Ian Maksin

Date: Sunday, September 8th

Doors: 6:30PM

Showtime: 7:30PM 

Tickets: General Admission- $30 | Day of show- $35 | General Admission 3-Pack- $25 each | VIP Table for 2- $80 | VIP Table for 4- $160

About:

Get immersed in the soulful and soothing vibrations of the virtual cello orchestra, created by the world-acclaimed cellist, composer, and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin, who sings in more than 30 languages.

Besides his original instrumental music infused with flavors of Mongolian, Middle Eastern, West African, and Balkan music, Maksin will share the most recent additions to his musical collection: folk songs in Catalan (language #32), Kazakh (#33), and Crimean Tatar (#34), as well as his renditions of pop classics such as "Sabor a Mi" (Mexico), "Je suis malade" (France), and "Aranjuez" (Spain). He will also perform some of his favorite songs in Ukrainian, Polish, Arabic, Georgian, Farsi, Turkish, and more.

A portion of the ticket and merchandise sales from this tour will benefit the Leonid Foundation, a humanitarian relief organization that helps Ukrainian refugees in North America.

September 8 landing page:  ianmaksin.com/chicago

Official website: ianmaksin.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ianmaksin

Facebook: facebook.com/cellomaxx

Youtube: youtube.com/ianmaksin

BREAKING BOUNDARIES both musical and geographical, cellist, composer, and multilingual vocalist IAN MAKSIN has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force.

ONE-MAN ORCHESTRA: He uses the loop pedal and other electronic devices to augment the sound of the cello and turn it into a virtual orchestra.

SINGING IN 34 LANGUAGES: What began as a hobby and a passion for linguistics and travel has become part of a unique concert experience. Ian Maksin sings in Ukrainian, Polish, English, Farsi, Armenian, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mongolian, Bambara (one of the tongues spoken in West Africa), and many other exotic languages. Most of this repertoire was amassed by Maksin during his world travels, jam sessions, and collaborations with local musicians. Many of his original songs and instrumental compositions are infused with flavors of ethnic music from countries and regions where he drew inspiration: Mongolia, West Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Andalusian flamenco.

THE GLOBAL MUSICIAN: Born in the former USSR into a multinational family, Ian grew up absorbing many cultures and traditions from an early age. He began playing guitar and piano at age 3 and cello at age 6 at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad, then came to the USA at 16 to continue his studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. After working for many years in the classical genre, including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami, Ian decided to look for his own musical path. His diverse musical experience, including playing rock and blues guitar and his passion for jazz and world music, has allowed him to take the cello to a new dimension and develop his own distinct style as a musician and composer. In Ian's own words: "At some point, I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Instead, it is one of the most powerful forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together, and bringing peace among them. I believe that the cello will save the world.”

Bad Sneakers Orchestra

Date: November 24, 2024

Doors: 4PM

Showtime: 5PM

Tickets: General Admission- $20 | Day of Show- $25 | VIP Table for 2- $60 | VIP Table for 4- $120

About:

The Bad Sneakers Orchestra is a tribute band formed in 2010 by Chicago bassist Paul Martin with an ambitious mission statement: to faithfully recreate the music of Steely Dan live, as represented on their classic albums.  This goal necessitated a very large 14-piece ensemble, so that multiple keys and guitar parts, intricate vocal harmonies, and rich horn textures could be realized.  After 10+ years of performances (with time off for Covid) the band is at its’ peak, offering the signature Fagen/Becker compositions with a casual aplomb and precision. (They make it look easy.  It’s not.)  And despite the fastidious attention paid to the recorded material, the members inevitably bring their individual voiceprints to bear within the framework of a cover tune.   

A number of Chicago legends have guest starred with the Sneakers over the years, including fusion guitarists Ernie Denov, Chris Siebold, and Mike Pinto, vocalists Mike Harvey (who appeared on 2 Steely Dan albums and a Donald Fagen solo album), Cheryl Wilson (Peabo Bryson, Bertie Higgins), gospel sensation Tina Crawley, and saxophonist Steve Eisen. The charter members are top-drawer Chicago musicians, with decades of experience performing with some of the greatest names in the music industry.  The current roster of regular members reads as follows:

Stevie Robinson    Lead vocalist  

Kent Wehman       Keys

Carter Luke          Keys

Paul Martin           Bass, Musical Director

Neal Wehman       Drums

Dave Katz       Trumpet

John Mose           Trombone

Jim Massoth        Tenor/Alto Sax

Tim McNamara     Bari/Tenor Sax

Gayle Bisesi          Background Vocals 

Ameerah Tatum    Lead/background vocals

Maggie Bynum      Lead/background vocals

The BSO hopes to see you at a Chicagoland venue soon…..and please follow us on Facebook!