Aaron Koppel Quartet

Artist Information

Biography

The Aaron Koppel Quartet is a local Chicago jazz ensemble lead by guitarist Aaron Koppel. Born and raised on the North Side of Chicago, Aaron started playing guitar at age eleven and has been composing music virtually his entire life. Over the years Koppel has established a name for himself in the local jazz scene and has also gained national recognition. Downbeat Magazine, in a recent article, states, “26-year-old Koppel takes a conventional form (mainstream jazz) and makes something of it, breaking up the material, avoiding the tendency to just write blowing vehicles.” In an article by legendary jazz critic Neil Tesser, Koppel is described as “an inventive composer and surprisingly mature 20-something leader” Jazziz Magazine, 2009. AKQ’s new album “Falling Together Falling Apart” is on the 2009 Grammy nominating ballot for Best Instrumental Jazz Album and made #7 in Neil Tesser’s Top Ten Chicago Jazz Discs of 2009. The AKQ were also nominated for two International jazz awards: Best International Jazz Song and Best International Jazz Group, in the 2007 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards.

Performing together since 2004, the quartet consists of Chicago natives pianist Matt Nelson(Lupe Fiasco), bassist Graham Czach(Chicago Afrobeat Project), and drummer Robert Tucker(Matthew Santos). While touring with hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco, Matt Nelson has appeared on The David Letterman Show and The Colbert Report. The quartet is a unique bop-driven force that can only be described as what it is: another new exit off the highway of jazz. AKQ infuses the styles of jazz, soul, Latin, fusion, funk and world music. JazzChicago.net coined AKQ as “some of the best young players (and composers) the city has to offer.”

In 2007, the AKQ released their debut album “The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker” recorded by Grammy-nominated producer/engineer Greg Magers. The album received high acclaim. “The Wild Call… kept me ‘til the end!” Bobby Broom, 2007. With the release of their first album, the AKQ has been able to establish a solid fan base which has given the group the opportunity of playing a variety of Chicago’s finest venues and music festivals. In 2009, AKQ recorded their second album "Falling Together Falling Apart" with Chicago Sessions, LLC. On this disc Koppel invited featured guest saxophonists Geof Bradfield and Greg Ward creating “a band of heavyweights” Chicago Jazz Magazine, 2009. “The ensemble that Koppel has assembled for this recording reflects the best and brightest of the highly creative Chicago modern jazz scene…[Koppel] is at the top of his game as a soloist, his writing shows a depth and understanding of modern jazz harmony that is as exciting as it is engaging.” All About Jazz, 2009.

Currently, the Aaron Koppel Quartet is touring their newly released album and working on their third album, “Multiverse”, which will also be released by the Chicago jazz label Chicago Sessions. Humbled by their continued success, the AKQ is committed to furthering the message of jazz and perfecting their sound. Aaron and his quartet look forward to creating more music and captivating audiences for years to come.

Booking: aaron.koppel@gmail.com

Instrumentation

The Aaron Koppel Quartet With Horns:
Geof Bradfield -Tenor sax
Greg Ward -Alto sax
Aaron Koppel -Guitar
Matt Nelson -Keys
Graham Czach -Bass
Robbie Tucker -Drums

The Aaron Koppel Quartet:
Aaron Koppel - Guitar
Matt Nelson -Keys
Graham Czach -Bass
Robbie Tucker -Drums

The Aaron Koppel Organ Trio:
Aaron Koppel -Guitar
Matt Nelson -Keys
Robbie Tucker -Drums

Discography

- June 2011: Aaron Koppel Quartet 3rd album Multiverse recorded under the Chicago jazz label Chicago Sessions.
- Summer 2010: Aaron Koppel Quartet featured on the Jazziz compilation CD, Jazziz on Disc, Summer 2010 (Disc 1) Six Strings And Other Things
- 2010: Aaron Koppel Quartet featured on the 2010 Chicago Jazz Magazine Compilation CD, This is Chicago Jazz
- April 2009: Aaron Koppel Quartet with Greg Ward and Geof Bradfield: Falling Together Falling Apart recorded under the Chicago jazz label Chicago Sessions.
- June 2007: The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker
Released independently; www.candyrat.com/artists/AaronKoppelQuartet/WildCall

-Television/Movies
-May 2011: Performed guitar on the soundtrack for the animated movie Cadaver, starring Christopher Lloyd and Tavi Gevinson.
-Feb 2010 Aaron Koppel Quartet National TV Debut on WGN-TV National Mid-day News. Watch our WGN-TV apperance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVP8ljtgH4g

-Nominations/Awards
- Jan 2010: Aaron Koppel Quartet’s album, “Falling Together Falling Apart” made #7 in Neil Tesser’s Top Ten Chicago Jazz Discs of 2009.
- Jan 2010: Aaron Koppel Quartet‘s album, “Falling Together Falling Apart“ made #12 in JazzChicago.net’s Top Chicago Recordings of 2009.
- Dec 2009: Aaron Koppel Quartet nominated for the 2009 Grammy nominating ballot for Best Instrumental Jazz Album "Falling Together Falling Apart"
- Oct 2007: Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards: Aaron Koppel Quartet nominated for best international jazz group and jazz song.

-Radio Play
The Aaron Koppel Quartet has been heard on over 100 radio stations including: XM/Sirius Satellite radio, WDCB 90.9 FM College of DuPage Public Radio, WNUA 95.5 FM Chicago, WXRT 93.1 FM Chicago, AccuJazz.com internet radio, KSFR Santa Fe NPR, KTEP El Paso NPR, 106.7 FM PBS Melbourne, Australia, 94.1 FM Radio 2 Skopje, Macedonia Jazz Spaces, WEFT Champaign community radio for East-Central Illinois, WRRG 88.9 FM Triton College, WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago, 181.FM, Pandora.com

-Publications
The Aaron Koppel Quartet has been featured in the following publications: JazzWeekly.com, Cadence Magazine, Examiner.com, Jazzgram, Jazz Institute of Chicago, Downbeat; Jazziz, All About Jazz, JazzChicago.net, Jambands.com, Illinois Entertainer, Columbia Chronicle, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Jazzreview.com

Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/aaronkoppelmusic

Links

• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Facebook
• Twitter

Audio

• Electric Cowgirl Boogaloo
  Listen  
• Ten Year Reverie by Matt Nelson
  Listen  
• The Big Tease
  Listen  
• Toumani
  Listen  
• Falling Together
  Listen  
• The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker
  Listen  
• One for the Soul
  Listen  
• Falling Apart
  Listen  

Video

WGN TV National Mid-day News (Featured guest: Aaron Koppel Quartet)

Photo Gallery

Press

• Aaron Koppel Quartet National TV Debut on WGN-TV National Mid-day News Feb 5 2010 [+ Show ]
  

  On Feb 5 2010 The Aaron Koppel Quartet was the featured guest on WGN-TV National Mid-day News. Chec...On Feb 5 2010 The Aaron Koppel Quartet was the featured guest on WGN-TV National Mid-day News.
  Check out our WGN-TV appearance here:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVP8ljtgH4g

• Our new album is #7 in Neil Tesser’s Top Ten Chicago Jazz Discs of 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  #7 – Aaron Koppel Quartet, Falling Together Falling Apart (Chicago Sessions). This was guitarist Aa...#7 – Aaron Koppel Quartet, Falling Together Falling Apart (Chicago Sessions). This was guitarist Aaron Koppel’s second album. Produced by the ambitiously conceived and meticulously executed new label Chicago Sessions – represented his first opportunity to reach a larger audience. He didn’t disappoint. Koppel approached the recording in a way you’d have hardly expected from most guitarists in their mid-20s. Instead of taking the biggest baddest solos on every tune, Koppel stepped back away from the spotlight to showcase his own terrific compositions, as well the admirable interplay and creativity of his high-end associates. Koppel’s quartet features a spectacular young pianist named Matt Nelson, soon to record an album under his own name; he also brought in guest saxophonists Geof Bradfield and Greg Ward, two of the city’s most engaging and exciting soloists. The result: an exceptionally mature album by a young guitarist you’ll surely hear more from in this and coming years.
  
  http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-26698-Chicago-Jazz-Music-Examiner~y2010m1d11-The-year-in-CHICAGO-jazz-Top-Ten-local-recordings-of-2009-pt-2

• Downbeat Magazine Cd Review of "Falling Together Falling Apart" [+ Show ]
  

  "'Falling Together Falling Apart' showcases guitarist Aaron Koppel's writing and arranging skills ah..."'Falling Together Falling Apart' showcases guitarist Aaron Koppel's writing and arranging skills ahead of his playing. This translates into more solo time for what amounts to more then a quartet with pianist Matt Nelson, drummer Robert Tucker, and bassist Graham Czach being joined by alto saxophonist Greg Ward and tenor saxophonist Geof Bradfield on selected cuts... Across 10 originals, the emphasis is on group interplay, with active basslines and lively arrangements… Among the standouts is pianist Nelson, who gets the nod more often than not. His close connections with Czach form the basis of many songs, amoung them the serene ballad 'The Bad Decision' and the lively multi-layerd 'The Big Tease' which opens the album... There are a fair number of introspective moments on ‘Falling Together Falling Apart’, thanks again to Nelson’s knack for getting off the beaten path, but there is the occasional up tune that suggests these guys might be used to people dancing at their shows. ‘Electric Cowgirl Boogaloo’ is just such a number, featuring some bouncy funk swing with saucy playing from Ward along with lots of spritely lines from Czach, his bass playing a driving if delicate force. In the end, what makes this disc enjoyable is the way the 26-year-old Koppel takes a conventional form (mainstream jazz) and makes something of it, breaking up the material, avoiding the tendency to just write blowing vehicles...”
  - John Ephland, Downbeat, December 2009.

• Aaron Koppel Quartet Nominated for 2009 Grammy nominating ballot for Best Instrumental Jazz Album [+ Show ]
  

  Great news for The Aaron Koppel Quartet! Our new CD "Falling Together Falling Apart" is on the 52nd ...Great news for The Aaron Koppel Quartet! Our new CD "Falling Together Falling Apart" is on the 52nd Grammy Awards Nominating Ballot. "Falling Together Falling Apart" is in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category of the Nominating Ballot; category 47, voting number 122.

• Five more Chicagoans on the rise; Jazziz article about Aaron Koppel [+ Show ]
  

  “On his quartet’s 2009 disc Falling Together Falling Apart (Chicago Sessions) mainstream guitarist A...“On his quartet’s 2009 disc Falling Together Falling Apart (Chicago Sessions) mainstream guitarist Aaron Koppel established himself as an inventive composer and a surprisingly mature 20-something leader, unafraid to allot plenty of solo space to his sidemen. Inspired by the writing of Dave Holland and Avishai Cohen, the Chicago-area native studied guitar with Bobby Broom, which probably helps account for his tasty melodicism.”
  -Neil Tesser, Jazziz, Fall 2009

• Chicago Jazz Magazine review of "Falling Together Falling Apart" [+ Show ]
  

  ”…a veritable Who’s Who of Chicago’s young talent on the jazz scene. Featuring amazing saxophonists ...”…a veritable Who’s Who of Chicago’s young talent on the jazz scene. Featuring amazing saxophonists Greg Ward and Geof Bradfield, bassist Graham Czach and wunderkind pianist Matt Nelson, this is a band of heavyweights… the writing is varied, the arrangements are smart and the songs are clever… What makes Falling Together, Falling Apart so interesting is the fact that this really is a composer’s album. Unlike the vast number of discs that we’ve all heard that are made up of quick melodies meant to get to chord changes or to inspire finger-busting solos, this is an album of songs. Melodies are deliberate, and even the solo orders are shuffled around in order to serve the song first and foremost. That’s a sure mark of a mature leader, which Koppel proves himself to be… To put it simply and without hyperbole, Falling Together, Falling Apart is a fantastic album… This disc is easily recommended.”
  
  By: Paul Abella
  http://www.chicagojazz.com/cd-reviews.php?SEARCH=review&REV=67

• Cd review by All About Jazz [+ Show ]
  

  ”… an emotionally charged excursion through the realm of modern jazz… The ensemble… reflects the bes...”… an emotionally charged excursion through the realm of modern jazz… The ensemble… reflects the best and brightest of the highly creative Chicago modern jazz scene… a cohesive band, strong soloing, well-crafted compositions/arrangements and gripping guitar playing… Koppel delivers a masterful performance on ‘Falling Together Falling Apart’. He is at the top of his game as a soloist, his writing shows a depth and understanding of modern jazz harmony that is as exciting as it is engaging…”
  
  By Matthew Warnock
  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=33261

• "Falling Together Falling Apart" great review from jazzchicago.net [+ Show ]
  

  “a group of stellar up-and-coming young Chicago jazz artists...some of the best young players (and c...“a group of stellar up-and-coming young Chicago jazz artists...some of the best young players (and composers) the city has to offer”
  
  By Brad Walseth
  http://www.jazzchicago.net/reviews/2009/AK.html

• Illinois Entertainer Cd Review Dec 2009 [+ Show ]
  

  "Koppel takes an un-Wes Montgomery approach and doesn’t dizzy you with his solos. He pops in when re..."Koppel takes an un-Wes Montgomery approach and doesn’t dizzy you with his solos. He pops in when ready, and steps out of the spotlight with taste and grace." -Steve Forstneger
  
  http://illinoisentertainer.com/2009/12/around-hear-december-2009/

• Jazzreview.com Cd Review of "The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker [+ Show ]
  

  http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-19429.html Aaron Koppel Quartet The Wild Call of the Multi-Ta...http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-19429.html
  Aaron Koppel Quartet
  The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker
  2007
  Independant
  Musicians: Aaron Koppel (guitar), Robert Tucker (drums), Graham Czach (bass), Matt Nelson (piano).
  
  Review:
  Normally, a ten minute performance can drag on after about the sixth minute – not here. The Aaron Koppel Quartet takes us through eight self-penned performances that that may be here today but not gone tomorrow.
  
  Formed in 2002 from the Chicago scene, the Aaron Koppel Quartet featuresleader Aaron Koppel on guitar, Matt Nelson on piano, Graham Czach on bass and Robert Tucker in drums.
  
  The eight tracks as mentioned earlier are designed to be little suites. Each individual track can/could/does hold its own on the album titled The Wild Call of the Multi-Tasker and if one was given radio play on its own, you would not need to hear the rest of the tracks to fully understand or back that individual one up.
  
  The piano playing of Matt Nelson is subtle yet outstanding. On the opening track “Let’s Go” he plays a funk motive in the same way say Billy Preston played in the early 1970s.
  
  The drumming of Robert Tucker brings some excellent quick fills. Relying on the high hat is essential when bringing an album of material like this.
  
  The traditionally arranged "The Handsome Cabin Boy" is the ten minute standout on the album. Great outdoor effects with the birds flying off in the distance, and the opening chords by Koppel, and the drumming of Nelson again stand out.
  
  The Aaron Koppel Quartet and their album The Wild Call of the Multi-Taker is a great album. One should not multi-task when this album is being played – stop what you are doing, relax and enjoy.
  
  Reviewed by: Brenton Plourde

Setlist

Typical set lasts anywhere from 1/2 hour - 1 1/2 hours depending on what is required.

Set includes original Aaron Koppel compositions, and covers ranging from Radiohead and James Brown to interpretations of jazz favorites.

Basic Requirements

Calendar