BlueStem Jazz featuring Drew Hansen

Aaron Shaprio, guitar

Aaron Shapiro has been leading jazz ensembles for 15 years in Chicago and has showcased his compositions at many of the city's esteemed Jazz venues: The Green Mill, The Jazz Showcase and Andy's Jazz Club. As a sideman Aaron has shared the stage with the likes of Esperanza Spaulding and Marquis Hill. He has also recently performed as a soloist in Sao Paulo, Brazil along with multiple appearances at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. Aaron has made local and national television appearances as a guitarist and performed as a member of the 2011 Grammy Jazz Ensemble.

Kitt Lyles, bass

Kitt Lyles is one of Chicago’s most distinctive bassists and composers. Born and raised in South Carolina, Lyles has cultivated an aesthetic that synthesizes his love for Southern roots music with imaginative contemporary jazz. Unafraid to channel romance and grit alike and unwilling to sacrifice the centrality of melody, Lyles draws out the bass’ most vocal personality. Through his lyrical compositional style, inspired by the musical lineage of Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington, he seeks to highlight his musicians’ unique voices as well. 

Gustavo Cortinas, drums

Embracing a multicultural language, while investing in a variety of disciplines within the music itself, Mexican born, and Chicago based composer, bandleader, drummer and lyricist Gustavo Cortiñas continues to surpass himself in the breadth of his work. “Cortiñas' music is uplifting, robust, melodic, and gets your body moving; it's an exciting blend of the artist's musical influences from jazz and Latin America, including his native Mexico" (DOWNBEAT). This can be heard on his four records as a leader, (2013), (2017)  (2021), (2022) and “Live in Chicago” (2024), “the culmination of a decades worth of music” (). “Cortiñas and band revel in a live setting. They not only demonstrate their intimate knowledge of the compositions, but express their evident joy at melding their musical skills with Cortiñas’s continuing commitment to encouraging social change through music.” 

Artie Black, tenor

Artie Black is a saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and educator based in Chicago. He co-leads the group Black Diamond, an ensemble that has been actively performing and touring since 2012. Artie can also be heard in groups led by drummer Gustavo Cortiñas, bassist Matt Ulery, trumpeter Alexander Massa, guitarist Jeff Swanson, trombonist Luke Malevicz, drummer Greg Artry, and many others in Chicago’s creative music scene. His newest projects are a collaborative trio with bassist / vocalist Katie Ernst and guitarist Matt Gold; and an apprenticeship and collaboration with Indian tabla master Sandip Burman. 

Drew Hansen, trumpet

Drew Hansen is a Chicago trumpet player and educator making a name for himself as a thoughtful composer and adventurous improviser. Drew is also the Director of Jazz at Midwest Young Artists Conservatory in Highwood, Illinois, a program that takes a holistic approach to jazz education. 

Drew is the leader of “Room Full of Chairs,” an ensemble inspired by the haiku of Chicago poet John O’Connor. Drew also leads his own quintet which draws inspiration from the jazz masters of the past and present. Both groups can be heard on Drew’s debut album, “Stone Forest/Sun Shower.” 

Drew has performed at every major jazz venue in Chicago as well as the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and the San Jose Jazz Festival, among many other venues around the United States.      

Aside from a busy career as a freelancer, Drew also maintains an active role as a private teacher. Drew can be reached at [email protected].

Presented by BlueStem Jazz:

https://bluestemjazz.org/

and Audio for the Arts:

https://audioforthearts.com/

This event is BYOB

Host or Publisher Audio for the Arts