BLAST!

Featuring Tom Hipskind, Bob Lizik, Kraig McCreary & Paul Mutzabaugh.Tom Hipskind has been playing drums for well over 30 years. He received his undergraduate degree in jazz performance at Northern Illinois University, where he played with the NIU Jazz Ensemble and accompanied many jazz legends for three years, before doing graduate work at DePaul University and taking residence in the Chicago area. He has performed, recorded and toured extensively with many arti...sts, such as Howard Levy, Kenny Werner, Patricia Barber, Fred Simon, Kimo Williams’ Kimotion, Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band, and many others. Currently, he’s a member of the Chicago-based jazz/fusion group Kick The Cat, and is on the band’s latest CD, “Scramble”. Tom is a highly-regarded studio musician, having recorded on dozens of TV and radio commercials, film soundtracks, and record dates. He’s also found a home in Broadway-style pit orchestras, performing on Chicago-based productions of “The Lion King”, “Shrek” and “Dirty Dancing”. Since 2004, Tom has been adjunct faculty in the music department at Columbia College Chicago, teaching private lessons and classes.For years, Bob Lizik has been a first call session player in Chicago. He has performed on thousands of television and radio commercials. From your favorite foods and beverages, to the cars you drive and the places you shop, you've probably heard Bob's bass on their commercials. He's appeared on albums with artists such as, Barbra Streisand, Mavis Staples, Joe Sample,Billy Joel, and tracks for Madonna, Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, and many others. From 1998 until recently, he toured and recorded with the legendary Brian Wilson. His work with Brian goes back to the Imagination album, and includes everything thru Smile, and That Lucky Old Sun.Kraig McCreary is a world class guitarist, fluent in many styles, and has played on thousands of radio and tv commercials, as well as numerous cds and songs for many artists. He has been Musical Director for Jonathon Brandmeier, Willow Creek Church, and St Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, IL. He is also a gifted composer, arranger, & audio engineer, and has owned and operated Lucky Penny Productions for over 30 years, where he has written and recorded everything from pop tunes to jazz waltzes, orchestral pieces to screaming rock tracks. His music is heard on Oprah’s show, as well as many other broadcast venues. Kraig has been blessed to play with Bob Lizik in the Jerry Goodman Band and Big Roy.Keyboardist Paul Mutzabaugh works consistently in both live and studio projects throughout Chicago, enjoying a wide variety of musical genres. In addition to Blast, he currently leads his own original jazz/fusion group The Renegades, and is a founding member of the band Crawl. He performs regularly with notable local artists such as Typhanie Monique, John Elmquist's Hard Art Groop, Aaron McEvers' M13, and Chris Siebold's Psycles. Paul also serves as a musical director for Casa de Luz church, which has included performances in the U.S. and abroad with renowned Hispanic artists including Héctor Hermosillo & Torre Fuerte, María del Sol, and Ernesto d'Alessio. Holding a Bachelor of Music in Composition from DePaul University ('98-'02), he also enjoyed a 4-year tenure on tenor drums with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (FMM '97-'00).

• http://www.kraigmccreary.com/blast