CHICAGO SOUL JAZZ COLLECTIVE
Bio
Chicago Soul Jazz Collective is a jazz sextet dedicated to hard grooving, spirit lifting original compositions and improvisation.
The CSJC began in 2017 with a shared love of early 1960’s soul jazz and their early live performances were dedicated to exploring the classics and rarer gems of great soul jazz recordings.
They documented these early performances in their debut recording, SOULOPHONE. The debut was released in February of 2019 and has enjoyed commercial and critical success while reaching #11 in the Jazz Charts and finishing at #26 in the coveted JazzWeek Year End Top 50 Charts.
After the release of SOULOPHONE, the CSJC began to create their own compositions and carved out a unique ensemble sound. They used early soul jazz as their launching point and based on those shared influences and discoveries they made through live performance a new sound emerged that was unmistakably their own.
Their second recording, IT TAKES A SPARK, will be released in the fall of 2020. The new record features 7 original compositions and special guest artists Nicholas Payton and Raul Midon
The Collective includes John Fournier – tenor sax, Marques Carroll – trumpet, Marcin Fahmy – Rhodes piano, Andrew Vogt – bass, Larry Brown Jr. – guitar and Keith Brooks II – drums.
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John Fournier is a saxophonist, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger and educator. As a performing sideman, some of the artists he has had the honor of working with include Bernadette Peters, Jerry Butler, Raul Midon, Robbie Fulks, Jon Langford, Prince, The Bee Gees, Bobby Rydell, Luis Enrique, Bob Newhart, The Mighty Blue Kings and Leslie Gore. He co-leads the jazz ensemble, CHICAGO SOUL JAZZ COLLECTIVE, and is an active participant in the Chicago jazz and blues scene as a saxophonist and arranger. As a songwriter, John co-wrote a song on Raul Midon’s debut recording State of Mind (Manhattan Records) produced by Arif Mardin. His work in the theater has earned him a Joseph Jefferson Award for original music and lyrics and he has created original works for Second City Theatricals, 500 Clown, Steppenwolf, Redmoon Theater, Red Tape Theater, The Kennedy Center, P.S. 122 and has contributed original songs for The Writers’ Theater. He contributed songs along with Melissa Etheridge on a theater piece entitled WEEDS. As a solo recording artist, he recorded two critically acclaimed CD’s for the LunaDisc Label, Breakfast at Epiphany’s and Drinking in Airports. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Miami, with emphasis on composition, education and jazz performance. John is a music teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Brookfield and is the music director for the Wire School of Music and Technology.
Marques Carroll MCMULTD STORY TELLING FOR THE SOUL Born in Los Angeles and raised in St. Louis, Marques Carroll got his musical start at a very young age. Marques picked up the horn for the first time at 8 years old and has continued his family’s traditional of musical excellence and service over 30 years. Early memories of his grandfather working with inner city kids and jazz legends like Clark Terry have fueled his passion for musical arts and community. “When I play and write I want people to feel good – every piece I write is purposeful.”-MarquesCarroll. Marques utilizes the horn as his scribe, as he crafts soulful, groove- based stories of culture and consciousness. With influence from Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Clark Terry, to name a few, Marques respects tradition while infusing swing with hip-hop baselines and socially relevant undertones. “Respect tradition, preserve the culture and push forward.” – Marques Carroll. Marques received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies Performance from DePaul University. While there, Marques was able to perform with and learn from great musicians like Dick Oates, Tom Harrell, and Slide Hampton. Marques has played lead trumpet for The Chicago Yestet, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and performed as a soloist with artists like Guy King, Aretha Franklin, The Ojays and The Four Tops. Marques is now a permanent sub member of The Count Basie Orchestra. He is also leader of The Trumpet Summit and co-leader of the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective. Marques also leads his own Quartet, Quintet and Trio. As a musician, Marques accepts the responsibility to give back to the youth. He does his part as Musical Director for the Chicago Jesuit Academy. He also holds clinics and master classes to serve as a mentor, extending his guidance beyond the music. Marques is currently preparing to complete his first solo project in 2020. www.marquescarrollmusic.com
Amr Marcin Fahmy originally from Krakow, Poland. Amr studied music at Depaul University and has been performing piano in Chicago and abroad for over 20 years.
Andrew Vogt, a bassist from Chicago, has performed with Donny McCaslin, Ernie Watts and Nate Watts. As a member of countless groups including Bonzo Squad, Pocket Radio and the self-led AV Club, Vogt is well versed in both the role of a sideman and a bandleader. His most recent jazz fusion album “The AV Club” received great acclaim and reviews from writers and he is set to put out another album later this year.
Larry Brown Jr. When you encounter a musician as gifted as Larry Brown, Jr. you understand why he is a rare find. His talent stands out amongst the rest. He is the game changer that is pushing musical boundaries in a refreshingly new direction. As a guitarist, composer, singer/songwriter, producer and educator Brown is in a lane all his own. It was in the small town of Venice, IL that he, at 5 years old, began plucking the strings of his father’s guitar. The rest was history as he ventured on to pursue his big city dreams. In 2009, Brown graduated with his Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Northern Illinois University. While there he was under the tutelage of Jazz legends such as Russell Malone, Pat Martino, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, John Scofield and 7-string guitarist, Rick Haydon. Brown has played across the country and abroad in festivals such as the St. Louis Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival New York and South America’s Lima Jazz Festival. He’s also performed with the Better Carter Jazz Ahead Residency in The Kennedy Center, one of the most prestigious venues in Washington D.C.. As a bandleader, Brown has released two albums under his name “There Can Only Be One: 2011, and the 2015 release The Music and The Moment. Brown is also a contributing writer to the book Teaching Music Through Performance In Jazz Volume 2.
Keith Brooks is an active performing and recording drummer in the Chicago area. He gained an interest in drums and music at the age of two year. Through guidance he received in elementary, junior high and high school it led to a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Business from Elmhurst College and Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from DePaul University. He has traveled overseas to perform in The Czech Republic and Canada. He has shared the stage with a number of great Jazz musicians and composers such as Phil Woods, Benny Goldson, Steve Weist, Bill Holman, Doug Lawrence, Gary Smulyan, Jeff Hamilton and Mark Colby. He is also currently the Minister of Music at the Chicago Salem M.B.H. Church in Chicago, Drumline instructor at the Chicago Jesuit Academy, and Percussion & Piano Instructor at Musician’s Workshop. He is currently endorsed by T-Cymbals and Scorpion Percussion (drum stick company).