Composer & piano player, Joe Probst has played piano by ear since the age of 5. From boogie, to rock, to laid-back classics, Joe’s improvisational style will set a great vibe for our visiting guests.

Performing with many of the jazz greats like Kenny Wheeler and Terry Lynne Carrington, this is a jazz pianist performance you won’t want to miss. 

I discovered the hammered dulcimer in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until 1998 that I finally owned one, thanks to a surprise gift from my wife using our wedding money. During the first decade, the dulcimer was just one of several instruments I played, which slowed my learning progress. I managed to learn a couple of songs to share with others, but it wasn’t until 2008 that things began to change. I decided to pursue music full-time and realized the hammered dulcimer was my love and instrument of choice.

I created a YouTube channel where I shared videos of Rich Mullins songs and documented the making of my first album, “Hymns.” I performed at assisted living facilities, churches, coffeehouses, and street festivals that welcomed me. I released my first album in 2009 and before long, my weekends were filled with gigs, and my day job felt increasingly unfulfilling.
In 2010, I gained recognition by winning the U.S. National Hammered Dulcimer Championship. Just a week before the competition, I lost my job, which motivated me to focus on YouTube. I launched a weekly series called “Fan Fridays,” where I took song suggestions from my email list, learned them in a few days, recorded them live—mistakes included—and uploaded them for Friday release.
For the next six years, I traveled across the country with my family, embracing the musician’s lifestyle and exploring our beautiful nation. In 2016, my backyard video of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” went viral, leading to newfound recognition.
Now, with countless miles, stories, videos, and recordings behind me, I continue to learn, entertain, teach, and compose, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Won’t you join me in seeing what’s next?

Mike DeHays is Imphormal, playing electric cello covers of pop and classic rock hits and more.

Vijay Tellis-Nayak has received accolades for his prodigious musical talents since childhood and is currently sought after as one of the top musicians in Chicago as a keyboardist, producer, composer/arranger, and engineer. 

Vijay began studying classical piano at the age of 5 and by 11 had won numerous awards for his symphonic compositions. He began playing electric guitar at 13 and by 16 was performing professionally. Vijay attended Northwestern University receiving an undergraduate in Music Theory and Technology and a masters degree in Rhetoric/Mass Media.

As a keyboardist he has performed with top artists in genres ranging from jazz to pop to musical theater. Some of these include Marcus Miller, Jennifer Hudson, Chuck Berry, Billy Strings (w/Bela Fleck and Jack Pearson), Umphrey’s McGee, Randy Brecker, The Paderewski Symphony Orchestra, The Milwaukee Symphony,Wicked, The Supremes, The Lion King, Howard Levy, Joe Piscopo, Dee Alexander, Fareed Haque, Bill Dickens, Congolese Soukous legend Diblo Dibala, Frank Catalano, John Moulder, John McLean, and Grazyna Auguscik. 

He has also been featured in Keyboard/EQ magazine as ”Unsigned Artist of the Month” for his work with pioneering Chicago-based fusion group Kick the Cat.

Vijay is also an owner/producer at top ranked Chicago recording studio Transient Sound.  Here he has been an engineer, producer and/or studio-musician for some of the top local and national artists including Kurt Elling, Brian Blade, Los Lobos, Donny McCaslin, Miguel Zenon, Oz Noy, Naked Raygun, Howard Levy, Trio Globo, Candyrat Records, Joe Locke/John McLean, and many more.

Composer & piano player, Joe Probst has played piano by ear since the age of 5.  From boogie, to rock, to laid-back classics, Joe’s improvisational style will set a great vibe for our visiting guests.