Musicality of Poetry Festival VII: Denise La Grassa

Denise La Grassa ?is a singer of serious jazzy talent and an artful writer?. That?s how Rick Kogan from The Chicago Tribune describes the dynamo who has rocked houses from Chicago to Edinburgh with her one wonman performance BITE. La Grassa has appeared on the BBC live concert music program ?The Usual Suspects? an she made a cameo performance on CBS Television?s ?Bonnie? (starring Bonnie Hunt and produced by David Letterman).

La Grassa also served as a host of ?Wild Chicago? seen locally on WTTW (PBS). Tonight, Denise will be performing pieces from her new show UPSTAIRS with music composed and performed by Jim Gailloreto (saxophonist/composer), Ken Haebich (bassist/composer0 and La Grassa. ?Upstairs? is an esoteric comedy, composed of poetry, theater and original jazz music. It explores our various illustrations of fulfillment through a humorous medley of characters, each striving to get on the guest list to the ?Upstairs? party. He live show is awe-inspiring. She manages to weave in and out of the musical composition with authority and attitude.

Saxophonist Jim Gailloreto, a native Chicagoan, is equally at home with Jazz, Blues, Fusion or Funk. As a soloist he has performed with the Chicago String Ensemble, symphony of the Shores and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. He has worked with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Kurt Elling, Diane Shurr, Gladys Knight, Mel Torme and others. Jim is currently on faculty at Roosevelt University teaching Improvisation and Jazz Saxophone studies.

Ken Haebich studies composition with the internationally acclaimed Panamanian composer Rouge Cordero. As a bassist, he has accompanied many legendary musicians including Ray Charles, Mel Torme and others. He is also the band leader of the all-star ensemble NUMBERS. He has composed works for, and has performed and recorded with the Brian Gephart- Bob Long Quartet. He often collaborates with avant-garde composer Andre Caporaso.