James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band

Chris Smith (trombone) leader
Dave Kosmyna (cornet)
Chris Tabaczynski (clarinet, saxophone)
Andrew Bishop (saxophone, clarinet)
Rod McDonald (guitar, banjo)
Joe Fee (string bass)
Mike Karloff (piano)
Pete Siers (drums)

GDJS is honored to present a musical celebration of much-revered jazz pianist, composer and scholar, James Dapogny, whose legacy and passion for the origins of early jazz continues to inspire musicians and audiences today. This special tribute concert features a stellar ensemble of jazz artists and members of Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band performing Dapogny’s spirited arrangements. With timeless classics and joyful energy, the program captures the heart of Jim’s artistry and influence. Join us for an afternoon of stellar music arranged by a master, performed by his masterful friends.

James Dapogny (1940-2019) was a powerful, sophisticated and inventive jazz pianist, as well as an internationally-recognized bandleader, composer, arranger, historian and educator.

While his wide-ranging work in music would take pages to summarize, many people knew James Dapogny as the leader of his Chicago Jazz Band, an ensemble devoted to performing the music of the first fifty years of jazz. Founded in 1976, the group toured across forty-four states and Canada for more than thirty years. Among their numerous acclaimed recordings was a Grammy-nominated album from 1982 backing vocalist Sippie Wallace, who once employed Louis Armstrong as a sideman. Backing Wallace on tour, the band opened for Bonnie Raitt and appeared on national television via the Merv Griffin and David Letterman shows. The band also opened for Benny Goodman in 1986, for one of his last performances.