Kevin Fort has established himself as one of the most in-demand pianists on the Chicago jazz scene. Known for his warm touch and virtuosic yet lyrical improvisations, Kevin is a champion of the straight-ahead jazz tradition while embracing modern influences. He has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Bob Brookmeyer, John Clayton, James Moody, Ira Sullivan, Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Steve Turre, Bill Watrous, Louie Bellson, Harry Allen, Melissa Aldana, and Makaya McCraven. Kevin is currently a lecturer at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. Kevin Fort is a Yamaha Artist.
Andy Brown is a guitarist based in Chicago. Born in New York in 1975, he has played professionally for over twenty-five years. He has had a varied performing career that has included stints in Cincinnati and New York City.
Since coming to Chicago in 2003, Andy has been fortunate to work at many of the area’s finest jazz venues with his own bands, as well as playing his unique brand of solo jazz guitar. He has backed visiting jazz names at places including The Jazz Showcase, Ravinia, and the Harris Theater. Currently, he plays solo guitar every Thursday at The Green Mill, leads his quartet every Wednesday at Andy’s Jazz Club, and performs with his trio bi-weekly at Winter’s Jazz Club.
As a sideman, he has performed with internationally known jazz musicians including Scott Hamilton, Howard Alden, Harry Allen, Warren Vaché, Ken Peplowski, Hod O’Brien, Rebecca Kilgore, Judy Carmichael, John Pisano, Michael Feinstein, Anat Cohen, Kurt Elling, and many others. He has also worked with many names on the Chicago jazz scene including Russ Phillips, Don Stiernberg, Chris Foreman, Eric Schneider, Bobby Lewis, and Judy Roberts.