$20 at the Door 7:30pm Show
Kenny Reichert brings his dynamic Chicago quartet to Berlin in celebration and support of his new album, Live in Chicago, out on Jan. 16 via Shifting Paradigm Records. This evening will also serve as a live recording session for new material with the band.
Band Members:
Dustin Laurenzi - Tenor Saxophone
Ethan Philion - Upright Bass
Devin Drobka - Drums/Cymbals
Kenny Reichert - Electric Guitar
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Captured in front of a live audience, Live In Chicago showcases a band deeply attuned to each other, embracing spontaneity and the nuances of real-time collaboration. Featuring alto saxophonist Lenard Simpson, bassist Ethan Philion, and drummer Devin Drobka, the ensemble's performance reflects the enduring personal and musical relationships they have cultivated over the years. Reichert, recognized by DownBeat magazine as "a distinctive player and composer," blends lyricism with harmonic sophistication, crafting music that is both adventurous and accessible. His previous albums, including Switch (2024) and Deep Breath (2023), have been lauded for their melodic depth and nuanced interplay. Live in Chicago offers listeners an authentic glimpse into the dynamic energy and trust that define his live performances.
Based between Chicago and Minneapolis, Reichert has collaborated with a diverse array of artists and has performed at venues and festivals across the United States and Europe. This album release concert is not just a celebration of a new recording but a testament to the evolving journey of a group committed to exploration and connection through music.
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Kenny Reichert is an award-winning guitarist, composer, bandleader, and educator whose innovative approach to guitar has earned him recognition from DownBeat magazine as “a distinctive player and composer.” Originally from Brookfield, WI, Reichert began his musical journey with piano, guitar, and organ before attending Berklee College of Music and later completing his studies in economics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He holds a Master of Music in jazz studies from DePaul University, and he was honored as a 2022 Luminarts Cultural Foundation Jazz Improvisation Fellow.
Dustin Laurenzi’s approach to improvisation and composition has garnered the attention of Chicago’s creative music community. His music is inspired and informed by jazz, folk, and improvised music. Laurenzi has been a leader or co-leader of the projects Twin Talk, Edith Judith, Snaketime, and Natural Language, and he has been a member of bands led by Macie Stewart, Matt Ulery, Katie Ernst, Juan Pastor, Quentin Coaxum, and others. His improvisational sensibilities have made him a sought-after musician in many circles of Chicago's vibrant music scene and beyond.
Ethan Philion is an award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader based in Chicago. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and DePaul University, Philion has been praised by the Washington Post for his "well honed chops and astounding musicality. His debut album, Meditations on Mingus, was commended as “a labor of conspicuous love and respect for a musical titan” by DownBeat magazine. He has performed with an extensive list of jazz artists including Rufus Reid, Greg Ward, Dana Hall, Mark Feldman, Russ Johnson, Howard Levy, Ryan Cohan, Tito Carillo, Gary Bartz, Alfonso Ponticelli, Ernest Dawkins, Geof Bradfield, Dee Alexander, Mark Gross, Alyssa Allgood, Thaddeus Tooks, Victor Garcia, Mike Allemana, Mai Sugimoto, and Paul Marinaro.
Devin Drobka has been one of the most in-demand and creative musicians in the Midwest for the past 20 years. Audiences around the world have been enthralled with his wide sonic palette and limitless rhythmic possibilities on the drums. A deep love of jazz, metal, folk, hip-hop, ambient, idm, and classical music has helped shaped Devin’s unique voice and vision on the drums both as a leader and as a sideman. His highly personal and creative drumming can be heard within the realm of jazz having performed with Greg Osby, Bill Carrothers, Jason Marsalis, Billy Peterson, David Hazeltine, Jerry Bergonzi, Dayna Stephens, and Joe Lovano as well as indie- folk bands like Field Report, Caley Conway, and indie rappers R.A.P. Ferreira and Serengeti. Devin can be heard on over 50 albums of genre-bending original music. Devin currently composes music for his newest group—the Devin Drobka Trio, featuring Matt Blair and Jakob Heniemann—which draws upon his love of contemporary classical music and minimalism and his multi-horn group, Bell Dance Songs, which is a response to his love of Albert Ayler, Paul Motian, and Ornette Coleman. Devin’s music has been described as “sounding like nothing else in midwestern jazz” and "gorgeous, innovative.”
