Little Rootie Tootie was formed in the fall of 2020 to play at the Hyde Park Jazz Fest in Chicago.
Juli was wanting to put together a project that featured the amazing compositions of Thelonious Monk. She gathered up her friends Katie Ernst - phenomenal bassist, vocalist, composer and educator, Dustin Laurenzi - great tenor saxophonist, composer and educator. Both Katie and Dustin are in the innovative jazz trio, Twin Talk. Drummer Greg Artry, one of the most talented and workingest drummers in Chicago, has been a longtime associate. Greg and Juli played some gigs years ago with jazz organ great Melvin Rhyne.
The band has been able to rehearse and develop original tunes and original lyrics to Monk's tunes through a generous grant, New Works/Fresh Voices, from the Jazz Institute of Chicago.
Juli was inspired by vocalist and lyricist Mike Ferro ( lyricist featured on the recording "Carmen McRae sings Monk ") to write her own lyrics to several Monk tunes.
Luckily there are three singers in the band, Juli, Katie and Greg. We hope you'll enjoy our interpretations of Monk's tunes and Juli's own tunes inspired by that unique genius that was Thelonious Monk.
This event is part of the New Works, Fresh Voices program supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
— FREE admission —
