Benefit Concert

Vocalists: Daniel Riley, Matt Bowker, Lisa Bowker, and Angel Underhill

Sponsors will have their name and amount of sponsorship listed in a program distributed at the concert and on our website.  We are seeking sponsorship contributions at levels of $250, $500 and $1,000.

Dan has performed in professional and community venues all over Chicago and the suburbs, including Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolis Performing Arts Center and Court Theatre. A lifelong resident of Chicago, he studied at Roosevelt University. As a member of the band The Embraceables, Dan released an album (Stories, 2010) and performed in twelve cities as part of a twelve-stop tour to New York. He regularly sings with the Schola Cantorum Cathedralis at Holy Name Cathedral, and can be heard on Voices on the Dark Side’s a capella Dark Side of the Moon (VOCOMOTION Records, 2006). Most recently, Daniel appeared in the ensemble of Paramount Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd. He is currently appearing in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at the American Blues Theater in Chicago.

Matt Bowker (Singer)

David Onderdonk  (Guitarist) 

In 1976, David started his career as a classical guitarist. From 1978-1980 he gave concerts in Europe, Central and South America, and throughout the United States as a Modern Dance accompanist. He moved to Chicago in 1980 and began making connections in the Jazz community working in various Jazz clubs around the city including Andy’s, The Green Mill, and The Jazz Showcase.

Between 1984 and 1985 he released two albums on Quaver Records (“Close Call” & “Lookout”). This CD received a four star review in Downbeat Magazine. In 1996 he was a featured guitarist in JAZZIZ magazine for their “Guitars on Fire” issue. His studio recording work includes CD’s, TV jingles, documentaries (A&E with Bill Kurtis), and a movie soundtrack (“Off The Map”). In 2005 he released an album of Renaissance guitar music as an independent project.

He has played and/or recorded with Michael Feinstein, Kurt Elling (three Grammy nominated albums), The Lakeside Singers, Fareed Haque, Terry Callier, Grazyna Auguscik, Fred Simon, and Marlene Rosenberg. He has also appeared on recordings with Pharoah Sanders, Mavis Staples, Cassandra Wilson, Mike Stern, Howard Levy, Paul Wertico, and Paul McCandless among others. He is currently a member of the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective.

Bobby Schiff (Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Pianist, Producer )

On the Chicago and Los Angeles music scenes for over 35 years, Bobby Schiff has led orchestras and bands, performed on piano and keyboards, directed, composed and arranged for and with the best. Mel Torme, Peggy Lee and Bobby Rydell, are just a few of the premiere entertainers and musicians he’s worked with in the U.S. and internationally. He has recently returned from Wayne Newton’s overseas Thanksgiving 2001 USO tour, accompanying Ruth Pointer.

Several years in Los Angeles provided feature film and television opportunities in composing and arranging. Playing in L.A. record studio recording sessions with such greats as Marvin Hamlisch and Jerry Goldsmith, kept up his performance “chops”.

On a day to day basis, Bobby is working primarily in Chicago as one of the nation’s premier vocal arrangers and accompanists. Playing, arranging and producing albums for numerous independent artists; he also performs with his own jazz trio at several Chicago venues.

Andy Tecson (Saxophonist)

Andy has led the ChurchJazz ensemble since 1982. The ChurchJazz band has been heard internationally on the BBC, nationally on CBS and performed at numerous churches and church assemblies throughout the United States.  While studying at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, he toured with jazz and pop bands throughout Germany, including Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, Stuttgart and Bayreuth. Upon returning to Chicago, he performed with Steve Goodman, Howard Levy and Jump in the Saddle. In 2016 he performed his Chicago Jazz Mass  in Berlin. Andy composed the Jazz Passion along with Bobby Lewis and Bobby Schiff, with a libretto by David Abrahamson.  The Jazz Passion was performed in Chicago, New York, Leipzig, Berlin and Slovakia in 2017.

www.churchjazz.com