Chatterbox Jazz

Mondays at Chatterbox 🎷 Every Monday on the Chatterbox stage brings a night of fun, community, and a positive look towards the week ahead! This is done by the fabulous Rob Dixon trio. A little about Rob: “Saxophonist Rob Dixon has collaborated, performed and recorded with numerous national and Indianapolis based groups including Illinois Jacquet, Rufus Reid, Composer Bill Lee, The Count Basie Orchestra, Weldon Irving, Ali Shaheed Muhammad of tribe called quest, The Cleveland Heritage Jazz Orchestra, Drummer Mike Clark, The Headhunters, Cyn Layne, Melvin Rhyne, Charlie Hunter, The Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra, Composer and Pianist Steve Allee, Guitarist Dave Stryker and the Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra. […] In 2012, Dixon founded the Indianapolis Jazz Collective, an ensemble that has recorded an album titled “Jazz on Canvas” and includes pianist Steve Allee, bassist Nick Tucker, Trumpeter Marlin McKay, and drummer Kenny Phelps. The Indianapolis Jazz Collective has featured guest artists such as vibraphonist Stefon Harris, Alto Saxophonist Bobby Watson and Trumpeter Randy Brecker. Rob Dixon is an adjunct professor at IU Indy and is the Artistic Director for Indy Jazz Fest. He mentors the Jazz Futures; an Indianapolis Jazz foundation sponsored ensemble comprised of talented high school musicians from various high schools throughout the metropolitan area of Indianapolis.” - /musicians/rob-dixon/ Don’t miss Rob Dixon, the musical mayor of Indianapolis, at Chatterbox on Mondays!

It’s Wednesday, and the mood is electric! ⚡️ Tonight, we have our weekly Wednesday live music from The Tucker Brothers. The Tucker Brothers is composed of four musicians: Joel Tucker (guitar), Nick Tucker (bass), Sean Imboden (saxophone), and Brian Yarde (drums). The group is co-led by brothers Joel and Nick Tucker, who, along with saxophonist Sean Imboden, are also Jacobs School of Music alumni. Here is the mid-week pick me up you’ve been needing! 🎸

Did you know that Steven Jones and his trio graces our stage every Thursday night? Yes, EVERY Thursday. 🙌 Playing weekly on Thursdays, from 8pm-10:30pm, customers can expect to experience melodic and relaxing harmonies, as well as some pop culture faves dialed down to elegance. This night is perfect for an impromptu date night, or for introducing new friends and family to live jazz!🎹 Steven Jones Trio consists of: - Steven Jones on piano - Jesse Whitman on bass - Yusef Alsatie on drums Here is some information about Steven Jones: “As a jazz pianist, Steven Jones has worked in and around the Indianapolis area for over fifteen years. In that time he has shared the stage with such performers as Everett Greene, Cynthia Lane, Cliff Ratliff, Rob Dixon, Norman Connors, Sheryl Hayes, and many others. Steven’s style of accompaniment and melodic phrasing can be attributed to Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, the pianist’s two main influences. While Steven Jones does not currently have a website of his own, a few songs from his upcoming album can be found on reverbnation.com under the name “Man Without a Planet”.”

TONIGHT at Chatterbox: Brenda Williams Quartet 🎤 The weekend is in full swing! Let yourself be transported by the immense talent of Brenda Williams and her quartet. A little about Brenda: “Brenda Williams is a beloved vocalist and performer whose powerful voice, magnetic stage presence, and versatile artistry have made her a cornerstone of the Indianapolis arts and music scene for decades. Originally born in Macon, Georgia, and raised in Billings, Montana, Brenda’s passion for performance began early, rooted in church choir singing and a deep appreciation for theatrical storytelling and live music. Her journey eventually led her to Indianapolis, a city that instantly felt like home and would become the heart of her career. Brenda’s expansive repertoire spans genres—jazz, gospel, cabaret, Motown, country, and musical theater—reflecting a chameleonic ability to adapt to any stage or sound. Her talents have taken her across the globe, performing for U.S. Presidents and opening for legendary acts including Ray Charles, Lee Greenwood, and Ricky Van Shelton. Notably, she performed for 25,000 WWII veterans in St. Louis with a poignant rendition of “My Buddy,” an experience she describes as one of the most moving of her career. Despite her many accolades and unforgettable performances, Brenda remains grounded in gratitude, love, and joy. She is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a dear friend to many in the community. Her legacy is one of connection, inspiration, and generosity—both on and off the stage. Brenda Williams doesn’t just sing songs—she transforms them into moments. She doesn’t just perform—she uplifts. Her place in the rich fabric of Indianapolis music and theater is undeniable, and her influence will resonate for generations to come.” - /inductee-/brenda-williams

TONIGHT we have May’s installment of Listen, Please a featured poet event! The three featured writers this month are Kat Muloma, Sam Ferrante, and Bryce Berkowitz. A bit about each reader👇 - Kat is a Kenyan writer, performer, potter, and cosmochemist raised in Indianapolis, IN. The central theme in their work is cosmology- specifically the origins of our internal and collective becoming. They co-produced KAA NAMI, a grassroots performance tour by The Wabiro Kollective. They have their Masters in Physical Chemistry from UC Berkeley. - Sam is a queer poet, teacher, editor, and busybody who received her MFA in Creative Writing from Butler University in 2020 and now serves as the Butler MFA Community Workshop Director. Sam’s written work has appeared in Mirror Indy, The MacGuffin, Hobart After Dark, Turnpike, Foundlings, Ghost City Review, Hypertext Review, and elsewhere. She is currently the Director of Development for Sonic Poetry Festival, an annual grassroots spoken word and poetry festival based in Naarm/Melbourne. Sam also hosts Real Life Revised, a reading series and open mic, on the second Sunday of each month at Indiana Humanities. - Bryce is the author of the poetry collection Bermuda Ferris Wheel, recipient of the AMC TV Pilot Award at the Austin Film Festival, and Co-Director of the MFA Creative Writing program at Butler University. His writing has appeared in Best New Poets, The Sewanee Review, The Missouri Review, and other publications. He lives on the Near Eastside and some of his favorite things about Indianapolis include: Julietta’s, Bluebeard, Kan-Kan, Amelia’s Chocolate chip cookies, and all the indie bookstores. We hope to see you tonight from 6-7:30 for Listen, Please! Steven Jones Trio will follow from 8-10:30.

It’s Mother’s Day, and what better way to celebrate than by bringing your loved ones to enjoy Sandy Lomax Quartet on our Chatterbox stage? 🤩 A little information on Sandy: “Sandy Lomax is an internationally recognized jazz vocalist known as, “Indy’s Queen of Scat” in her hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. She has received many honors for her work and most recently was awarded Creative Renewal Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Ms. Lomax attributes her success to hard work, dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence. She has performed all over the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa with some of the World’s top jazz artist.” We hope you join us this evening! 🤩

TONIGHT at Chatterbox, we have long-time Chatterbox friend Christopher Pitts and his quartet on our stage! You do NOT want to miss it! A little about Christopher: “Pianist and composer, Christopher Pitts, is focused on connecting the deep roots of the jazz piano tradition with modern sensibilities through energetic performance, thoughtful collaboration, and aesthetic focused compositions. Christopher’s music stems from his eclectic mixture of influences from Jazz, Classical, Electronic, Trip Hop, Funk, Hip Hop, and traditional music from around the world.” - /bio Spend your night with us, bring some friends and grab a drink, and enjoy JAZZ UP CLOSE 🎹

TONIGHT on our Chatterbox stage... Joshua Silbert Quartet will be filling in for Mina & the Wondrous Flying Machine! A little about Joshua: “Joshua Silbert is a composer & multi-instrumentalist that currently performs with Coolidge, Mina & The Wondrous Flying Machine. He also co-founded the experimental & irreverent jam band ESW and was a primary songwriter in Johnny Socko. His music has been featured on “NPR’s All Things Considered” & Adam Sandler’s “Eight Crazy Nights.” A number of original projects are also in stages of production.” - / Joshua has shared his immense talent on our stage as a supporting musician before, but we are happy to welcome his own group! Whether you’re a Chatterbox regular, or attending for the first time, it’ll be a perfect night to experience something new 😁 We hope to see you tonight for JAZZ UP CLOSE 🎷 Bar open: 5pm-11:30pm Music: 8pm-10:30pm Music charge: $5 per person 21+

The week ahead at CHATTERBOX 🤩 Our patio is open and warmer days and nights are ahead! Make sure to check out our specialty spring cocktail menu before it’s gone! Hope you’ll join us something this week for conversation, drinks, and JAZZ UP CLOSE 🕺

TONIGHT at Chatterbox we have Evan Drybread Quartet on our stage 🎷 Help us celebrate Evan’s birthday this evening! Bring your friends and loved ones, dance, have a drink, and enjoy JAZZ UP CLOSE 💃🕺 A little about Evan: “Evan is a freelance saxophonist and composer who has performed with Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Josh Kaufman, Emmet Cohen, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He frequently performs at the Jazz Kitchen, Chatterbox Jazz Club, and many other events in the Indianapolis area including Indy Jazz Fest and Concerts on the Canal with the finest musicians in the Midwest. In 2022, Evan released his debut album “Tiger Tail” featuring all original compositions by himself and pianist Christopher Pitts. In addition to Evan & Chris, the album features Mark Buselli on trumpet, Scott Pazera on bass, and Kenny Phelps on drums. The album has received international radio play and made multiple jazz charts including peaking at #49 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart, #11 on the NACC Top 30 Jazz Chart, and placing in the top 10 on several Roots Music Report charts (#6 Jazz Album, #1 Contemporary Jazz Album, and #1 Indiana Album). The Indianapolis based saxophonist frequently performs as a sideman on all saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute with many of the area’s finest groups such as Roy Geesa’s Cool City Band and the Sean Imboden Large Ensemble. Although performing mostly in Central Indiana, Evan has performed around the globe including time as a showband musician for Royal Caribbean International. Evan graduated from Ball State University where he studied improvisation and arranging with Mark Buselli. As a graduate student at Purdue University, he served as the Jazz Program Assistant Director and was the jazz saxophone instructor at nearby Wabash College. Evan continues to teach locally and is the Professor of Saxophone at Marian University.” - /evan-drybread/blank-3 Happy Birthday Evan 🎂

Thank you to everyone that came out and celebrated Dyngus Day with us on Monday! This has been a tradition for us for 40 years, and every year it gets more fun ❤️

TONIGHT on the Chatterbox stage... Jesse Wittman Trio! A little about Jesse: “Jesse Wittman is a bassist, composer, and educator based out of Indianapolis. He received his degree in Jazz bass Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he studied bass with Bruce Bransby and composition and improvisation with David Baker. He also holds a Masters degree in Composition from Butler University where he studied with James Aikman and Michael Schelle. He currently performs in Indianapolis and across the country and teaches jazz bass and jazz combos at Butler University. He regularly performs with Rob Dixon, Amanda Gardier, Matthew Pivec, and Sean Imboden. Jesse is a versatile musician who is interested in a variety of musical genres and compositional approaches.” - /speaker/jesse-wittman/ Jesse is a staple here at Chatterbox. Come witness his greatness & JAZZ UP CLOSE! (photo by Mark Sheldon)