Description
Dates and Times:
Saturday‚ September 5th • Kick off party at Drömhus at 6PM
Sunday‚ September 6th • Jazz on Jefferson Festival from 12PM to 9:15PM (see details below) • Afterparty and Open Jam at MUSE from 9:30 to 11:30PM
Venue: Stages located inside MUSE Sturgeon Bay and in the lot next door.
Directions: 330 Jefferson Street, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 54235. On the corner of Third Avenue and Jefferson Street in downtown Sturgeon Bay.
Phone: 920-333-2859
Email: tickets@musesturgeonbay.com
About Jazz On Jefferson:
On September 6th, the heart of Sturgeon Bay will come alive with rhythm, flavor, and connection as Muse and Drömhus present Jazz on Jefferson, a vibrant celebration of music, community, and curated local culture.
The festivities begin with an intimate Kick-Off Party on Saturday, September 5th at Drömhus at 5pm, where guests are invited to gather, unwind, and set the tone for a soulful weekend ahead. Known for its warm atmosphere and thoughtfully crafted food and drink, Drömhus will host an evening designed to bring people together through music and shared experience.
The celebration continues on Sunday (the day before Labor Day) with the free main event: Jazz on Jefferson, running from 12:00 PM to 9:15 PM along Jefferson Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. Attendees can expect a full day of live jazz performances, curated artisan vendors, and exceptional food and beverage offerings, all set within the charm and walkability of downtown Sturgeon Bay.
As the sun sets, the music won’t stop. The evening will transition into a ticketed Late Night Open Jam Session and Artist Meet-and-Greet at Muse from 9:30 to 11:30PM, where musicians from across the region are invited to come together for an unforgettable, improvisational, close to the weekend.
Corky Siegel‚ Ernie Watts & Kalyan Pathak Trio (7:50 – 9:15PM)
Corky Siegel (Harmonica‚ Piano) is known internationally as one of the worlds great blues harmonica players, blues pianist, singer-songwriter, and the sole pioneer/composer of award-winning revolutionary works that weave blues and classical forms together. Co-founder of the SIEGEL-SCHWALL BAND, and Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, Corky Siegel has a catalogue of recordings on RCA, Vanguard, Alligator, and million selling blues/classical recordings on the iconic classical label Deutsche Grammophon. His close associations with the blues masters in the earlier days of Chicago blues, his essential part in the blues rock revolution, and his surprising success in bringing together blues and classical audiences make him a pivotal (though inconspicuous) figure in modern music history. “underapreciated national treasure”
Because he was involved in many commercial recording projects from the mid-’70s through the early ’80s and on an occasional basis ever since, some observers wrote Ernie Watts (Saxophone) off prematurely as a pop/R&B tenorman. Actually, Watts’ main hero has always been , and his later work reveals him to be an intense and masterful jazz improviser who has developed his own sheets-of-sound approach along with a distinctive and soulful sound. After attending Berklee, he had an important stint with ‘s big band (1966-1968) before moving to Los Angeles. Watts worked in the big bands of and , recorded with in 1969, and became a staff musician for NBC, performing with the Tonight Show Band on a regular basis. His own records of the 1970s and early ’80s were generally pop-ish (1982’s Chariots of Fire was a big seller), and Watts played frequently with and , in addition to recording with (one of his idols) in 1972. However, Ernie Watts’ work became much more interesting from a jazz standpoint starting in the mid-’80s when he joined and started recording no-nonsense quartet dates for JVC. Ernie Watts has developed into one of the most powerful of tenormen with complete control over his horn and the ability to bring intensity and passion (plus taste) to any musical situation.
Kalyan Pathak (Tabla) is a composer, musician, drummer and a percussion player of a multi cultural experience covering a very vast base. Born in Ahmedabad, India, formally trained, from his age 9 till age 15, in Classical Tabla with Ustad Kader Khan, later an apprenticeship with the most prominent drummer, Mr. Ranjit Barot, brought teenaged Kalyan to Bombay in the mid 80’s. While devoting himself to western drumset, Kalyan concurrently did regular studio session work in Bollywood, and toured all over India playing with jazz and rock music bands.
Kalyan came to Chicago in 1991 on a full scholarship from Roosevelt University earning Bachelor of Music degree with honors, and since has become one of the busiest virtuoso tabla/multi-ethnic percussionists in the country, and has performed with international artists such as, Aretha Franklin, Regis Philbin, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Theordore Bikel, as a soloist with Elgin Symphony Orchestra and San Francisco Ballet, collaborative group member with Fareed Haque, Howard Levy, Fulcrum Point New Music Project.
Fareed Haque Group (6 – 7:20PM)
Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso. Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, his unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation.
Born in 1963 to a Pakistani father and Chilean mother, Fareed’s extensive travels and especially long stays in Spain, France, Iran, Pakistan, and Chile exposed Haque to different kinds of music from a very early age. While this natural eclecticism has become a hallmark of Haque’s music, it was repeated visits to Von Freeman’s Chicago jam sessions that gave Haque a grounding in the Chicago blues and jazz traditions. The 1981 recipient of North Texas State University’s Jazz Guitar Scholarship, Haque spent a year studying with renowned jazz guitarist and pedagogue Jack Peterson. Fareed’s growing interest in the classical guitar led him to transfer to Northwestern University, where he completed his studies in classical guitar under David Buch, John Holmquist, and Anne Waller.
Soon after his transfer to NU, Haque came to the attention of multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy and joined his latin-fusion group Chevere. Thru Levy, Haque was introduced to Paquito D’Rivera and began a long and fruitful relationship with the Cuban NEA Jazz Master. Numerous world tours and recordings including Manhattan Burn, Celebration, Havana Cafe, Tico Tico, Live at the MCG were to follow. Especially notable is the classic and award winning “Reunion” featuring Haque along with Arturo Sandoval, Danilo Perez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Mark Walker, and David Fink.
Thru D’Rivera, Haque was brought to the attention of Sting, who had just begun his record label Pangaea. Sting invited Haque to join the label where he released 2 critically acclaimed recordings, “Voices Rising” and “Manresa”. Haque toured briefly with Sting, including notable appearances at The Montreux Jazz Festival, as well as NBC’s Michelob Presents Sunday Night with David Sanborn, but his own career demands led Haque in other directions.
Son Reis Project (5 – 5:45PM)
2026 WAMI Award Winner for Jazz-Contemporary Performer‚ Son Reis Project is an experimental instrumental trio from the Fox Valley, Wisconsin, led by saxophonist and composer Jason Reisdorf, with Jason Goessl on Bass VI, and Ryan Thomas on drums. The group blends the raw edge of no wave and post-punk with the improvisational freedom of jazz, the weight of prog, and the meditative textures of raga, forging a sound that’s as confrontational as it is deeply expressive.
Built on heavy grooves, fractured melodies, and fearless improvisation, their music channels both chaos and clarity – unapologetically loud, emotionally charged, and sonically adventurous. This is instrumental music for the noise heads, the deep listeners, and anyone drawn to the edge of structure and the heart of sound.
Cool Bay Jazz Quintet (4 – 4:45PM)
Deirdre Fellner (Vocals) is an award winning vocalist, song-writer, session samurai, and first-call free-lance frontman currently residing in Door County, WI. Deirdre masterfully interprets the great Jazz, Soul, and R&B legends with the artistry and musicality granted by a lifetime of study and performing. Deirdre is a musician’s singer, continuing to emulate the masters while passionately presenting a style of her own, and seeking enduring growth & development as a professional musician and person of integrity.
Tim Fox (Trumpet and Piano) graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Music Education. He has played trumpet and/or piano in the Chicago area, around Colorado’s Western Slope, and on the road, with the likes of “The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra,” under the direction of Buddy Morrow, “The Temptations” and “The Four Tops,” Eric Alexander, Ed Soph, Ernie Watts, Red Skelton, Barbara Eden, Connie Francis, Mitzi Gaynor, and with many more. Tim facilitated, with the generous support of Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS,) the Roaring Fork Jazz Workshop, and worked closely with the JAS’s education initiatives. He is currently a freelance musician, living near the Southern Door County, Wisconsin, but still collaborates with musicians from Denver to Grand Junction, and considers himself a member of the Josefina Mendez Jazz trio and Elements Jazz.
Dennis Keith Johnson (Bass) has recorded/performed with bands/artists like Chase, Jim Peterik, Survivor, Software, Dennis DeYoung, Jerry Butler, B.B. King, Larry Carlton, and Paul Wertico. Venues and festivals have included the Newport Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Budokan (Tokyo), and Radio City Music Hall. Founder of the Dennis Keith Experience, his clients include ABC-TV, Abbott, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cellular One, Citibank, CNA, Kraft, Merck, Miller Brewing, Motorola with performances in Maui to Paris France, Jamaica to Boston.
Bill Knipfer (Drums) has been playing percussion since age 14. He has played drums in various club bands in Milwaukee and Chicago. Bill graduated from the Musicians Institute in LA in 1982, played in LA jazz workshops, and studied privately from Gregg Bissionette before moving to Nashville, where he has been for the last 28 years doing demo recordings and playing in various country and jazz bands.
John Lewis (Guitar) has been working as a full-time performing musician/guitarist/bassist/composer for a number of decades now, based, for the most part, out of Des Moines, Miami and Chicago. In 2017, he and his wife moved to Fish Creek and they truly love being up here in the county. Over the years John has been fortunate to have seen a good part of the country and a number of places overseas as a touring sideman. Some of the more iconic venues include The Cavern Club (Liverpool), Paradiso (Amsterdam), Shepherd’s Bush Empire (London), NBC Studios (Rockefeller Plaza, NY) and the Palace Theater (Hollywood, CA). John wrote, published and recorded quite a bit of instrumental music and, more recently, an album of original songwriting entitled Graffiti.
Follow Cool Bay Jazz here.
Daddio (3 – 3:45PM)
DADDIO is a contemporary improvisational group, comprised of some of the most experienced players in WI. Their musical offerings vary from fresh takes on other’s work to original material in a wide range of grooves and styles. DADDIO is a quartet consisting of drummer Tony Wagner, bassist Charlie Sauter, saxophonist/keyboardist/flautist and melodica player Warren Wiegratz, and guitarist/guitar-synthesizer player Scott Derck. The following is an excerpt from an October 2024 interview in the Door County Pulse with Scott Dercks.
Q: How did DADDIO come together?
A: We have all played together in various configurations over the last 30-plus years, but DADDIO officially started after Tony, Tom and I played in a version of a band called The Jazz Orgy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It reminded us how much we enjoyed playing together and encouraged us to start our own project. Charlie was the logical choice to add on as a bassist, because Tony and I had worked with him in a couple bands recently and he’s one of the best bassists around.
Q: DADDIO describes itself as “a contemporary improvisational group.” In layperson’s terms, what does that mean?
A: It’s a clever way of saying “jazz.” The word “jazz” seems to carry some unwanted connotations that limit a band’s ability to get work. One of the most common compliments we get is, “I don’t like jazz, but I like you guys.” Every night, the music is different because we are improvising continuously. We play melodically and energetically, and we want the audience to be part of what is happening – all things that are sometimes lacking in less experienced jazz bands.
Q: What artists inspire DADDIO’s sound?
A: The band has a Yellowjackets vibe, but we also play things from Sting, Stevie Wonder, John Scofield, Steely Dan and David Sanborn. We also do a number of original compositions that are some of our audiences’ favorite tunes.
Q: What’s it like playing music that involves so much improvisation?
A: Improvising well is the result of a lifetime’s work and study. It’s all about the musicians’ ability to listen very intensely and respond instantaneously to what they are hearing. You can’t be thinking about what to play or you’ll miss the moment. You’re on a tightrope with no net. There are times it doesn’t come together as well as you might hope, but when it does – and it does often with this band – it can be almost transcendental.
My favorite part is the creation every night of something new and potentially wondrous. We are playing songs so it isn’t just a cacophony, but beyond the parts that need to be played in order to play the song, you have freedom to express yourself with others in common discourse.
Solomon Lindenberg, Simon Ciaccio & Paul Taylor Trio (2 – 2:45PM)
Solomon Lindenberg is a pianist, composer, improvisor and educator originally from Door County, WI and currently based in Chicago, IL. Solomon can be seen and heard playing in groups around Chicago and the greater midwest including his own trio, the progressive quartet “Folkus,” which he co-leads, as well as with a range of other musicians including Ernest “Khabeer” Dawkins, Ted Sirota, Dustin Laurenzi, Matt Ulery, Katie Ernst and more. He has performed at some of the great midwest jazz venues including the Jazz Showcase, Hungry Brain, Merrimans’ Playhouse, the Jazz Estate, Berlin, and Epiphany Center for the Arts. While mainly an exponent of the jazz tradition, he is also largely influenced by European classical, gospel, folk, rock and avant-garde music, and seeks to weave stories with his playing that incorporates the traditions of the vast range of music he loves.
Simon Ciaccio is a bassist who has developed his craft in Chicago’s jazz scene since the age of 18. His playing is rooted in a sensitive and melodic aesthetic, with a deep understanding and devotion to the roll of the bass. This approach is quickly earning him a reputation in the chicagoland area as a unique voice, and reliable musical collaborator.
Paul Taylor is an able multi-instrumentalist hailing from Memphis, TN. As a jazz drummer, he cut his teeth during his late teens and early 20s working in organ trios and various other combos on world famous Beale Street with many now departed master Memphis jazz musicians and educators. Regarding his concepts on participating in improvisational music he says, “I strive to be an ultra present accompanist for my musical compadres, and to bring vibrancy, urgency and beauty into every musical moment.” Paul relocated to Door County, Wisconsin in 2020, where he quickly became a mainstay on the local music scene
Matt Blair Quartet (1 – 1:45PM)
Matt Blair is a pianist, composer, multimedia artist, and educator living in Madison, Wisconsin. His work draws upon diverse musical traditions such as jazz and improvisation, sound art, minimalism, and electronic music.
Since 2018, Matt has been releasing music on his label, Scribbled Fang Records. Recent releases have included Shadow Sets, a collection of compositions for solo piano that was produced by Dave King (The Bad Plus, Happy Apple), Post Rock Lately, the debut record of Collector, an improvising trio featuring Jakob Heinemann on bass and Devin Drobka on drums and electronics, and Flights and Poor Health Good Spirits, both releases by Big Thanks, a Minneapolis-based Trash House trio featuring Miles Allen on saxophone and clarinet and Jack Lussenden on drums. Other recent releases have included After Party (out on Dinzu Artefacts), the debut record of Yins, an electronic duo with Devin Drobka, and Resorts (out on Shifting Paradigm Records), a piano trio featuring Devin Drobka’s compositions with Aaron Darrell on bass.
The Simsons (12 – 12:45PM)
The Simsons is a weird jazz rock band from Illinois. They make sounds with their instruments such as – guitar sounds, sax sounds, bass sounds, and drums sounds. They like to write and play music sometimes. Therefore they have created this page where you can hear it! Congratulations you are listening to The Simsons (Famous hits include Evenger’s Theme, Ode To Plooey, and other stuff).
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