Event Horizon’s uniqueness lies in their eclectic emotional palette, which mixes textures, influences, grooves, and love, all while keeping it jazz. Donn DeSanto is currently an instructor at Chicago State University. He teaches electric and acoustic bass. He studied extensively with Larry Gray and Warren Benfield, both members of Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also has further studies with Ray Brown and Rufus Reid. Donn was the staff bassist at Holy Angels Church, Divine Providence Church (Westchester), Illinois, and St Theresa of Avila Church in Chicago. Donn is the owner and operator Bass Place Recording Studio. He has recorded Flippomusic: “Ganesh”, “Toa Tunes”, and “Life on Mars” as well as Curtis Robinson (The Doctor),: “Dancing in the Street”, and “Gravity” by Larry Gray. His influences include Ray Brown and Sam Jones, Jaco Pastorius, Rufus Reid, Jaco Pastorius, Christian McBride and Jaco Pastorius. Donn is a long-standing member of Jazz on Planet Flippo. He also plays with the John Moran Trio and Gold Coast Orchestra. Jim Kaczmarek (saxophones and flute) has always wanted to play the saxophone since he was able to say the word. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and began his professional career at the age of 16. Jim was nominated for the WAMI Award in Jazz Theory and led the eclectic jazz group “Kinetic Shower” in the 80’s and 90’s. He then joined Annie Denison, a WAMI winner vocalist in “Annie and the Jazz Orphans”. Kaczmarek, who was an Assistant at Northern Illinois University and taught Jazz Theory, moved to Chicago in 1995. Jim has been performing with ‘The Buckinghams” for more than 15 years. He is also a member the High Society Orchestra since 1997. He has performed with many artists throughout his life, including Diahann Carroll, The Milwaukee Symphony, Jerry Bergonzi and Bobby Shew (at the Lima, Peru Jazz Festival), Grass Roots, Dennis Tufano, Victor DeLorenzo, and Brian Ritchie from ‘Violent Femmes. Jim has had the opportunity to perform in educational settings with many greats, including Pepper Adams and Tito Puente, Bob Mintzer and Louis Bellson. Jim was the co-director of the Chicago South Shore Youth Jazz Ensemble for 12 years with Ronald Carter, a world-renowned educator. The group performed with Wynton Marsalis and Hamiet Bluiett, as well as Clark Terry. He is the author of Teacher Resource Guides Volumes 1 u0026 2 of GIA publications, “Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz”, and has also recorded with Annie Denison and Jack Grassel. Kaczmarek performed most recently with “The Names”, “The New Invaders”, “The Chicago Experience”, and duos with John Moran Leandro Lopez Varady, John Behling, and John Moran. Jim has also performed with Brass Tracks and the Pete Elman Band. For more than 20 years, he has been teaching music at CPS. Scott Mertens (piano), is an active performer and arranger. He studied jazz piano at Northern Illinois University with Willie Pickens, and was also a graduate assistant to Ron Carter, Director of Jazz Studies. He has performed solo and in small groups, as well as with several Chicago-area groups, including the Jim Kanas Quartet and Nightshift Orchestra. He has played with many Chicago area big bands. He has performed with many jazz legends including Wynton Marsalis and Bobby McFerrin. He was the director of the NIU Community School of the Arts Jazz Band. He has also been a jazz clinician at several Midwestern festivals and has been a regular faculty member of the NIU Jazz Camp. He is a contributing author to both volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz (GIA Publications), and he has published jazz compositions through composer Jim Martin’s website, www.pdfjazzmusic.com. Rick Vitek (drums), is a Cleveland native who has been playing in Chicago clubs in many styles since 1981. He also records jingles. In the 1990s, he taught percussion at Columbia and was featured twice on Star Search in 1984. Highlights of his career included tours in England with the Tom Fuller Band, and Japan with Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band. Rick has performed with many greats, including Richie Cole and Joe Lovano, as well as Reggie Thomas. He has recorded with many artists. from www.eventhorizonband.net
