Meet the band...
Randy McCallister - Lead Vocals
Randy McCallister is a veteran vocalist and entertainer on the Chicago music scene. Possessing the rare combination of power and finesse, Randy has the unique ability to sing an incredibly diverse variety of musical styles. From Sinatra and standards, to Motown, R & B and more contemporary tunes, to hard-edged funk and popular music, Randy can cover it all. His smooth and effortless vocal style make him a highly sought after artist throughout the music community. Randy is frequently booked at venues all across downtown Chicago and the suburbs, and he has shared the stage with countless local artists during his career, including R-Gang, Ed Collins, Tony Ocean, Nick Pontarelli, Taronia Rice, Jessica Scarzone, Fred Johnson, Robert Davis, John Anthony, Cindy Cronin, Frank Nadille, Janie Reyes, The Jersey Girls, Dave and Donna Rice, Simply Kathleen and Saxy Rick, Sam Savage, Cliff Tartaglia, Jeorge Holmes, The Mixx, Diva Montell, and Brass From the Past. Randy is the newest member of Soul Vaccination, and we are very excited to have him join our ranks. Randy's vocal talents are the perfect fit to bring these great horn rock, soul, and funk tunes to life. For more information on Randy, including his performance schedule and info on other projects he has in the works please visit him online at randymccallistermusic.com
Kimberly Johnson - Lead Vocals
Eric Klotz - Guitar
Eric Klotz has been a professional teacher and performer for more than 19 years. He holds both a Bachelors and Masters in Jazz Performance and his mentors are graduates of Berklee College of Music and North Texas State University. He is the recipient of the prestegious Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and was performing professionally with and as a sub for his professors throughout his schooling. His 19 years of teaching experience includes 5 years as adjunct professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead, 8 years as the guitar instructor at The International Music Camp, 3 years at Glenbrook South High School (the National Grammy School of 2008), and 8 years in various music stores. In 2007 he founded Klotz Guitar Studio, where he currently works full-time to help musicians of all levels explore the music that interests them. Eric has performed in a large variety of contexts, from solo, small group, and big band/orchestral to studio and theater productions. He is well versed in a variety of styles including funk, jazz, rock, metal, blues, folk, and latin music. He has performed with some of Chicago's finest musicians, both as a leader and sideman. In 2008, the Eric Klotz Trio was one of 5 bands in 3 states selected as a finalist to perform for a spot at Minnesota's 10,000 Lakes Festival. Currently, Eric can be found performing various styles regularly in and around the Chicago area at venues such as the House of Blues, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, the Hard Rock Cafe and various street festivals throughout the summer. He performs regularly with Reely Dan (Steely Dan Tribute), Red Clay Collective (jazz/rock), Grape Juice Plus (free improvisation), & Rio Bamba (latin jazz). Eric is proud to be an endorsed artist for Klotz cables. For more information about Eric, including info on his guitar school visit klotzguitarstudio.com.
Brother John Kattke - Keyboards
Brother John Kattke has been a resident musician at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago for 25 years. An impressive and talented multi-instrumentalist, Kattke is at home on both keyboards and guitar. Brother John has played with Eric Clapton, Steve Miller, the Black Crowes, and has acquired ringing endorsements from many other musicians of renown. For example: Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant once saw John perform during a show with Otis Rush at the Jazz Café in London. When Plant and Kattke met later in person, Plant told Kattke: “You play a MEAN guitar!” Brother John is a fixture at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, where his playing impressed the owner so much that Guy himself hired John to go on tour with him. Kattke also served as the leader of the Otis Rush Band for three years. John once auditioned to be the lead guitarist for the Black Crows, but then “they decided to do that tour with Jimmie Page,” Kattke said. Brother John has been a vital musical component behind some of the blues’ most lauded musicians. As a solo artist his playing stands apart as a uniquely creative force of its own, and his vocals, an aspect of the music that is often overlooked in today’s guitar crazy world, are delivered with full-throated assurance. In addition to leading the house band at Buddy Guy's Legends, Brother John can be seen performing in all the top blues and rock venues across Chicago. For more info on his busy performance schedule as well as other projects he is involved in please visit his website at johnkattke.com
Tim Marin - Bass
Professor of chemistry and physics by day, musician by night, Tim Marin was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, and has been involved in music since the age of 8, when he took up the clarinet in the grade school band. Though he pursued undergraduate studies in the sciences while attending Benedictine University, he heavily immersed himself in their jazz program, playing simultaneously in multiple jazz combo, big band, and concert band settings. There he had the opportunity to train under Chicago jazz greats Jack Mouse, Frank Dawson, Gary Slavo, Jim Cox, and Mark Colby. Later, during his Ph.D. studies at Northwestern University, he helped form the all-original popular indie rock band Rhonda’s Basement, where he played guitar, co-wrote much of the material, and toured the Chicago north side club circuit. Later he performed for six years as part of the Son of Jake Band and the 95th Street Band, taking on either sax or bass duties. He is the founder, bassist, and arranger for the 12-piece Chi-Town Showstoppers show band, and maintains a busy schedule playing traditional jazz with the Nite Hawks and the Wes Hausken Trio. In his spare time, he works as a Catholic Church music minister.
Danya Thompson - Drum Set
Chicago native Danya Thompson has traveled the world many times over as a drummer & producer. Having started drumming at age 7, Danya quickly realized he had a passion for rhythm. After spending much of his adolescent years honing his craft & talents, he began to tour the world & share those talents with thousands of fans. Danya has toured and/or recorded with an impressive list of artists, including Destiny’s Child, Common, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Mathien, Scott Allman, Hot Hot Robot, Leigh Jones, Just Infinite, Jeromy Acton, Brooke Bartlett, Babybrutha, Animate Objects, and countless others. Danya is an in demand artist at Chicago studios CRC, Pressure Point Recording Studios, and I.V. Labs, as well as in recording mecca Nashville, TN at numerous recording studios including Sound Emporium & Blackbird. In addition to being an accomplished musician, Danya has also added producer, recording engineer, composer, and Musical Director to his resume. Danya has composed songs for films & TV shows such as “The Grind” & “Empire”, and has also mixed & mastered songs for acclaimed artists such as Marlowe Cribbs & Hot Hot Robot. Besides touring, performing, & engineering, Danya is also an active clinician & educator. Danya has led clinics at various Chicago Guitar Center & Sam Ash locations, and has also instructed classes at Illinois Media School. Danya is currently producing albums for three up and coming country artists which are set for release. Danya is currently an endorsed artist for Yamaha & Infinity Drums, Murat Duril Cymbals, & KAM Microphones.
Josh Shapiro - Alto Saxophone
As an over 20-year veteran of the Chicago music scene, Joshua Shapiro, (or "Shap" as many in the biz call him) has plied his saxophone and music arranging skills over many distinct genres and at numerous venues. Be it Jazz, Rock & Roll, Funk, Pop, AfroBeat, or Salsa, "Shap" has distinguished himself with his versatility and approach to the saxophone. Josh can currently be heard performing all over Chicagoland with the region's top ensembles. Josh has also performed and toured with: The Platters, The Tokens, The Buckinghams, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Ben Vereen, Charo, Maureen McGovern, Clint Holmes, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and Under the Streetlamp. While saxophone is his primary instrument, Joshua can frequently be heard performing on clarinet and flute as well, and his music arrangements can be found in the books of many ensembles throughout the region.
Dan Moffett - Tenor Saxophone
Dan Moffett is an active and in demand saxophonist on the Chicago music scene. A versatile performer, Dan is at home in a variety of musical styles, including jazz, funk, rock, blues, & classical music. Dan has toured & performed with multiple Grammy Award winners, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, AMA recipients, Juno Award winners, & Billboard Magazine chart toppers, including the Buckinghams, Gino Vannelli, CTA featuring Danny Seraphine & Bill Champlin, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Lou Christie, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Rascals with Felix Cavaliere, the Box Tops, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Dennis Tufano, & Jay and the Americans to name a few. Dan leads his own small jazz ensemble the Swing Collective, and he is also frequently called on to sub with numerous jazz, rock, and blues bands in and around Chicago. When he's not performing, Dan has a strong passion for teaching as well. For over 20 years Dan has been a band director in the Chicago suburbs. Dan currently teaches instrumental music at Komarek District 94 in North Riverside. Dan also currently serves as adjunct professor of saxophone at Benedictine University (Lisle campus). Dan is on the artist roster for Conn-Selmer, Inc. and is proud to be an Artist-Endorser for Selmer saxophones (selmer.com). Dan holds Bachelors & Masters Degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. For more information visit Dan online at danmoffett.com
Ed Enright - Baritone Saxophone
Ed Enright is one of the most sought-after and versatile baritone saxophone players in Chicago. At the age of 14 Ed was already performing professionally as a founding member of one of Chicago’s premier big bands, the Outcast Jazz Band. Ed also spent several years performing with the crazy New Orleans-style Professor John Band. Ed can frequently be heard in the horn section with the extremely popular Chicago-based tribute band Tributosaurus, along with numerous other Chicago-based jazz, blues and rock groups. Ed has been a member of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the big bands of Niel Dunlap, the Oak Park River Forest Symphony Orchestra, and has served as band leader with Eddysax & the Splittones. When not making music, Ed works as an editor for Down Beat, the international jazz magazine. During his time with Down Beat Ed has had the privilege of interviewing a wide range of artists, including Clint Eastwood, James Carter, Wynton Marsalis, David Sanborn, Bobby McFerrin, Brian Setzer, Phil Collins, Wayne Shorter, Charlie Haden, Sonny Rollins, Buddy Guy, Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, J.J. Johnson, Louie Bellson, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Elvin Jones, and scores of others. Ed holds a Master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Nicholas Drozdoff - Trumpet
Chicago area trumpeter and Maynard Ferguson Orchestra alum Nick Drozdoff has been a fixture in Chicago’s music scene for many years. After concluding his run in Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1981, Nick began work as a contractor and completed his Masters in classical trumpet. Nick then began leading a double life of sorts in 1991 when he took on a “day gig” as a high school physics teacher, garnering awards as an educator by day while jobbing with various bands in and around Chicago and developing endorsement deals as a jazz trumpeter at night. The list of artists Nick has performed with reads as a who's who in the music business, and includes Maynard Ferguson, The Ojays, Dennis De Young of Styx, Sammy Davis Jr., Rich Little, John Denver, The Temptations, The Spinners, Robert Goulet, Frankie Avalon, Rosemary Clooney, Diahann Carol, Della Reese, Pat Boone, Louie Bellson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Melissa Manchester, and Vic Damone to name a few. Nick is endorsed by Getzen trumpets and Wedge mouthpieces. Nick currently performs on his own signature line of Drozdoff trumpet mouthpieces he engineered and developed in conjunction with Wedge©. For more information visit nickdrozdoff.com
Michael Stewart - Trumpet
Dr. Michael Stewart is an in demand trumpeter in and around Chicago. In addition to performing with Soul Vaccination, Michael can also be heard with the Gold Coast Orchestra, the Chicago Grandstand Big Band, the Shout Section Big Band, Die Musikmeisters, & the Jazz Faction Big Band. Mike is also frequently booked as a freelance classical soloist for private engagements. Michael holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Composition (University of South Carolina), a Masters degree in Trumpet Performance (Eastern Illinois University), and a Bachelors degree in Jazz Studies (University of Akron). In addition to performing, Michael maintains a busy teaching schedule. Michael currently serves as adjunct professor of music at College of DuPage, where he leads courses in trumpet, music theory, aural skills, & music appreciation. Dr. Stewart is also an accomplished composer. Although he primarily writes for jazz bands & brass ensembles, his compositions cover a far reaching range of styles and genres. Most recently, he released a new collection of 17 songs, "Songs in the Key of Trumpet," (September 2015), and 2014's "Different Voices," which can be found on iTunes, CDBaby, & Amazon. For more info visit stewmuse.com
Norman Friede - Trombone
Norman Friede is a passionate and dedicated musician. By day he is a successful business man based out of Naperville, by night he can be seen in the horn sections of Soul Vaccination, the Not For Profit Band, the Joliet All-Stars Big Band, and at the helm conducing his own professional ensemble the Jazz Faction Big Band. Norm has worked with and played beside some of the top studio musicians in Chicago, and because of his high level of musicianship and easygoing nature he is always busy with one project or another. Originally from Minnesota, Norm studied trombone at the University of Minnesota and spent time as a freelance musician in the Baltimore area before finally relocating to Chicago in the mid-90's. Norm is a founding member of Soul Vaccination, and as he puts it, he was "the match that lit the fire" for the creation of this band. Besides being a skillful and adept soloist, Norm is the ultimate section player, keeping tabs on all details of the band's horn section, including personnel, sound and lighting, music, and any equipment and audio needs.