Click the picture to see Jeru live at Studio 5
An off-shoot of the Mulligan Mosaics Big Band and the jazz quartet Jeru, the Mulligan Mosaics Nonet is comprised of top jazz and classical musicians and is co-led by saxophonist Ted Hogarth and bassist Joe Policastro. The ensemble was formed to commission new music and preserve and perform classic third-stream works by composers such as Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, Gil Evans, Jimmy Giuffre, Shorty Rogers, Gunther Schuller, George Russell, Chico Hamilton, and Manny Albam. The ensemble seeks to balance jazz, classical, and modern art music and serves as a creative outlet for its diverse arrangers, composers, and performers.
Modeled after the Gerry Mulligan Quartet of the 1950s, Jeru is a pianoless quartet that performs original music and arrangements. Rooted in the traditions of the West Coast and Cool Jazz movements, Jeru also performs music and arrangements by notable jazz composers such as Claude Thornhill, Bob Brookmeyer, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Quincy Jones, and John Lewis to name a few. Led by bassist, composer, and arranger, Joe Policastro, this unique, chamber-like jazz quartet consists of some of Chicago’s finest and busiest jazz musicians including Art Davis on trumpet, Ted Hogarth on baritone saxophone, and Phil Gratteau on drums.
Jeru began performing throughout Chicago early in 2004, shortly after their inception when bassist, Joe Policastro, moved to Chicago in 2003. The group has performed at international festivals and notable Chicago venues such as the Green Mill, Andy’s Jazz Club, and Pops for Champagne. In addition, the band was featured at the 2004 Chicago Jazz Festival.