Saxophonist, improviser, and composer Dave Rempis has been an integral part of the thriving Chicago jazz and improvised music scene since 1997. With a background in ethnomusicology and African studies at Northwestern University, including a year spent at the University of Ghana, Rempis burst onto the creative music scene at the age of 22 when he was asked to join the now-legendary Chicago jazz outfit The Vandermark Five. This opportunity catapulted him to notoriety as he began to tour regularly throughout the US and Europe, an active schedule that he still maintains to the present day. At the same time, Rempis began to develop the many Chicago-based groups for which he’s currently known, including The Rempis Percussion Quartet, The Engines, Ballister, Kuzu, Rempis/Abrams/Ra + Baker, and longstanding duos with drummers Frank Rosaly and Tim Daisy.

Chad M. Clark is a Chicago-based guitarist whose jagged, experimental style pushes beyond traditional boundaries. Rooted in the city’s rich musical legacy but not confined by it, his playing embraces tension, texture, and unpredictability. Improvisation sits at the core of Clark’s approach. Each performance is treated as an open-ended exploration, where fractured rhythms, unconventional phrasing, and raw tonal shifts take the lead. His guitar work often feels restless and searching—less about polish, more about discovery. Blending grit with abstraction, Clark’s sound moves between melodic fragments and noise-driven expression, creating a sonic landscape that is as challenging as it is compelling. Whether on stage or in collaborative settings, he brings an unfiltered, experimental energy that sets him apart within Chicago’s music scene.