Steve Kessler
Lead vocals, Guitar, Keyboard
Steve, the bandleader, composer and cofounder of the Saturday June Band has been entertaining in the Midwest for 20 years. His performing credits include stints with Ooze Magazine, the Pace, Fred Winston band and Chariot ( a band which also featured a fellow by the name of Eddie Vedder). Steve and Saturday June Band have performed at Chicagofest, Taste of Chicago, Arlington Race Track, Navy Pier, the Park West and Ravinia , as well as Notre Dame,Northwestern and Marquette Universities and played for both the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls. His bands have shared the bill with such notables as Steve Goodman, the Turtles, the Stranglers, X, the Outlaws, and the Kings. In addition, his guitar and vocal credits include playing live with Hound Dog Taylor and recording with Richie Havens. Chicago Magazine labeled his band “One of the Good Ones” J records (Alicia Keyes, Luther Vandross) VP of A&R, James Diener, has described Steve as a “strong musician and solid composer”. He is currently recording his second album.
Jami Dawn
Vocals and Percussion
The Saturday June Band is proud to feature Jami Dawn up front on vocals. Her deep soulful voice has electrified an audience on many an occasion. A talented songwriter and guitar player in her own right, Jami lends the band an extra dimension with her singing and dynamic stage presence. She is a veteran of the Chicago acoustic scene, often appearing at Uncommon Ground with artists like Crystal Bowersox. Her song “Moments” was recently chosen for a new compilation CD of notable Chicago artists.Steve Woods
Keyboards and Vocals
Steve Woods is a classically trained musician who has found his inner rock n roll self. Adept at any and all types of music, Steve brings Saturday June Band a world of musical knowledge and expertise. He currently teaches music theory at Northeastern University and has been working as the music director at a number of local churches.Dan Lazarus
Drums
Dan Lazarus began playing the drums when he was eight years old. He has played with various Chicago bands, such as the “horn band” Tarshis, which eventually became the back-up band to bluesman Johnny “Funky” Twist. That band shared the stage with the Siegal-Schwall Blues
Band, Charlie Musselwhite, Koko Taylor, and other notable blues artists. Dan enjoyed a brief
stint as drummer with the 16 piece, jazz-rock band, Jumbo, under the direction of saxophonist
Bunky Green and trumpeter John Priola. In recent years, he has played drums for the band Crazy
Curt and the Fireballs, a Parents’ Choice award-winning ensemble that performs original, adult-
style music for children.
Dan has studied under Frank Donaldson, percussion professor at Columbia College,percussionist with Corky Siegal’s Chamber Blues, and former, longtime drummer for jazz great
Ramsey Lewis. Dan enjoys playing a variety of musical styles, most notably, funk, rock and
blues, all of which he plays with the Saturday June Band.
