2020-21 RESIDENT ARTIST BIOS

ERNIE ADAMS

Ernie Adams has been involved in the Chicago/Milwaukee and National "Jingle" scene for the past 25 years. Adams has been involved in over 60 plus recordings, including Ramsey Lewis' 1999 CD "Apassionando" and Nancy Wilson's 2002 CD "Meant to Be." He has appeared on Ramsey's TV show "Legends of Jazz" with Kurt Elling and Al Jarreau. Prior to becoming a Resident Artist for the Jazz Institute of Chicago, he worked from 1995-2003 as a mentor in a program that allowed him to go into Chicago's inner-city high schools to tutor young drummers and percussionists to prepare them for professional gigs and life skills. 

RUBEN P. ALVAREZ

Ruben P. Alvarez is a 2013 Grammy nominated drummer and Latin percussionist. He performs and records on a variety of styles from Blues legend Junior Wells, Walt Disney’s “The Lion King,” to Chicago’s own Patricia Barber and Ramsey Lewis. He currently performs with Chicago’s premiere Latin jazz ensemble, Chevere, the Latin dance band Charangueo, and leads the Sun Sounds Latin Jazz Ensemble. Ruben teaches Latin percussion and drum set at Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University. He directs the Latin Pop rock ensemble at Columbia College Chicago, the Roosevelt University Latin Jazz Ensemble and the Latin Jazz Ensemble at Prairie State College. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Jazz Education Network, the Board of Governors of the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy and as Vice President of the Illinois Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. 

MAGGIE BROWN

Maggie Brown is an accomplished singer, songwriter, actress, producer and educator.  She is said to be “one of the most fiercely committed artists in Chicago” (H. Reich, Chicago Tribune). Maggie Brown embodies a powerful and passionate performance whether she is presenting with her own trio or with Orbert Davis’ full 60 piece Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra.  She has recorded with Abbey Lincoln, Jonathan Butler, Ramsey Lewis, Stevie Wonder and her legendary father Oscar Brown, Jr.  In 1995 Maggie launched her own independent label MagPie Records releasing her first solo project FROM MY WINDOW. The CD was nominated for a Chicago Music Award for Best Jazz CD.  Before his passing, Maggie produced a live concert recording with her father called WE’RE LIVE.  The CD was released internationally, in 2013, on ESP Disk and is available on iTunes.

Mother of three boys, Maggie stays close and works most in her hometown Chicago, where she is called on to bring authenticity and integrity to whatever the job calls for.  Though her upbringing is rooted in jazz, Miss Maggie is comfortable singing various genres including blues, gospel, pop and even rapping with impressive conviction-and flow.  It is hard to put Maggie Brown in a single category or genre. It is, however, easy to see that this seasoned artist is a soulful entertainer- not just another singer. 

PHILIP CASTLEBERRY

Philip Castleberry received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morehouse College and a Master of Music Education Degree from VanderCook College of Music.

For twenty years, Philip directed the award winning Jazz Band at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, also serving as Advanced Placement Music Theory instructor, and Music instructor for the International Bachelorette Program. He was recognized by The Jazz Institute of Chicago as Jazz Educator of the Year in 2010. Upon his retirement from Chicago Public Schools, Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaimed June of 2016 to be Philip A. Castleberry Month in Chicago. Playing acoustic and electric bass, Philip has accompanied acclaimed musicians such as Cab Calloway, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstine, The Nicholas Brothers, The O’Jays, The Drifters, and Little Anthony & the Imperials, to name a few. He has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. His numerous recording credits include Della Reese, The Dells, and a Grammy nominated album with Albertina Walker. Philip continues to perform throughout the Chicagoland area, the United States, and abroad.

VICTOR GARCIA

Grammy-nominated Victor Garcia is a musical force to be reckoned with…

Examiner.com’s Neil  Tesser calls him “one of the most exciting young musicians.” Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich says that he “stands out as an ebullient soloist offering a formidable technique and a radiantly polished tone.” JazzChicago.net’s Brad Walseth regards him as a “young lion trumpeter.”

He’s as versatile as he is creative. His trumpet talent heralds his international acclaim. He sings, plays percussion, and his songwriting, arrangements and charts have led him to professorial positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola  University and the University of Illinois in Chicago.

The lineup of greats he’s performed with speaks for itself: Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Spoon, Monty Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, Victor Manuelle, Nicholas Payton, La India, the Temptations, Steve Turre, BeBe Winans, Tito Puente, Jr., Paquito d’Rivera, Randy Brecker, Branford  Marsalis, and Dr. John. Victor has recorded on dozens of albums, three of them Grammy-nominated. He’s currently on tour with The Isley Brothers and released his debut album, The Grind/The Groove, in 2018.

DARIUS HAMPTON

Darius Hampton is one of the most versatile professionals on the Chicago jazz scene.  He studied the saxophone with Charles “Chip” McNeill and Ron Bridgewater while  earning his MM in Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois. He served as Education  Director for the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and built outreach programs with the Center  for Community Arts Partnerships at Columbia College Chicago. He is a regular  partner of the Jazz Institute of Chicago in the development of the Straight Ahead Jazz  Exchange. He has worked on musical projects with artists such as Jon Faddis, Slide  Hampton, Wycliffe Gordon, Dana Hall, Frank Foster, Garnett Brown, Miguel Zenon,  Etienne Charles and many others. Darius Hampton released his debut album Hear Me in 2015 and has been recorded on numerous other projects. He joined Northwestern  University Jazz Studies faculty in 2019.

THADDEUS TUKES

Thaddeus Tukes is a vibist and journalist from Chicago. He has been showcased at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center in Chicago, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, and a host of other locations throughout the country. He is a graduate of Whitney Young High School, where he received the honor of top vibraphonist in the state, and subsequently graduated Northwestern University, where he studied Jazz Vibraphone and Piano, and journalism. A child of Chicago's music programs, Tukes was a teaching apprentice for the After School Matters Gallery37 Summer Jazz Big Band, and was a member of the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Links Student Council. Tukes is a recipient of the Vivian G Harsh Society's Emerging Artist Award, and is also a Luminarts Jazz Fellow. He has released two CDs, Vibes and Thad's Groove.