JODI JEAN AMBLE traces her artistic roots to theater and then musical theater and opera. A classically trained vocalist, Jodi found her way into modern genres including jazz, country, rockabilly, bossa nova and pop. Through this journey, Jodi felt the deepest connection to expressing narratives through song and rhythm. Upon this foundation, Jodi learned to tell her most personal narrative through her original musical composition. In 2009, Jodi assembled a cadre of some of Chicago’s finest musicians to complement her veracious tone and subtle poetry. Today, the JODI JEAN BAND brings their talent and passion to standards and originals performing all over Chicago and the Midwest.
THE PLAYERS:
AYLON SAMOUHA (guitar) has been playing jazz, bossa nova, and blues guitar for the past 15 years in New York and Chicago. He studied with the late Ted Greene in Los Angeles and Gene Bertoncini in New York. In 2008, Aylon launched his first LP, "The Rockwell Sessions" which showcases his solo guitar in addition to group work. In Chicago, Aylon performs with a talented community of musicians in various formats including vocal/guitar duos and Brazilian ensembles.
JOE SONNEFELDT (vibraphone) spends most of his time performing, recording, and teaching music around Chicago and the Midwest. He has played vibraphone, steel drum and percussion for many area bands including Poi Dog Pondering, Suenos, Hurricane Gumbo and Fareed Haque. Joe occasionally plays in the pit orchestras for Broadway shows that come to town such as Wicked, The Lion King and The Addams Family Musical.
BRETT BENTELER, (bass) is classically trained on the double bass, but his musical background includes Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Jazz. He has traveled North and South America, as well as the Caribbean and Europe, as a performer and educator. In his native Chicago, Brett has earned the privilege of playing alongside many of the city’s finest musicians of all disciplines.
JANET CRAMER (drums/percussion) is a versatile drummer and percussionist with experience in many different music genres and styles. Janet has performed with numerous Chicago Blues musicians, including the late Chico Banks, Linsey Alexander, Big Time Sarah, and Liz Mandeville and the Blue Points. In the jazz and Latin jazz genre, she has performed with Grupo Cha Cha, Sally Station and Xumapao. She is a member of the Afro-Cuban folkloric ensemble, Toque Chicago and leads an all-woman Latin jazz quartet, Chi Chi’s Cha Cha.
