Soloists

Take a Listen

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Capture the fun of a piano bar, or the intimate ambiance of a night club with a singing pianist.

Great for background music, our solo guitarists have their own distinct styles.

Dave Onderdonk

David Onderdonk began playing the guitar at the age of eight. Growing up in Evanston, IL, his early interests included folk, blues, and rock music. In 1974 he was accepted into the classical guitar program at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL. In addition to his classical studies (classes with Manuel Barrueco, Eliot Fisk, and Eduardo Fernandez), he also played in the U of I Jazz Big Band under the direction of John Garvey.

In 1976, David started his career as a classical guitarist. From 1976-1978 he gave concerts in Europe, Central and South America, and throughout the United States as part of a duo called One Plus One with dancer Patricia Hruby Powell. He moved to Chicago in 1980 and began making connections in the Jazz community working in various Jazz clubs around the city including Andy’s, The Green Mill, and The Jazz Showcase.

Between 1984 and 1985 he released two albums on Quaver Records (Close Call and Lookout). This was followed by tours of the Midwest in support of those albums. In 1993 he and drummer Mark Walker released Loose Contact (an album of original music) on Southport Records. This CD received a four star review in Downbeat Magazine. In 1996 he was a featured guitarist in JAZZIZ magazine for their Guitars on Fire issue. His studio recording work also includes CD’s, TV jingles, documentaries (A&E with Bill Kurtis), and a movie soundtrack (Off The Map). In 2005 he released Renaissance Guitar as an independent project.

He has played and/or recorded with Michael Feinstein, Kurt Elling (three Grammy nominated albums), The Lakeside Singers, Megon McDonough, Terry Callier, Grazyna Auguscik, Fareed Haque, Fred Simon, and Marlene Rosenberg. He has also appeared on recordings with Pharoah Sanders, Mavis Staples, Mike Stern, Howard Levy, Paul Wertico, and Paul McCandless among others.

An instructor for over thirty years, David currently teaches privately in his own studio and at The Music Institute of Chicago. Past teaching credits include Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, Columbia College, Roosevelt University, and The Old Town School of Folk Music.

John Sabal

Using modern sound equipment and looping technology to create electronic effects while performing, John Sabal is the ultimate one-man band. John performs lush, textured indie songs by artists not often played by other guitarists such as Wilco, Radiohead, Weezer and The Flaming Lips as well as the classics from the 60s to now.

Wes John Cichosz

Fresh from his international tour, singer-guitarist Wes John Cichosz mixes crowd-pleasers and ballads with down-home rock and blues to create an energized performance with a classic Chicago feel.

Steve Morse

With years of experience in commercials & voice-overs, Steve Morse is masterful at performing the great acoustic music of the 60’s- 80’s, including artists such as James Taylor, The Beatles and The Eagles, Steve is great at entertaining multi-generational groups.

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