Jonathan Barahal Taylor), as well as special guest vocalist Estar Cohen. You can read more about the album at: kenjilee.net/kyudo

Brad Billmaier is a Toledo, Ohio based jazz percussionist, composer, and educator. He has performed extensively throughout the Midwest, honing a style that is post-bop and “modern mainstream” oriented, while frequently incorporating funk, fusion, Americana, Afro-Cuban, and avant-garde elements. Brad holds a bachelor’s degree in jazz from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree in jazz from Bowling Green State University where he is now employed as an instructor of jazz drumset and large jazz ensembles/small groups. During his many years per for ming professionally, Brad has collaborated/shared the stage with local, regional, and national luminaries including Gene and Ray Parker; Ramona Collins; Jeff Halsey; David Bixler; Jose Gobbo; Mark Tonelli; Zakk Jones; Ron Kischuk; Alvin Waddles; Cliff Monear; and others. He has even been called upon to play with international guests such as Estonian guitarist Jaak Sooaar and Israeli guitarist/oudist/Avishai Cohen collaborator Amos Hoffman. Brad’s work in both his self-titled ensemble and as a sideman has taken him across the country to cities such as New York, Chicago, Madison, Buffalo, St. Louis, Detroit, Columbus, Traverse City, and countless others. He has played such clubs and venues as Cliff Bell’s, The Blue Llama, Ginger Rabbit, Blu Jazz, Merriman’s Playhouse, Dick’s Den, Lucille’s Jazz Lounge, Elastic Arts, Fulton Street Collective, the 35th annual Elkhart Jazz Festival, The River Raisin Jazz Festival, Radio Bean, and many more. In addition to performing, he keeps an active studio of students and frequently performs in clinics and workshops throughout the area. Brad’s compositions and drumming can be heard on his 2020 debut album “Starless” (featuring Peter Formanek, Aidan Cafferty, Max Bowen, Ben Wolkins, and Kenton Davey) as well as recent quintet recording “Third Shore Collective” by the band of the same name. The former was featured in Jazziz magazine and is regularly programmed on regional stations and channels.

Concerts and events made possible, in part, with support from the Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services Private Trust Foundations, which include grants from the Stanley A. and Flora P. Clark Memorial Community Trust Foundation (2020-2021; 2022-2023 seasons), the John, Anna, and Martha Jane Fields Memorial Trust Foundation (2021-2022; 2022-2023 seasons), and the Florence V. Carroll Charitable Trust (2021-2022; 2022-2023 season). Special concert event support provided by the Arts Midwest Grow, Invest, Gather (GIG) Fund grant (2022-2023 season). Activities are made possible in part by the Arts Organization Support (AOS), Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency (2023-2024 season).

Concerts and events made possible, in part, with support from The Esther and George Jaruga Charitable Foundation (2020-2023 seasons).

The Student and Home Grown Series concerts made possible, in part, with support from the ArtsEverywhere Grant from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and the Arts Project Support Grant and the Arts Recovery Grant through the Indiana Arts Commission.