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Meet the Band

Linda Sue

Vocals:   With her unique smooth and silky style, this soft, yet feisty side of Funk du Jour easily pumps out the leads to the hit tunes of Cher, Gloria Gaynor, Madonna and Gloria Estefan.  She is also the perfect balance to the font line of singers, adding the solid high-end to the four-part harmonies. 

Her professional music resume includes a variety of venues, “Chick Singer” Nite, Edgewood Community Church and the Lira Ensemble, which is the nation’s only professional organization featuring the music and dance of Poland.

Al

Vocals, Guitar, Percussion:  Alfredo started singing at 5 years of age and is a self-taught guitarist.  You’ve probably seen him perform in the past with these Chicago-based groups – Direction, Pegasus, Funktion, Treazures, The Movers, Hip Shake, Monkey Tongues and most recently with The National Society of Hispanic Letter Carriers of America, an all-Hispanic line-up.

 An explosive entertainer, Al’s forte is his ability to blend all types of genre, combining unyielding determination and an uncompromised desire to win the audience’s heart and soul.  The extraordinary talent Funk du Jour brings to the plate helps him realize his passion and life-long dream.

 

Mona

Vocals:   Trained in both piano and voice from a young age, Mona has established herself as an exceptionally versatile musician.  Her talents have allowed her to perform at many premier local and regional venues as well as festivals, TV and out of state. 

Noted for her strong understanding of different music genres and vocal techniques, along with her years of live & studio experience, Mona is comfortable with the vocal stylings of  Pop, Soul/R&B, Eastern Improvisation, Jazz, Musical Theater and Western Classical.

In addition to singing with FDJ you can also hear Mona's talents as lead vocalist/writer of the east-west fusion band Karma Sutra and is a frequent guest vocalist with the Moraine Valley Jazz Ensemble.  She loves groovin' to the music of FDJ.

Mona graduated from Benedictine University and holds a graduate degree from VanderCook College of Music in Music Education.  She currently resides in Chicago and in her "spare" time ....

 

Paul

Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Trombone:  Originally from New York, Paul arrived on the Chicago music scene in 1990. He has appeared at the Elbo Room, Lakeview Links and the Beat Kitchen playing with Dream In Color and the Who Needs Dove Jazz Ensemble. 

Paul’s trumpet harmonies bring you the “Chicago” sound.  When not playing horn Paul practices Pediatrics in the Bronzeville area

 

Dave K.

Trumpet, Flugel Horn:  Dave was born & raised in the Chicago area.  With a father as a music educator, he grew up listening to all sorts of music.  After learning the piano at a young age, he took up the trumpet at age 8.  Dave received a BM in Music Education from Elmhurst College and is currently working on his MM in Jazz Studies at DePaul University in Chicago.  His biggest musical influences include Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove & Nicholas Payton.

Dave currently resides in Chicago and aside from  his graduate studies he keeps busy teaching, performing, writing & recording music. His musical credits include performances with Bobby Shew,  Patrick Williams,  Patti Austin, Wayne Bergeron, Phil Woods and Bill Watrous among others.  He is happy to be a contributing member of Funk du Jour and helping to keep music alive in Chicago.

Herman

Tenor Sax, Flute: Born and raised in Chicago, Herman has been playing since he was a teenager.  He attended Northeastern University where he received his BA in Music.  Along the way, Herman studied with the legendary Joe Daley and studied Jazz Piano with Dee King.    

Herman has played in numerous bands over the years.  Actually, too many to mention here.  Some of the bands he has played with are; Don Sadofsky’s Revolutionary Swing Orchestra, Funktion (a fore-runner of FDJ), Bill O’Connell Big Band (now the Chicago Skyliners), Salful Rumba (African salsa), and the gigging bands “5 aftr 5” and Dinner@Eight.  He has backed singers Gina Gibson and Kate Foley. 

Herman once was in the original line up of FDJ, but left to follow his own pursuits.  He returned to FDJ  in  November 2008 and is glad to be back.

Joe

Baritone Sax, Vocals, Percussion:  Born and raised on Chicago's North side Joe began playing saxophone at age 14 and has studied with Shelly Yoelin and Rich Corpolongo.  You may have heard Joe's deep baritone sax in these Chicago bands; Black Mahriya, Desperate Souls, Souled Out and also with the College of DuPage and Triton Jazz Bands.

Influenced by Stan Getz, Sam Butera and Ronnie Cuber, Joe is as comfortable playing R & B, Soul & Funk as he is playing Jazz and Big Band music.

Julian 

Keyboards, Back-up Vocals:  Julian has been playing piano longer than … well.  He grew up playing in Chicago with local greats, including Mike Balter, Ed Rothberg, Bob Sambrosky and Bob Kaiser but left the professional music scene to pursue a career in science. 

Now, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Chicago, Julian spends much of his time trying to cure asthma.  But music is oxygen for him and Funk du Jour pairs Julian with fabulous musicians who also live and breathe music!

John

Saxophone:   John was born and raised in the Chicago area.  He began playing saxophone at age 8. 

He attended Maine East H.S. in Park Ridge and was recipient  of the John Phillips Sousa award his senior year.  At age 17 he was accepted by The Julliard School of Music in New York City to study saxophone.  After Julliard, he was invited to study at The Conservatory in Bordeaux, France by world renown saxophonist Jean Marie Londiex.  Upon completion of his studies, John received The First Place Prize in performance from The Conservatory.  Upon return to the U.S., John attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Music.

John has performed in many venues in the last 30 years in the Chicago area.  He has played with The Chicago Symphony, at the Theater Building in Chicago and with many Chicago bands such as Funktion, The Michael James Orchestra, the Chicago horn band Haymarket Riot and now Funk du Jour.

Come out and hear our own "Saxophone Player Extraordinaire"

Reggie

Bass Guitar, Back-up Vocals:  Reggie has been involved in the Chicago music scene for many years, playing in bands such as Clever, Black Wonders and Up From the Bottom.   

Rhythm isn’t rhythm without Reggie.  He spells "funk" with his bass. 

 

Dave

Lead Guitar:  Guitarist Dave grew up in Chicago listening to the great rock, blues, pop and R & B of the 60's and 70's.  He has played in many area bands and was a longtime member of The Haymarket Riot, a Chicago horn band.

Dave is excited to be adding his funky rhythm and soaring guitar style to Funk du Jour.

Rick

Bandleader, Musical Arrangements, Drums, Back-up Vocals:  Born in Chicago to a professional, musical family, Rick grew up on the north side of the city.  He started playing trumpet as a child, but switched to drums at the age of sixteen.

Starting with a 5-piece band, the switch to drums brought him some immediate satisfaction.  Local studio work followed, at Universal Studios in Chicago for McDonald's, Burger King, Ral Donner and Johnny Cooper, which led to more studio work in L.A..  Arriving back in Chicago, he was called to play gig work opening for The Platters, The Shadows of Night, 4 Days and a Night, American Breed, Martha and the Vandellas and The Outsiders.  Five years later he hooked up with some horn players and they formed the band Jumbo.

That was the sound that excited Rick and after Jumbo parted ways he formed his own band called Funktion.  The band was successful in the Chicago music scene, but they disbanded also.  Again, Rick looked for that full horn sound he so loved and became the drummer for The Haymarket Riot.  This band was BIG in the Chicago music scene.

After he left Haymarket Riot, Rick performed "hundreds" of free-lance gigs with a number of musicians and now he brings you Funk du Jour.

Rick started forming FDJ in late 2002.  He arranges all the music, an effort that is very satisfying.  Right from he start he knew this band was something special.  He was fortunate to have an abundance of experienced talent to choose from, and having chosen the best, he believes once you see and hear Funk du Jour, you'll enjoy the experience as much as he enjoys' bringing it to you.

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