The Caleb Willitz Band

The Caleb Willitz Band blends earthy, freaky folk music with free jazz and experimental improv. Caleb’s carefully crafted songs evoke the haunting introspection of his rural upbringing, channeling everything from Johnny Cash to Nick Drake. But while his lyrics and melodies are raw, his compositional sense is anything but. Caleb is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and sound artist, no stranger to collaborating with adventurous musicians. And he’s built his band on a vision for collective, shared improvisation.

With a band full of seasoned improvisers, spontaneous arrangements emerge in the moment -- at times, lush and inviting, other times, noisy and chaotic. But whether they're creating ambient textures or sonic explosions, everyone in The Caleb Willitz Band shares one thing in common: The drive to play something new and fresh for every performance. They bring this passion and excitement to every show they play.

The Caleb Willitz Band is an ever-growing cast of Chicago improvisers, including: Tatsu Aoki (bass), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello & effects), Edward Wilkerson (tenor), Greg Ward (alto), Jim Baker (piano), Rami Atassi (guitar & effects), Raul Cotaquispe (drums), Tara Smith (vocals).