The middle of winter is upon us, and chances are you are suffering from a little cabin fever. Well, I have some hot shows that will cheer you up. On Saturday, Feb. 20th, The Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra will be holding its premiere concert!

The CVJO seeks to provide educational jazz experiences in a community big band setting. Among the members are many of the finest jazz musicians in the Chippewa Valley, including full-time performers, music educators, and others with a passion for the art of the big band. This substantial collection of talent makes it possible for the band to tackle a wide variety musical styles and eras, and their concerts will reflect both the traditions that are the underpinnings of jazz and the works of more modern composers. The Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra makes a consistent effort to include works by regional composers and arrangers, including premiers of new works by local musicians.

Go to the Chippewa Valley Cultural Association website for ticket info.

After taking a 3 month break, Duncan Ninja funk band is back! We have a bunch of shows lined up this year. Check out our all ages show at the Grand Little Theatre on Feb. 27th!

Duncan Ninja, voted one of the “Best New Bands” in the Chippewa Valley, is a funk group comprised of two suave singers, five hot horns, and a ripe rhythm section. They play music by artists such as Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, KC & the Sunshine Band, and more. Several members of the group play in other bands around the area, including The Eau Claire Blues All-Stars, The Walk/Klenz Jazz Sextet, Meridene, and The Procrastinators.

Remember that the mobile version of JeffWalk.com is easily accessible from your touch-based smartphone or iPod Touch. Just type JeffWalk.com into your device’s web browser and the mobile format of JeffWalk.com will be at your fingertips! To view the site in its full, web-based format, simply scroll to the bottom the page and turn the mobile theme to “off.” You can also bookmark the site and add an icon right to your phone’s home screen!

Also, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter! By keeping up to date with my tweets, you’ll be reminded of upcoming shows and other worth while experiences that deserve micro-blogging.

Now it’s even easier to follow JeffWalk.com right from your iPhone, iPod, or other smart phones. The developers at Brave New Code have designed an application, based on Apple’s App Store design specs, that connects you to JeffWalk.com right from your mobile touch device with the simple tap of an icon! Just type JeffWalk.com into your device’s web browser and the mobile format of JeffWalk.com will be at your fingertips! To view the site in its full, web-based format, simply scroll to the bottom the page and turn the mobile theme “off”. You can also bookmark the site and add an icon right to your phone’s home screen!

A few months ago I recorded a project with the Twin Cities Horns, and the album has been released. The artist’s name is Tonia Hughes, and the album is entitled “I’m Ready Now.” Tonia has a absolutulety beautiful voice, so go to her website and get the album! Here is a sample of one of the tracks I play on, it’s called “Fire”.

“The song lyrics are poignant and powerful – born out a series of loss experienced by Hughes over recent years. However, what should have left her broken and in despair brought forth a sound that is incomparable to anything that she has recorded or performed to date!”

Fire- Tonia Hughes

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Here is a local TV spot of the Red Parrot Big Band. I perform with this fabulous big band every Tuesday night from 8-10 p.m.

This video link is currently down! Scroll down to check out other great vids & happenings at jeffwalk.com!

Times are a busy! I have been very fortunate to collaberate with some faboulus musicians and play with some new and exciting groups. One of those groups is South Farwell, recently voted “Best New Band” by entertainment and culture magazine, Volume One, in their “Best of The Chippewa Valley 2009″ poll. You can buy the band’s debut album -Tear Everything Down – at digstation.com. The video below was taken during a special Labor Day event to help promote the new Back Stage Concert Series.

At the Back Stage Concert Series, the bands, the audience, and the bar are all right on the State Theatre stage among the bricks, rigging, and lights — a space theater patrons rarely get to see. The usual auditorium is curtained off to create a unique back-stage environment where music lovers of all ages can gather to see performances from some of the best Chippewa Valley bands. Join us and experience a fresh take on live music.

I’m also part of another great band called Duncan Ninja, which placed third in the “Best New Band” category in the same poll. Duncan Ninja is a recently formed funk group comprised of two suave singers, five hot horns, and a ripe rhythm section. They play music by Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, KC & the Sunshine Band, and more.

I also had the opportunity to play with legendary drummer Butch Miles with the Saint Croix Jazz Orchestra in the Twin Cities. Butch made a name for himself as the drummer for the Count Basie Orchestra from 1975-79 & 1997-2007. His bio also includes big band performances with Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dave Brubeck, Lena Horne, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter. By keeping up-to-date with my tweets, you’ll be reminded of upcoming shows and other worth while experiences that deserve micro-blogging.

The Walk/Klenx Jazz Sextet has almost completed the post-production work on our demo, so keep checking back! Downloads will be posted as soon as they are ready! As always, check out my “Upcoming Gigs” roll to the right or click the “Shows” tab above for detailed information on upcoming shows.

Now follow Jeff on Twitter! Keeping up-to-date on Jeff’s tweets will remind you of upcoming shows and other worth while experiences that desevre micro-blogging.

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author’s profile page and delivered to the author’s subscribers who are known as followers.

I will be rejoining Nees & Vos for their next show in New York City at Crash Mansion. It will be great to play with them again! I have been a frequent contributor to the band since its conception, recording tracks for the original EP Nees and Vos, which was released in 2007. Below is a video clip from the show they did at Joe’s Pub in New York this past April. Check them out on iTunes and CD Baby.

Here is a sample of a review by Bootlog ::

Nothing makes for a great summer jam like some blazing horns behind soulful vocals. Add some organ and chances are I’m hooked. Case in point is ‘Pretty Girl’ by Nees and Vos, who tick all the boxes on their disc ‘Extended Play’. This ep would be a great soundtrack for summer nights. I recommend that for the upcoming long weekend you find a porch, open a cold beverage, put on this album and you will be all set.