Velvet Roots :: Dinner Jazz

Name: Velvet Roots :: Dinner Jazz
Start: 2025-10-03T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-10-03T22:00:00-05:00
Location: 216 South Barstow, Eau Claire, WI, United States, Wisconsin 54701

Schedule

Fri Oct 03 2025 at 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

216 South Barstow, Eau Claire, WI, United States, Wisconsin 54701 | Eau Claire, WI

Velvet Roots is a professional combo from the Eau Claire area specializing in dinner jazz or some might call it smooth jazz. Instrumentation includes sax, guitar, keyboard and percussion and vocals. The group also performs many original compositions. Two of the members are active music educators, one a retired music educator, the other a local minister. They have many years of professional performances in many genres including jazz, classical, popular and folk. They have performed locally (E.C. Jazz Fest, Sounds Like Summer Concert series, etc.) and other parts of the US.
CONDENSED BIOS
Brad Stoughton, guitar, percussion, vocals: Head of the Instrumental Music Department at Fall Creek (WI) High School and Middle School, holds BA-Music, BME-Instrumental, and Masters (MEd-PD) degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. Mr. Stoughton has performed with concert and combo groups throughout the Midwest as a percussionist, conductor, and clinician. He has performed with artists such as Tom Politzer, Byron Stripling, Carl Allen, Debbie Duncan, Clyde Stubblefield, Michael Sweeney, and members of the John Hiatt Band. In addition to his teaching and performing duties, Mr. Stoughton is both the Musical Director and Conductor of both the Eau Claire (WI) Municipal Band, as well as the Mondovi (WI) Community Band.

Ken Rogers, Ph.D., guitar: Former music director orchestra, band and choir. Has a music education master degree along with a degree in music theory and composition. Has a Doctorate in Educational Administration and worked many years as a school superintendent. Has performed in professional string orchestras, Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, classical guitar concerts, blues combos and ethnic ensembles; performed in US and Europe.

Jeff Carlson – Keys: Jeff was born and raised right here on the West side Eau Claire. He graduated from Eau Claire North in 1985 and went on to secondary studies at educational institutions including: UWEC, graduated from: Concordia University (BS in Lay Ministry) in 2012; Concordia Seminary – St Louis (Masters of Divinity) in 2015 and Milwaukee Area Technical College (Funeral Director Apprentice License) in 2020. Jeff is the son of the late Harland Carlson, who was an EC area band director for 35 years. So his whole life has included music. Jeff began to play in the Water Street Big Band the summer before his Junior year in college. This opened the door for him to play with: The Greg Keel quartet, the Greg Keel Orchestra, the Jeff Carlson quartet, as well as area opportunity to play in an area backup band for Myron Florin. Jeff has served in at churches in St Louis, MO Fort Lauderdale, FL. and Eau Claire.

Scott Hensiak, sax and bass guitar: Scott serves as band director at South Middle School in Eau Claire. He is an active performer of jazz and popular music, previously performing with the Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra, with whom he served as artistic director from 2018-2023. Scott regularly performs with other local groups such as Uncommon Denominator and Cathy Reitz's "Seven Swing."