Flippomusic
Encyclopedia
FLIPPOMUSIC is a contemporary jazz
ensemble based in Chicago
, Illinois
which was formed in 1992 by composer and pianist Dave Flippo
as a vehicle to perform his original compositions and arrangements. The current members include Dave Flippo (piano and vocals), Dan Hesler (saxophones and flute
), Donn De Santo (bass), Heath Chappell (drums) and Aras Biskis (percussion). Its unique approach to jazz and sizable body of original contemporary jazz
compositions gives it a unique place in the Chicago jazz scene.
. The original members of the band included Dave Flippo (keyboards), Dan Hesler (saxophone), Steve Hashimoto (electric bass), Steve Strunk (drums) and John McLean (guitar).The instrumentation was reconfigured in 1993 and the guitar position was replaced by Hamid Drake
on percussion with Aras Biskis taking over the drum chair. The band recorded it’s first CD, Tendril of Light, on the Southport label in 1994 and also won first place in “Winterbreak-Cruise to Chicago” contest, a City of Chicago-sponsored event which won them a booking at the Taste of Chicago
in the same year. Guest artists on Tendrils of Light include Michael Zerang and Ken Gueno on percussion and Donn De Santo on bass.
where he composed two full length musicals and studied techniques for setting lyrics to music. Once he complete this course, he resurrected a project he has begun in 2004, the creation of a set of modern vocal jazz pieces that set various chapters of the Tao Te Ching
– Tao Tunes. After first creating adapted lyrics from various English translations in the public domain, Flippo composed eighteen pieces and completed the set in 2009. Recording began in March 2010, Tao Tunes was completed in June, 2011 and released November 2011. Guest artists include Larry Gray
(cello), Neal Alger (guitar), Hamid Drake (percussion), Mike Levin (Bb and bass clarinet and flute) and Katherine Hughes (violin).
After the recording of Tao Tunes, FLIPPOMUSIC expanded it’s typical program to included music from all four CD’s—the “globaljazz” compositions, the vocal duo pieces and the set of Tao Tunes. The band now offered programs which were purely “globaljazz” but also one which mixed the earlier material with the new vocal compositions.
1994 - DePaul University
Multicultural Festival
1994/1996 - Around The Coyote Art Festival
1994 - Chicago Cultural Center
– live broadcast on WFMT
1995 - Independent Label Festival
1996 – Chicago Symphony Orchestra
“East Meets West Festival”
1996 – Southport Jazz Festival (at the Bop Shop)
1994 - University of Chicago
Jazz Festival
1997 – Oakbrook Summer Concert Series
1998, 2005 – Condordia College Artist Series
1998 – Navy Pier
“World Jazz Festival”
1998 – “After Hours” at the Art Institute of Chicago
1999 – “Jazzin’ at the Shed” – Shed Aquarium
2000 – Southshore Jazz Festival
2003 – Skokie Festival of Cultures
2004 – Brookfield Zoo
Concert Series
2004 – College of Lake County
Artist Series
2004 - Northwestern University
“Lunch on the Lake” Series
2009 – Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival
2010,2008, 2007, 2002, 2001, 2000 – Buffalo, Grove Summer Concert Series.
Summer Fests: Buffalo Grove “Concerts on the Rotary Green” (‘93, ‘94,) Libertyville “Out to Lunch” Series (1995), “Lunch by the Lake” – Northwestern University,
Ganesh – FLIPPOMUSIC (Southport Records, Chicago, IL SSD 0088 ) 2001
When the Heart is Strong, the Voice Rings True – Da Duo Di Flippo De Santo (Oppilf Records, Chicago, IL 1001) 2004
Tao Tunes – FLIPPOMUSIC (Oppilf Records, Chicago, IL 1002) 2011
Mike Smith - guitar
Paul Mertens- saxophones and flute
Pat Mallanger-saxophones
Ken Vandermark
-saxophones
John Boes- saxophones and flute
Cameron Pfiffner – saxophones
Jim Gailloreto - saxophones
Michael Levin- saxophones and flute
Winston Damen (Stone)-percussion
Steve Magnome- drums
Hamid Drake
- percussion
Lewis Ewerling – drums and percussion
Bob Garrett-percussion
Michael Zerang-percussion
Ken Gueno-percussion
Kurt Loeffler-drums
Jim Widlowski-drums
Ted Sirota-drums
Alejandro Cimadoro-bass
Mike Fiorino – bass
Chris Clementi - bass
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
ensemble based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
which was formed in 1992 by composer and pianist Dave Flippo
Dave Flippo
Dave Flippo , is a jazz pianist, composer, vocalist, teacher and bandleader based in the Chicago area...
as a vehicle to perform his original compositions and arrangements. The current members include Dave Flippo (piano and vocals), Dan Hesler (saxophones and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
), Donn De Santo (bass), Heath Chappell (drums) and Aras Biskis (percussion). Its unique approach to jazz and sizable body of original contemporary jazz
Contemporary jazz
Contemporary jazz can mean:*Any type of jazz that evolved from deviation from its "standard" sound since mid-20th century*A contemporary variant of jazz dance*Jazz fusion*Smooth jazz...
compositions gives it a unique place in the Chicago jazz scene.
1992-1994 - Tendrils of Light
FLIPPOMUSIC gave its first performance at At The Tracks in Chicago and continued performing at area clubs including the Bop Shop, Jazz Bulls, the Hothouse, Morseland, the Underground Wonderbar and the Heartland CafeHeartland Cafe
The Heartland Cafe is a restaurant in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. Originally opened in 1976 by two activists as the "Sweet Home Chicago Heartland Café," it has become a cultural icon for the diverse neighborhood, known as much for its hippie ambience and left-leaning politics as for...
. The original members of the band included Dave Flippo (keyboards), Dan Hesler (saxophone), Steve Hashimoto (electric bass), Steve Strunk (drums) and John McLean (guitar).The instrumentation was reconfigured in 1993 and the guitar position was replaced by Hamid Drake
Hamid Drake
Hamid Drake is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. He lives in Chicago, IL but spends much of his time traveling around the world for concerts and studio dates....
on percussion with Aras Biskis taking over the drum chair. The band recorded it’s first CD, Tendril of Light, on the Southport label in 1994 and also won first place in “Winterbreak-Cruise to Chicago” contest, a City of Chicago-sponsored event which won them a booking at the Taste of Chicago
Taste of Chicago
The Taste of Chicago is the world's largest food festival, held annually for ten days in Grant Park, in Chicago starting the Friday before the 4th of July and ending the Sunday after . The event is the largest festival in Chicago...
in the same year. Guest artists on Tendrils of Light include Michael Zerang and Ken Gueno on percussion and Donn De Santo on bass.
1994-2001 - Ganesh
The band added additional Flippo compositions as well as works by Steve Hashimoto, Dan Hesler and several modern jazz standards to their repertoire and began performing at area colleges, festivals and special events at area museums and art galleries. During the period the instrumentation crystallized into its present form - with Dave Flippo on keys, Dan Hesler on saxes and flute, Donn De Santo on bass, Heath Chappell on drums and Aras Biskis now on percussion. The ensemble released their second CD, Ganesh, in 2001, also on Southport Records. The ensemble tracks were recorded at Donn DeSanto’s “Bassplace Productions” studio while the solo piano preludes recorded at Sparrow Sound Design (Southport Records). Guest artists on the recording included Lyon Leifer on bansuri and Yatindra Vaid on tablas.2001-2005 - When the Heart is Strong the Voice Rings True
Shortly after the release of Ganesh, De Santo and Flippo formed a duo and began mixing in new vocal compositions and arrangements of Flippo with jazz standards. For a time it was called Da Duo De Flippo De Santo, but later was considered part of FLIPPOMUSIC. The larger quintet continued to perform during this period. The band’s third release came in 2005 with a primarily duo recording, When the Heart is Strong, the Voice Rings True. The duo was augmented on several tracks by Dan Hesler on saxophones, Leo Murphy on drums and Michael Levin on clarinet.2005 to present - Tao Tunes
During the recording of When the Heart is Strong ..., Flippo completed the Writer’s Workshop Program at the Theatre Building ChicagoTheatre Building Chicago
The Theatre Building Chicago is a theater located in Chicago's lakeview neighborhood. A major part of Chicago theatre, it has been the home to many theatre companies and actors which have gone on to have great success...
where he composed two full length musicals and studied techniques for setting lyrics to music. Once he complete this course, he resurrected a project he has begun in 2004, the creation of a set of modern vocal jazz pieces that set various chapters of the Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching, Dao De Jing, or Daodejing , also simply referred to as the Laozi, whose authorship has been attributed to Laozi, is a Chinese classic text...
– Tao Tunes. After first creating adapted lyrics from various English translations in the public domain, Flippo composed eighteen pieces and completed the set in 2009. Recording began in March 2010, Tao Tunes was completed in June, 2011 and released November 2011. Guest artists include Larry Gray
Larry Gray
Larry Gray is a Chicago musician known for his compositions and skill on the Double Bass and Cello. His primary teachers were Joseph Guastafeste, longtime principal bassist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and cellist Karl Fruh, a highly regarded soloist and teacher.- Family :Gray has been...
(cello), Neal Alger (guitar), Hamid Drake (percussion), Mike Levin (Bb and bass clarinet and flute) and Katherine Hughes (violin).
After the recording of Tao Tunes, FLIPPOMUSIC expanded it’s typical program to included music from all four CD’s—the “globaljazz” compositions, the vocal duo pieces and the set of Tao Tunes. The band now offered programs which were purely “globaljazz” but also one which mixed the earlier material with the new vocal compositions.
Notable Performances
1994 - Taste of ChicagoTaste of Chicago
The Taste of Chicago is the world's largest food festival, held annually for ten days in Grant Park, in Chicago starting the Friday before the 4th of July and ending the Sunday after . The event is the largest festival in Chicago...
1994 - DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
Multicultural Festival
1994/1996 - Around The Coyote Art Festival
1994 - Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center, opened in 1897, is a Chicago Landmark building that houses the city's official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. It is located in the Loop, across Michigan Avenue from Millennium Park...
– live broadcast on WFMT
1995 - Independent Label Festival
1996 – Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
“East Meets West Festival”
1996 – Southport Jazz Festival (at the Bop Shop)
1994 - University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
Jazz Festival
1997 – Oakbrook Summer Concert Series
1998, 2005 – Condordia College Artist Series
1998 – Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
“World Jazz Festival”
1998 – “After Hours” at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
1999 – “Jazzin’ at the Shed” – Shed Aquarium
2000 – Southshore Jazz Festival
2003 – Skokie Festival of Cultures
2004 – Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
The Brookfield Zoo is zoo located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. The zoo covers an area of and houses around 450 species of animals....
Concert Series
2004 – College of Lake County
College of Lake County
The College of Lake County is a community college in Grayslake, Illinois. In 1967, a referendum passed establishing the CLC community college district...
Artist Series
2004 - Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
“Lunch on the Lake” Series
2009 – Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival
2010,2008, 2007, 2002, 2001, 2000 – Buffalo, Grove Summer Concert Series.
Summer Fests: Buffalo Grove “Concerts on the Rotary Green” (‘93, ‘94,) Libertyville “Out to Lunch” Series (1995), “Lunch by the Lake” – Northwestern University,
Discography
Tendrils of Light – FLIPPOMUSIC (Southport Records, Chicago, IL SSD 0024 ) 1994Ganesh – FLIPPOMUSIC (Southport Records, Chicago, IL SSD 0088 ) 2001
When the Heart is Strong, the Voice Rings True – Da Duo Di Flippo De Santo (Oppilf Records, Chicago, IL 1001) 2004
Tao Tunes – FLIPPOMUSIC (Oppilf Records, Chicago, IL 1002) 2011
Guest Artists and Earlier Band Members
John McLean-guitarMike Smith - guitar
Paul Mertens- saxophones and flute
Pat Mallanger-saxophones
Ken Vandermark
Ken Vandermark
Ken Vandermark is an American jazz composer and saxophone and clarinet player.A fixture on the Chicago-area music scene since the 1990s, Vandermark has earned wide critical praise for his playing and his multilayered compositions, which typically balance intricate orchestration with passionate...
-saxophones
John Boes- saxophones and flute
Cameron Pfiffner – saxophones
Jim Gailloreto - saxophones
Michael Levin- saxophones and flute
Winston Damen (Stone)-percussion
Steve Magnome- drums
Hamid Drake
Hamid Drake
Hamid Drake is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. He lives in Chicago, IL but spends much of his time traveling around the world for concerts and studio dates....
- percussion
Lewis Ewerling – drums and percussion
Bob Garrett-percussion
Michael Zerang-percussion
Ken Gueno-percussion
Kurt Loeffler-drums
Jim Widlowski-drums
Ted Sirota-drums
Alejandro Cimadoro-bass
Mike Fiorino – bass
Chris Clementi - bass