Vocalist Keri Johnsrud & saxophonist Shawn Maxwell celebrate the release of their new album "C8H10N402"
Featuring original music jointly composed by Keri & Shawn.
Keri Johnsrud - vocals
Shawn Maxwell - alto & soprano saxophones & flute
Tom Vaistsas - piano
Tim Seisser - bass
Lucas Gillan - drums
Keri Johnsrud
Keri Johnsrud is a fresh and appealing jazz singer with a quietly expressive voice and a deep understanding of lyric interpretation. She is an important member of the jazz community with over 15 years of headlining appearances at some of the nation’s top venues, including Chicago’s historic Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Jazz Showcase, and a monthly residency at Andy’s Jazz Club. Keri has also performed at The Kitano and Cornelia Street Cafe in New York City and Churchill Grounds and Velvet Note in Atlanta. Johnsrud regularly tours the US with her own group and also lends her voice to several Chicago ensembles, including the critically acclaimed Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance.
Johnsrud is not only a skilled interpreter of the American Songbook, she is also a talented lyricist and composer. Her highly regarded 2015 recording, “This Side of Morning,” consists entirely of her original tunes and was featured in the independent film “Thank You a Lot.”
For her latest record, Keri collaborated with GRAMMY nominated pianist Kevin Bales to release Beyond the Neighborhood: The Music of Fred Rogers, which has been selected as a Top 10 Jazz Album of 2018 by Cadence Magazine, All About Jazz, and Chicago’s esteemed jazz station WDCB 90.9. Johnsrud and Bales have succeeded in reimagining and rearranging the music that has been heard by numerous generations on the beloved children’s television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The songs, which up until now were specifically tailored for a child’s ear, are now presented as reinvented gems that are wise and wistful, simple but not simplistic, and even, in some cases, a bit sultry. In this collection, Mister Rogers’ songs not only relate to adults; they seem to have been written for adults in the first place.
Keri is an experienced music educator in both vocal and piano private instruction, and a former faculty member at the Shell Lake Arts Center in Shell Lake, WI.
Shawn Maxwell
As a composer, recording artist and performer, saxophonist Shawn Maxwell has endeavored to express his own unique voice. From his latest album Millstream (Jazzline, 2020) to his debut Originals (self-released, 2005), he has released nine albums of original compositions. The traditions of jazz form the foundation for Shawn’s music; he builds on that with material from the music he grew up with – rock, funk, hip hop, R&B, classical. The result, as Hrayr Attarian wrote in Chicago Jazz Magazine, “is refreshingly distinct yet recognizably Maxwellian”. He’s not intent on following any rules – or on breaking them – but on continually expanding what his music encompasses.
“…a composer who’s confident in his artistic vision, and comfortable with the wide array of colors on his instrumental palette.” – Bobby Reed, Downbeat Magazine
For the past four years, Shawn has been touring the U.S. with his quintet Shawn Maxwell’s New Tomorrow. Their first album, Shawn Maxwell’s New Tomorrow (OA2/Origin, 2016), was named one of Downbeat Magazine’s “Best Albums of 2017”. The follow-up, Music in My Mind (OA2/Origin, 2018), was highly praised by critics and enthusiastically received by radio stations. It was chosen as a Downbeat Magazine Editor’s Pick in June 2018.
“…jaunty, angular melodies, deceptive time signatures, and metronomic rhythm arrangements – sound as if inhabited by the ghost of Zappa…” – Neil Tesser
Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance (Chicago Sessions, 2014) was the eponymous album from another of his projects. A ten-piece ensemble including voice, two French horns, two upright basses and vibraphone, they were praised by jazz critics (another Downbeat Editor’s Pick) and named on several “best of the year” lists. So unusual was the music that publications as diverse as Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange picked it up; “Not exactly the sort of band you’re likely to hear in anyone’s notion of the mainstream and thus highly attractive to progressive ears”.
Alliance followed up with an E.P. later that year, Bridge (Chicago Sessions, 2014), which expanded on the sound of the group. “…a brief album full of rich musical ideas, colorful passages, and unique musical constructs.” said Dan Bilawky (AllAboutJazz.com).
“These days, Shawn Maxwell sounds like Shawn Maxwell, and that’s a great thing…” – Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz Magazine
Shawn’s groups also include a quartet, featured on his earliest recordings, Urban Vigilante, Maxwell’s House (Chicago Sessions 2011, 2009), Originals II and Originals (self-released, 2008, 2005).
“an exciting figure on the Chicago jazz landscape” – Michael Barris, Downbeat Magazine
As a Vandoren and Conn-Selmer artist, Shawn is a favorite of students from college age through elementary school, combining his pedagogical skills with a performer’s sensibility in Master Classes and guest appearances.
“This is bold music. Maxwell isn’t afraid to try out new ideas and take chances.” – Frank Alkyer, Downbeat Magazine
Millstream (Jazzline/Delta, 2020) and Expectation & Experience (Jazzline/Delta, 2021) are the ninth & tenth albums released by Shawn featuring all original compositions.
Shawn’s eleventh album, “Story At Eleven,” will be released Friday, March 24th, 2022.
Shawn’s style began to form in the school music programs of Joliet, Illinois. A celebrated performer in the Joliet Central High School band program, he went on to earn a B.A. in Music from Millikin University.
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