DONOVAN'S HARD-BOP QUARTET
Donovan’s “Hard-Bop” Quartet—Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Theodis Rodgers, Jr.—Jazz Organ
A Chicago-based jazz pianist & organist, Theo is currently performing as the pianist/conductor for Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Tour. He has served as pianist/conductor for theater productions such as “Ain’t Misbehavin” and "Jesus Christ Superstar” and composed and arranged music for film. Theo has appeared in motion pictures as a performer with film credits that include “A Family Thing” and “Indecent Proposal.” He has taught at colleges in Chicago including instruction in electronic music synthesis at Columbia College and jazz piano at Harold Washington College and Kennedy King College. Performing in China, he conducted master classes at the Beijing Contemporary Music Institute.
Ernie Adams—Drums
A Chicago-based drummer with an international reputation, Ernie Adams has toured and made recordings in 48 different countries. Over the course of his career, he has performed with a Who’s Who of jazz artists including vocalists Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Joe Williams, trumpeters Clark Terry, Arturo Sandoval, Orbert Davis, saxophonists Stanley Turrentine, James Moody, Benny Golson, trombonists Slide Hampton, Wycliff Gordon, pianists Ramsey Lewis, Ahmad Jamal, Joe Zawinul, guitarists Al DiMeola, Russell Malone, John Pizzarelli, bassists Rufus Reid, Buster Williams, Anthony Jackson and countless others. Ernie is on over 200 recordings including television, film and radio spots. As a music instructor, Ernie has taught at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois University and at Northwestern University. He also is currently in his 29th year as a Ravinia Jazz Mentor, working with high school jazz students throughout the Chicago Public School system. He is also an instructor for Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the Jazz Institute of Chicago. His two musical rhythmic courses are beginning to garner attention internationally. www.ernieadamsmusic.com.
Fred Jackson, Jr.—Saxophone
Chicago’s Fred Jackson, Jr. is a jazz fusion saxophonist and flutist who studied at Southern University in Baton Rouge where he was taught by the world renowned jazz clarinetist, Alvin Batiste. Fred has recorded with Earth, Wind, & Fire; Jimmy Smith, Bobby Hutcherson, and Solomon Burke. He played saxophone for the Ken Burns documentary “Baseball.” Over the course of his long career, Fred has been a sideman for such legends of music as BB. King, Boz Scaggs, Carole King, Gladys Knight, Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa and hundreds more. Fred credits his base in Chicago with giving him the opportunity to play all types of music including House, Funk, Jazz, and many other genres. A special interest has been exploration of the music of Cuba, culminating in a visit to Cuba with the “Hot House”in 2017. Working with his publishing label, Spacetronic Music, he performs with Magic Carpet (Chicago) and AACM’s Great Black Music Ensemble. He holds the title of Dean of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) School which provides free training for disadvantaged youth.
Donovan Mixon— Guitar
Ambidextrous crossover artist, guitarist, author, NEA fellow, former Berklee College of Music professor and self described citizen of the world, Donovan Mixon has lived in Chicago for the past 14 years performing in clubs, concert halls and festivals with his group Hybrid Project Chicago as well with the GBME - Great Black Music Ensemble of the AACM of which he became an inductee in January 2023. “Donovan’s Garage,” a unique performance laboratory, is the latest innovation in his multifaceted career. Before Chicago, he lived abroad for eighteen years as a freelance performing artist, clinician and college professor (Istanbul Bilgi University, University of Bologna), performer at major jazz festivals (Umbria, Monticello, Istanbul, Ankara) and as a clinician at educational institutions (B.A.U. - Istanbul, C.E.U. - Budapest, Shanghai American School – China, School of the Arts Singapore). Perhaps the apex of his academic career occurred when Advance Music published his critically acclaimed music text Performance Ear Training. In 2019, he released We Play When We Play, a compilation of tracks from two previous recordings, Look Ma, No Hands! recorded by his Boston band featuring saxophonist George Garzone and Language of the Emotions, his Milan quartet that featured Eddie Henderson on trumpet. December of 2020 marked the release of his latest single, It’s Been Good, on bandcamp.com. Mixon also appears on the CD recording Free With Lee with the great alto saxophonist Lee Konitz for Philology Records. Donovan Mixon has penned several short stories and is the author of the award winning novel Ahgottahandleonit, published in 2017 by Cinco Puntos Press.
Theodis Rodgers, Jr.—Jazz Organ
A Chicago-based jazz pianist & organist, Theo is currently performing as the pianist/conductor for Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Tour. He has served as pianist/conductor for theater productions such as “Ain’t Misbehavin” and "Jesus Christ Superstar” and composed and arranged music for film. Theo has appeared in motion pictures as a performer with film credits that include “A Family Thing” and “Indecent Proposal.” He has taught at colleges in Chicago including instruction in electronic music synthesis at Columbia College and jazz piano at Harold Washington College and Kennedy King College. Performing in China, he conducted master classes at the Beijing Contemporary Music Institute.
Ernie Adams—Drums
A Chicago-based drummer with an international reputation, Ernie Adams has toured and made recordings in 48 different countries. Over the course of his career, he has performed with a Who’s Who of jazz artists including vocalists Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Joe Williams, trumpeters Clark Terry, Arturo Sandoval, Orbert Davis, saxophonists Stanley Turrentine, James Moody, Benny Golson, trombonists Slide Hampton, Wycliff Gordon, pianists Ramsey Lewis, Ahmad Jamal, Joe Zawinul, guitarists Al DiMeola, Russell Malone, John Pizzarelli, bassists Rufus Reid, Buster Williams, Anthony Jackson and countless others. Ernie is on over 200 recordings including television, film and radio spots. As a music instructor, Ernie has taught at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois University and at Northwestern University. He also is currently in his 29th year as a Ravinia Jazz Mentor, working with high school jazz students throughout the Chicago Public School system. He is also an instructor for Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the Jazz Institute of Chicago. His two musical rhythmic courses are beginning to garner attention internationally. www.ernieadamsmusic.com.
Fred Jackson, Jr.—Saxophone
Chicago’s Fred Jackson, Jr. is a jazz fusion saxophonist and flutist who studied at Southern University in Baton Rouge where he was taught by the world renowned jazz clarinetist, Alvin Batiste. Fred has recorded with Earth, Wind, & Fire; Jimmy Smith, Bobby Hutcherson, and Solomon Burke. He played saxophone for the Ken Burns documentary “Baseball.” Over the course of his long career, Fred has been a sideman for such legends of music as BB. King, Boz Scaggs, Carole King, Gladys Knight, Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa and hundreds more. Fred credits his base in Chicago with giving him the opportunity to play all types of music including House, Funk, Jazz, and many other genres. A special interest has been exploration of the music of Cuba, culminating in a visit to Cuba with the “Hot House”in 2017. Working with his publishing label, Spacetronic Music, he performs with Magic Carpet (Chicago) and AACM’s Great Black Music Ensemble. He holds the title of Dean of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) School which provides free training for disadvantaged youth.
Donovan Mixon— Guitar
Ambidextrous crossover artist, guitarist, author, NEA fellow, former Berklee College of Music professor and self described citizen of the world, Donovan Mixon has lived in Chicago for the past 14 years performing in clubs, concert halls and festivals with his group Hybrid Project Chicago as well with the GBME - Great Black Music Ensemble of the AACM of which he became an inductee in January 2023. “Donovan’s Garage,” a unique performance laboratory, is the latest innovation in his multifaceted career. Before Chicago, he lived abroad for eighteen years as a freelance performing artist, clinician and college professor (Istanbul Bilgi University, University of Bologna), performer at major jazz festivals (Umbria, Monticello, Istanbul, Ankara) and as a clinician at educational institutions (B.A.U. - Istanbul, C.E.U. - Budapest, Shanghai American School – China, School of the Arts Singapore). Perhaps the apex of his academic career occurred when Advance Music published his critically acclaimed music text Performance Ear Training. In 2019, he released We Play When We Play, a compilation of tracks from two previous recordings, Look Ma, No Hands! recorded by his Boston band featuring saxophonist George Garzone and Language of the Emotions, his Milan quartet that featured Eddie Henderson on trumpet. December of 2020 marked the release of his latest single, It’s Been Good, on bandcamp.com. Mixon also appears on the CD recording Free With Lee with the great alto saxophonist Lee Konitz for Philology Records. Donovan Mixon has penned several short stories and is the author of the award winning novel Ahgottahandleonit, published in 2017 by Cinco Puntos Press.