Donovan mixon
Guitarist Donovan Mixon is a self-described citizen of the world. In 1988, then a Berklee College of Music professor, he secured an NEA grant for jazz composition. His artistic journey led to an 18-year residency in Europe, primarily in Italy and Turkey, where he performed at many of the most significant festivals and taught music concepts. Since 2010, Chicago has been
his creative hub where performs in clubs, concert halls and festivals with his World Jazz Quintet as well as with the GBME--Great Black Music Ensemble—of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) of which he is a
recent inductee. As a creative outlet during the Pandemic, Mixon organized jazz performances in the alley behind his Evanston home, leading to the series of shows called "Donovan’s Garage" a unique performance laboratory. Donovan's multifaceted career
encompasses recordings, a novel, and global collaborations, with a new recording slated for 2024.
his creative hub where performs in clubs, concert halls and festivals with his World Jazz Quintet as well as with the GBME--Great Black Music Ensemble—of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) of which he is a
recent inductee. As a creative outlet during the Pandemic, Mixon organized jazz performances in the alley behind his Evanston home, leading to the series of shows called "Donovan’s Garage" a unique performance laboratory. Donovan's multifaceted career
encompasses recordings, a novel, and global collaborations, with a new recording slated for 2024.
David Chelimsky
David Chelimsky cut his teeth playing Jazz on the Guitar in Chicago in the 1980s and 90s. He
first visited Brazil in 2002 where he fell in love with the Samba and Choro that he heard in small
clubs in Rio and São Paulo, leading him to make the Cavaquinho his main instrument. Today,
David organizes Choro jam sessions in Chicago, and plays regularly with his band, Choroscope
which includes Jim Barbick on the flute and Heitor Garcia on percussion.
first visited Brazil in 2002 where he fell in love with the Samba and Choro that he heard in small
clubs in Rio and São Paulo, leading him to make the Cavaquinho his main instrument. Today,
David organizes Choro jam sessions in Chicago, and plays regularly with his band, Choroscope
which includes Jim Barbick on the flute and Heitor Garcia on percussion.
Geoffrey Lowe
Geoffrey Lowe is a versatile bassist who spent his formative years in Colorado, playing violin,
guitar, piano, and bass before making Chicago his creative hub. In the years since then, he has
toured Europe, performing with both jazz and classical groups. He has shared the stage with a
wide range of artists ranging from Ben E. King, Lynda Carter, and Ginger Baker to The Shirelles,
and The Platters. He has recorded with David Sanborn, Danny Brubeck, Chris Botti, Howard Levy
and many others. Highlights of his career include performances at the London Palladium, the
Chicago Jazz Festival, the International Cultural Festival (in Hue, Vietnam), and the Spoletto
Music Festival in Italy.
guitar, piano, and bass before making Chicago his creative hub. In the years since then, he has
toured Europe, performing with both jazz and classical groups. He has shared the stage with a
wide range of artists ranging from Ben E. King, Lynda Carter, and Ginger Baker to The Shirelles,
and The Platters. He has recorded with David Sanborn, Danny Brubeck, Chris Botti, Howard Levy
and many others. Highlights of his career include performances at the London Palladium, the
Chicago Jazz Festival, the International Cultural Festival (in Hue, Vietnam), and the Spoletto
Music Festival in Italy.
Jim Barbick
Jim Barbick, is a dynamic saxophonist, flutist, composer, and arranger. He honed his craft at
DePauw University, the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and DePaul University.
His His main teachers include Randy Salman, Rick VanMatre, Pat Harbison, Peter
Ballin and David Bloom. He has shared the stage with variety of artists at venues that
include the Green Mill, the House of Blues, Constellation, Andy’s Jazz Club, and the Jazz
Showcase as well as the Goodman Theatre, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In addition
to performing, Jim is a dedicated music educator having taught music at Whitney M. Young
Magnet High School over the past ten years.
DePauw University, the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and DePaul University.
His His main teachers include Randy Salman, Rick VanMatre, Pat Harbison, Peter
Ballin and David Bloom. He has shared the stage with variety of artists at venues that
include the Green Mill, the House of Blues, Constellation, Andy’s Jazz Club, and the Jazz
Showcase as well as the Goodman Theatre, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In addition
to performing, Jim is a dedicated music educator having taught music at Whitney M. Young
Magnet High School over the past ten years.
Heitor Garcia
Heitor Garcia is a Brazilian drummer based in Chicago, who began his musical journey in Brazil
at "Milton Nascimento, Wagner Tiso’s Música de Minas” and “The Music Conservatory of Minas
Gerais.” His early music experience as a performer started on live T.V. shows, radio programs,
theaters, and tours playing rock, jazz and Brazilian popular music around the country. In
Chicago he has worked with groups such as Jazzmineiro and the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra.
He has performed and recorded with artists that include Grazyna Auguscik, Lilian Terry, Luciano
Antonio, Howard Levy, Sergio Assad, Paulinho Garcia and many others. He was part of
the "Immigrants Unsettle Solutions" on Chicago’s WTTW and performed in the “50th
anniversary of Bossa Nova” at Millennium Park with the group "Made in Chicago" with João
Donato, Robertinho Silva and Luis Alves, under the music direction of Paulinho Garcia.
at "Milton Nascimento, Wagner Tiso’s Música de Minas” and “The Music Conservatory of Minas
Gerais.” His early music experience as a performer started on live T.V. shows, radio programs,
theaters, and tours playing rock, jazz and Brazilian popular music around the country. In
Chicago he has worked with groups such as Jazzmineiro and the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra.
He has performed and recorded with artists that include Grazyna Auguscik, Lilian Terry, Luciano
Antonio, Howard Levy, Sergio Assad, Paulinho Garcia and many others. He was part of
the "Immigrants Unsettle Solutions" on Chicago’s WTTW and performed in the “50th
anniversary of Bossa Nova” at Millennium Park with the group "Made in Chicago" with João
Donato, Robertinho Silva and Luis Alves, under the music direction of Paulinho Garcia.