Featured Guest Artists
Sunday Nights at Peabody's at 9:30pm

Upcoming Performances

Stephen Cooper began the study of the saxophone in 1987 at the age of 12. After two years of formal study, he began studying jazz after attending the University of Wisconsin Green Bay summer jazz camp. While still in high school, he delved into the works of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Michael Brecker. During his senior year of high school (1994), Stephen performed with the Fond du Lac Goodrich High School marching band for a Green bay Packers half time show, was a featured soloist with the school's concert band during its successful Mexico tour, and also held the position of lead alto in the 1994 Wisconsin State Honors Jazz Band, one of only two seats for the entire state. Upon high school graduation and prior to entering college, Stephen held the lead alto chair for the UWGB Jazz 1 ensemble for its tour of Europe, which included performances at the world famous Monteaux Jazz Fest in Montreaux, Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Fest in Den Haag, Netherlands.

The fall of 1994 began Stephen's attendance to the University of Wisconsin Green Bay towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies. While there, he had the opportunity to perform along with many jazz greats, including Joshua Redman, David Leibman, Nelson Rangell, and Bryan Lynch. It was during this time that Stephen's professional career really began to pick up as well. He began performing with The Groove Hogs at the age of 17, a blues based horn band that he still performs with today. With them, he has performed at countless blues festivals in the U.S. and Canada, including the London, Ontario Bluesfest and the Windsor, Ontario Bluesfest, where they opened for guitar legend Buddy Guy on consecutive nights, for crowds of 8,500 and 13,700 people respectively. It was during this time that Stephen began to sing lead vocals professionally. Taking what he had learned from his training on the saxophone, he began singing songs by R&B greats such as Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder. Progressing with time, Stephen has recently begun singing songs in the vocal style of King Pleasure.

Over the years, he has had the opportunity to also open for Kool and The Gang, Three Dog Night, The Beach Boys, Hootie and The Blowfish, Canned Heat, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bob Newhart, Walter Trout, Little Milton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mountain, Common, Steppenwolf, Rod Piazza, Debra Coleman, Eddie King, Tabenoi, Janiva Magness, Survivor, America, Fountains of Wayne, Douglas Spotted Eagle, Blair and Herman's Hermits. He has had the chance to play or sit in with: Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Brian Lee, Larry McCray, John Lee Hooker Jr., Unity, Hot Sauce, Big Poppa Boogie, Big Mouth, Soul System, Aja, Rockin' Jimmy and the Blues Weasels, East Side Earl and The West Side Horns, Clambake, The Presidents, Unified Soul, The Sweet Baby Rays and the Groove Merchants among others.

The more recent years have already seen much success for Stephen, as he has taken on a larger role of booking The Jazz Orgy, along with being nominated for a WAMI award for the Reeds/Brass category. He has just recently attended the exclusive saxophone masterclass with David Liebman in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He continues to press forward, writing and performing throughout the United States.

Evan Christian is a recording artist, music producer, world traveler, and an award winning flamenco guitarist. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Evan Christian discovered the guitar as a teenager, and without formal instruction has progressed to become one of the most dynamic and sought after solo performers in the world. In 2005 Evan released his debut cd "Fuego", a nuevo flamenco cd which won him international acclaim. Also in 2005, Evan Christian went to Spain to study flamenco and to promote his cd, and in the process, collaborated and performed with some of Spain's top flamenco players. In 2007 Evan Christian was voted Best Acoustic Musician by the readers of the Shepherd Express in Milwaukee WI. In 2008 Evan Christian won a WAMI AWARD for "Guitarist Of The Year" In 2008 Evan Christian was voted one of Milwaukee's Hottest 100 by the readers of OnMilwaukee.com Evan Christian has been featured in Milwaukee Magazine, Black Emerge, The Shepherd Express, M Magazine, INFO Magazine, Ya Heard Magazine, Milwaukee Scene, and MKE Wired. In 2008 Evan Christian released his sophmore cd entitled " The Mosaic vol. 1" a stark contrast to his first cd " Fuego ". The Mosaic vol.1 features the international hit singles " Lovers Be ", "Breakdown", and " Bulerias del Barrio ". It is a collection of songs written within the last 8 years of his career in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Mosaic vol. 1 also features accompaniment from his band " The Original Gangsters" featuring Milwaukee legends Cecilio Negron Jr ( congas ) Cory Coleman ( bass ) and Olen Franklin ( drums ). It is a mixture of timeless latin, soul, and R&B . As a music producer, Evan Christian has collaborated with Milwaukee artists Cincere, Ren, Element Everest, Joe Jordan, Damion Thompson, Kris Crow, Ryan Jeffreys, Ray Nitti, and DJ Eleazar Maldonado. Evan Christian has performed 2 international tours with Cincere for the Armed Forces Entertainment which took him to Kyrgyztan, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. As a solo artist, Evan Christian has performed in New York, Chicago, Madison, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Madrid, Valencia, Valdepenas, Cadiz, Granada, Sevilla, La Coruna, Mazagòn, San Sebastian, Logrono, Tolousse, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Aalborg, Copenhagen, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Brussels, Glastonbury, Bristol, Cardiff, Somerset and Budapest....all in the last year. Evan has recently completed a European Tour of Spain - France - Belgium - Holland- Denmark -Poland- Czeck Republic - Austria - Germany - UK - Hungary and is finishing production on his 3rd abum entitled 4LIFE - recorded on the road all over Europe and the UK. For Booking please leave a detailed message here.

The Jerabeks are the driving force behind Copper Box, a band based in Wisconsin that masterfully delivers the sweet sounds of the bayou ("accordion-swamp-rock") to unsuspecting northerners. The music has a variety of root influences including cajun, country, rock, polka, zydeco, blues, and Tex-Mex, all infused with pure, raw emotion. It brings people together to have a good time watching and listening to musicians that love to make music.

One can only imagine the music that will be created when the Jerabeks join forces with the Jazz Orgy. Danny Jerabek is bringing his trumpet (and/or cornet) and hopefully his button-box, and Michelle Jerabek will bring her tenor saxophone, and if we are lucky she will bring her boisterous baritone saxophone. We may even hear the nefarious Dave Jerabek thumping bass lines on Andy Merten's upright bass or perhaps a Sousaphone -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousaphone.

Rick Maki (Xylophone, Vibes, Percussion, Vocals) - “Xylo Conundrum” as he is so affectionately called by Marblehead, has been a staple in the music scene around the Fox Valley for many, many years. He has played in a variety of rock, blues and jazz bands and sits in wherever needed. He has most recently played with Blues Pool and now is a regular with Tin Sandwich and Marblehead Giles and the Blues Busters. He can also be seen on a somewhat regular basis playing with the long-running Jazz Orgy, held Sunday evenings at Peabodys.

Evan Christian is a recording artist, music producer, world traveler, and an award winning flamenco guitarist. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Evan Christian discovered the guitar as a teenager, and without formal instruction has progressed to become one of the most dynamic and sought after solo performers in the world. In 2005 Evan released his debut cd "Fuego", a nuevo flamenco cd which won him international acclaim. Also in 2005, Evan Christian went to Spain to study flamenco and to promote his cd, and in the process, collaborated and performed with some of Spain's top flamenco players. In 2007 Evan Christian was voted Best Acoustic Musician by the readers of the Shepherd Express in Milwaukee WI. In 2008 Evan Christian won a WAMI AWARD for "Guitarist Of The Year" In 2008 Evan Christian was voted one of Milwaukee's Hottest 100 by the readers of OnMilwaukee.com Evan Christian has been featured in Milwaukee Magazine, Black Emerge, The Shepherd Express, M Magazine, INFO Magazine, Ya Heard Magazine, Milwaukee Scene, and MKE Wired. In 2008 Evan Christian released his sophmore cd entitled " The Mosaic vol. 1" a stark contrast to his first cd " Fuego ". The Mosaic vol.1 features the international hit singles " Lovers Be ", "Breakdown", and " Bulerias del Barrio ". It is a collection of songs written within the last 8 years of his career in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Mosaic vol. 1 also features accompaniment from his band " The Original Gangsters" featuring Milwaukee legends Cecilio Negron Jr ( congas ) Cory Coleman ( bass ) and Olen Franklin ( drums ). It is a mixture of timeless latin, soul, and R&B . As a music producer, Evan Christian has collaborated with Milwaukee artists Cincere, Ren, Element Everest, Joe Jordan, Damion Thompson, Kris Crow, Ryan Jeffreys, Ray Nitti, and DJ Eleazar Maldonado. Evan Christian has performed 2 international tours with Cincere for the Armed Forces Entertainment which took him to Kyrgyztan, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. As a solo artist, Evan Christian has performed in New York, Chicago, Madison, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Madrid, Valencia, Valdepenas, Cadiz, Granada, Sevilla, La Coruna, Mazagòn, San Sebastian, Logrono, Tolousse, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Aalborg, Copenhagen, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Brussels, Glastonbury, Bristol, Cardiff, Somerset and Budapest....all in the last year. Evan has recently completed a European Tour of Spain - France - Belgium - Holland- Denmark -Poland- Czeck Republic - Austria - Germany - UK - Hungary and is finishing production on his 3rd abum entitled 4LIFE - recorded on the road all over Europe and the UK. For Booking please leave a detailed message here.

Erik Bertaud was born on May 19th, 1967 in Redwood City, California and spent most of his life in the Oakland, California area. He started playing saxophone in school at the age of 9 and was a featured soloist from his first concert throughout high school. At the age of 15 he was playing lead alto in the Chabot College 3rd Jazz Band as well as lead in the Community Concert Band and the 1st Concert Band at the same college.

After graduating high school, he went to study Jazz Theory, History and Performance at Chabot College full time under renowned jazz pianist Frank Sumares. While at Chabot, Erik was a featured soloist and played with such clinicians as: Milt Jackson, the Phil Woods Quintet with Tommy Harrell, the Gary Burton Project, Mondré Moffett and Delfeayo Marsalis, the Larry Vucovich Quartet, the Charlie Shoemake Group, Al "Tootie" Heath on Multiple occasions and many others. It was also during this stretch that Erik became involved with the Bay Area Salsa scene, playing soprano and tenor with Salsa Radianté. While in this band they opened concerts for the Peter Escovedo Orchestra and Tito Puente.

After 4 years at Chabot he seasoned himself by showing up regularly to sessions lead by guitarist Bruce Foreman as well as the jumping East Bay sessions on the Okaland - Berkeley border at the famed "Bird Cage" on 28th and Telegraph avenue where he was a member of the East Bay Jazz Historical Society and was regularly featured along such greats as Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, Bob Porter, John Henderson, E.W. Winwright and Herschel Kennedy among others.

Erik was also involved in the Oakland, CA blues and R&B scene where he regularly played with singer/guitarist/bassist Gail Muldrow (Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station, the Johnny Otis Review and Prince) and the Soul Power Posse along with saxophonist Leroy Harper (James Brown's Band Painted Man Group) and members of Confunkshun, Tony! Toni! Toné!. With Gail Erik also played with notable blues greats such as Curtis Mayfield and Curtis Lawson.

The saxophonist was also a stalwart in the San Francisco Bay Area's "Acid Jazz" scene of the early nineties and sat in regularly with groups such as the Mo'Fessionals, Alphabet Soup and the Charlie Hunter group, He performed in his own band Whatever that played concerts with such groups as Weapon of Choice, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, the Limbomaniacs and Fungo Mungo, He was also fortunate enough to play weekly with the Brian Melvin Trio which included not only drummer Brian Melvin (Jaco Pastorius) but the brilliant and innovative pianist Dred Scott (Alphabet Soup, the Dred Scot Trio) and virtuoso bassist Wilbur Krebbs. This session lasted over a full year.

It was during this time that Erik also recorded with the controversial rapper Paris. He is the featured soloist and horn section player on multiple tracks from the "Sleeping With the Enemy" and "Guerilla Funk" albums. He also recorded on the rap album "Silenced by the Greed".

It was while touring with the Tony Nieto salsa group that he was reunited with renowned and Bammy winning/Grammy nominated trombonist Michael Rinta (Carlos Santana, Avancé) and ended up in the nationally touring R&B group, the Dynatones. Rounding out the "Hi-Fi Horn Section" with Erik Bertaud and Mike Rinta was trumpet/flugel horn player Mike Rose (Todd Rundgren, Lydia Pense & Cold Blood). While touring in the Dynatones Erik played multiple dates at Summerfest, the House of Blues in Chicago, The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Black Diamond on Memphis, Tennesee's famed Beale Street, the Hop in Houston and any other hot spot in any state in the lower 50 states. While touring with the Dynatones they played dates along with Tommy Castro, Otis Clay, Room Full of Blues and Robert Thomas Jr. among many others. During Erik's time with the band they were also the touring band for such great composer/performers as Sir Mac Rice (composer of: Mustang Sally, Cadillac Assembly Line and Cheaper to Keep Her), Syl Johnson (composer of: Take Me to the River and Any Way the Wind Blows) and Buddy Miles.

Erik Bertaud has been living in Green Bay since moving here from Oakland, CA in 1998. He has played with such local groups as Big Mouth (baritone sax), Slick Monkey, Hyptonite, TNT, Cold Hard Cash, the Swingin' Johnsons and Michael's Saints. His new contemporary jazz group WDKY includes drummer James LeFevre, guitarist Tommy Reynolds, Keyboardist/Pianist Dennis Vandenberg and bassist Justin Zopel. He has recently been featured alongside highly acclaimed and award winning local saxophonist Steve Cooper in Wisconsin's premier jazz group, the Jazz Orgy.

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