Greg Spero

Many second-semester seniors are at a loss of what to do with themselves. Some are trying to make their last few weeks of college last by celebrating. Others are trying to organize their futures once they step off the University campus. No matter what seniors are doing, it is clear that the real world is looming and getting closer with each coming day.

For Greg Spero, senior in FAA, the real world includes a world tour with a best-selling jazz band, the Frank Catalano Quintet.

"We are touring Japan in April, France in May, and Italy in June," Spero said. "I just want to play all over, meet new people, and explore the world."

For a 22-year-old, he is doing a good job taking on the world. He has played on a best-selling jazz album, which debuted at No. 11, spent 22 weeks on the Jazz Billboard Music charts, and has sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide. Spero also headlines his own band, The Greg Spero Trio.

Jon Levy, freshman in LAS and friend of Spero, jokes about him and his accomplishments.

"He is a Jewish Casanova," Levy laughs. "No, really, he is a nice guy, and he deserves everything he gets. He works hard for it."

Aside from the bands he plays in, Spero also does Web design, photography and composes film scores for plays in Chicago to make a living. He said he does all of this in order to attain his dreams.

"The dream is basically to play and explore music and to channel my passions into art that I want to create," Spero said. "Also, I try not to starve while doing it. Right now, I am happy with what I'm doing."

That is the dream of every person, to find a way to use their passions in all their future plans, and for Spero, he finds ways to unite his passions.

"I find that things are interconnected," he said. "My three main passions are the visual, musical, and technological arts. You combine the three by adding the visual arts to audio, and vice versa. The thing that connects them both is technology. One of the main purposes of art is exploration, and I want to be exploratory in all my endeavors." - The Daily Illini

After experiencing their recent successful Jazz Festival (see our review and photos here), the Hyde Park Jazz Society has embarked upon a series of very high-profile sets at their weekly Sunday evening Checker Jazz gigs. This past Sunday was no exception, as master bassist Frank Russell brought his quintet to the Checkerboard Lounge for some Chicago-style, contemporary jazz.

The highlight of the first set was the group's rendition of “Killer Joe.” Special mention must be given to young phenom, Greg Spero on the electric keyboards. This young man really found his groove on this piece on this piece and had the relatively small, but very appreciative crowd begging for more at its conclusion. He really “walked” on the keys, displaying an arsenal of rapid-fire, fleet fingers that had all gasping for air. He played throughout the evening like a veteran beyond his years. - JazzChicago

Greg Spero joined forces with three amazing musicians Friday, December 14th at the Kinetic Playground.

Spero has a BA in piano and jazz composition and it shines brightly on stage. Most of the music performed were original pieces.

Hank Horton, who plays with Dennis Deyoung of Styx, was on bass laying some great rhythms.

Connor Grant from Treologic wailed on the guitar.

Mark McKnight, who has played with George Clinton, Deborah Brown and Wynton Marsalis, to name a few, threw it down on the drum kit. McKnight is currently working on his PhD in jazz drumming.

The group brought a funk-jazz fusion that kept me moving all night.

I highly recommend catching any one of these artists.

Spero will be performing this Thursday, Dec. 20th, at Schubas in Todd Carey's band. - MOG