Nate Lepine
TENOR SAX MAN NATE LEPINE, WHO’S BEEN A GO-TO GUY FOR CHICAGO JAZZ AND ROCK ENSEMBLES FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES, PROVES HE’S NO SHRINKING VIOLET ON HIS FIRST SOLO RELEASE. HE COMPOSED ALL THE TUNES ON “QUARTET: VORTICES” AND HIRED AN ENSEMBLE OF PLAYERS WHO ARE ALL BANDLEADERS THEMSELVES: NICK MAZZARELLA (ALTO SAX), CLARK SOMMERS (ACOUSTIC BASS) AND QUIN KIRCHNER (DRUMS). WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVERREACH, IN FACT OVERWHELMS.
Swäm
Swäm is a vibrant artist from Chicago who should be at the top of your “Artist to Watch” list. From the underground scene to esteemed venues like Golden Dagger, formerly known as Tonic Room, and the renowned Empty Bottle (where he performed alongside Shabazz Palaces and LALA LALA for packed rooms), Swäm’s musical journey has been marked by authenticity and vitality.
Describing his sound as alternative rap with influences ranging from Gorillaz to Kanye West, Swäm’s music defies classification, merging elements of electric pop, indie rock, and the 2016 Soundcloud era rap into a captivating and distinctive harmonic journey.
