If you would like to book the band for a show or have a promo mailed to you - you can send an email or call 847-303-1735.
Jennifer Jennings -
vocals, guitar |
The Jennifer Jennings Band has been described as "The Allman Brothers meets Sheryl Crow". Jennifer has a phenomenal voice, harkening back to the great female rock artists of the 60's and 70's. She has a clear, rich, alto voice of uncommon quality - versatile enough to be equally at home singing a driving rock tune as well as a soulful ballad. Whether covering another artist's song or playing one of their own, The Jennifer Jennings Band has an original sound that will pull you in and keep you there. Singer/songwriter Jennifer Jennings (formerly Jennifer Onesto) was one of the founding members of Burnt Toast and they went on to perform together until the mid-1990s playing many Chicagoland clubs including Durty Nellie’s, The Cubby Bear, local festivals and playing before Cubs games at Wrigley Field. In 1996, The Jennifer Onesto Band came together for Jennifer’s debut CD Twenty Houses. Jennifer won a music contest courtesy of 101.9FM "The Mix" in Chicago. Such exposure proved golden for her. That summer she participated in the city's largest outdoor music festival, "The Taste of Chicago." Gigs with Dave Barrett and his band The Big Babies soon followed with frequent gigs at Navy Pier. Recently, Jennifer and her friends James DiGirolamo, Dave Menet and Greg Campbell formed the Jennifer Jennings Band. Currently they are recording their first CD with one of the songs, Family Reunion getting air play on Jonathan Brandmeier’s morning show . They are playing throughout the Chicagoland area at local clubs and festivals. You may also recognize
Jennifer’s voice on some local radio jingles. She has also appeared as a
guest vocalist on many local Chicago artist's CDs like:
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James DiGirolamo - electric &
upright bass, vocals |
James has performed professionally for 28 years, with extensive experience
in upright and electric bass. He studied at DePaul University's School of
Jazz Music and privately with Larry Gray, who plays bass with Ramsey Lewis. As a "jobbing musician", he has done radio jingles, studio session work, a great deal of pit work and many orchestral performances, including Chicago's Orchestra Hall. His long-term band experiences include swing with the Riff Rockets the Rhythm Rockets the Rockafellers blues with the Convulsions and Phil Baron pop-rock with Burnt Toast and JP and the Cats as well as countless jazz groups including the Tom Sorich Trio. James has also played country, zydeco and rock-a-billy with bands such as the Big Guitars from Memphis, The Delta Rhythm Kings, Guy Lawerence and Chydeco zydeco. He has been nominated for a Handy Award with Nick Moss and the Flip Tops, a touring blues band that plays regularly at Buddy Guy's Legends and The House of Blues. He currently has professional endorsement deals with Lakland, Gallien-Krueger, Bag End and Rotosound. James also teaches bass at www.musicalexpressions.net |
Dave Menet - guitar |
After being
born deaf Dave heard music for the first time at the age of 5. He was
instantly fascinated by the powerful emotional impact that music can
project. Dave embraced the guitar enjoying and playing all styles of music.
His influences include Roy Clark, Buck Owens, Muddy Waters, Freddy King ,
Peter Green, Rory Gallagher, David Gilmour, Robert Fripp, Mike Bloomfield,
Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler, Daniel Lanois, just to name a few. Dave Menet has been a guitarist for over 30 years and has dedicated his life to all aspects of the music profession including performing, teaching, working in local area music shops and as a stagehand for Jam Productions and Chicago’s Metro. He has worked as a guitar technician for bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Cathy Richardson, The Drovers, Citizen King, Smoking Popes, and Fishbone. As guitarist for many local Chicago bands, Dave has had the privilege of releasing a few noteworthy CDs such as the progressive rock band "I Speak Jive" 1992 EP "The Death Cookie" , "Primitive Baptist" 1996 CD "The Sin Bin", "Forty Horse Johnson" 1998 TV show appearance on "Rock My Ass", "The Blue Watusi" 1999 CD "Chicago Breakdown" and also toured with "Zydecreeps" from Louisiana. In 2000, Dave and the multi-instrumental Frank Raven recorded the "Cadillac Baby" CD, an improvisational all acoustic duet. In 2002 Dave was hired to play guitar and bass for Pat Schiller’s recording sessions resulting in the “Living A Dream” CD which is a variety of pop and jazz originals. After auditioning for "Nick Moss and the Flip Tops" on stage at the House of Blues in Chicago, Dave joined on to tour all of 2004 as Nick’s bass player. This afforded Dave opportunity to perform with legendary blues artists such as Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Guitar Shorty, Gary Primach, and Fingers Taylor. A pretty intimidating task for a guy who just bought his first bass after joining the band. Dave wound up performing with Stuart Swanlund of the "Marshall Tucker Band" after discussing their common dislike for bass players. He was asked to play bass for Stuart’s band "Tone Generators" and, again, auditioned on stage at Quigley’s in Naperville. They decided to keep him. Dave is having the time of his life playing guitar and working with some of his favorite musicians in the "Jennifer Jennings Band". Dave has worked in the past with both Greg Campbell and James Digaralomo and is delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with them in this uniquely dynamic group. “The high level of creativity in this band has inspired and refueled my guitar playing!” Dave’s current stage gear: Gibson Custom Shop ES446 Gibson Historic Reissue 58 Les Paul, Sunburst Gibson Historic Reissue 58 Les Paul, Triburst Highly Modified Stratocaster Marshall JCM 800 50 Watt Combo Various Pedals of Sonic Construction Thank you Monster Cable and Midwest Buy and Sell. Hit My Head and Say Ra. |
Greg Campbell - drums |
Greg Campbell is a professional drummer and teacher with over 22 years of experience. Most recently he was performing and touring with blues guitarist Nick Moss. Nick and the group were nominated for the prestigious W.C. Handy (the equivalent to a Grammy for Blues) award in 2003 and again in 2004. Greg was also a member of the ten piece swing band "The Riff Rockets" and rock bands "I Speak Jive" , "Japan Man" and "Ignatious". Other performing and recording credits include Kim Wilson and the "Fabulous Thunderbirds", Buddy Guy, Curtis Salgado of Santana, Willie Smith, Pinetop Perkins of Muddy Waters, Junior Watson, The Mighty Blue Kings, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Rod Piaza and the Mighty Flyers, and Anson Funderburg. |
