A live sound built over decades.

Paul started learning piano at age 4 and clarinet at age 11. He has performed with a wide variety of groups on various instruments, including playing saxophones with The Temptations and electric bass with Tom “Bones” Malone. In the 90s, he was a staff arranger for Mike Williamson Productions in Rockford, specializing in corporate cabaret shows featuring 3–4 singers and a 3–6 piece backup band. He also wrote many big band arrangements for the Magic Monday cancer benefit shows in Rockford.

Paul’s pit orchestra work includes performing on bass, keyboards, guitar, banjo, mandolin, saxophones, piccolo and clarinet as well as music directing dozens of shows. He has also provided orchestration reductions and expansions for several music productions. Dr. Nielsen currently performs regularly with the Chapin Jazz X-tet, the Normennenes Norwegian Choir, Lakeland Madrigal singers, and the College of Lake County Monday Night Jazz Ensemble. He is also the director of the Carmel Catholic High School String Ensemble and teaches Jazz Improvisation with the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop.

Paul is a Wheeling (IL) HS graduate and lives in Grayslake with his wife, Tracey, who is a writer and a jazz trombonist. Paul retired in 2023 after a 30 year career teaching choral, instrumental, jazz and general music at the high school level. He holds degrees from DePaul University (B. MusEd), VanderCook School of Music (M. MusEd) and Boston University (DMA, Music Education).

While in high school, John played in several groups at Marriott’s Great America, including the pit orchestra in the Grand Music Hall, a Dixieland jazz band, a Top 40 band and the trombone jazz ensemble called “Bones.” After studying percussion performance, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in music education.

John also pursued a career in mortgage banking, spending 32 years with the same company. His teaching experience includes general music at a middle school in Lake Villa, Illinois.

In addition to Jazz Spectrum, John has performed with several local jazz groups, including the 10 oz. Martinis. He has also sung the lead voice in Jazz Spectrum’s male quartet performing Four Freshmen arrangements. John and Stacy have raised two musicians who perform regularly.

While recording the 2004 CD It’s Christmas, Jazz Spectrum needed an acoustic bass on one tune, and Bill was recommended. Shortly afterward, when longtime bassist Tom Sievers retired, Bill joined the group and became part of the Jazz Spectrum family.

Bill began playing bass at eleven in school jazz bands and continued through the University of Illinois. At fourteen, he began performing professionally. His freelance work includes weddings, musicals, small jazz groups and big bands. He has played summer festivals with a classic-rock band featuring horns and spent more than a decade with a band blending blues, jazz, soul and funk.

Bill graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in computer science. His software development projects have included computer games, arcade games, Nintendo games, Disney theme park attractions, entertainment systems for restaurants and bars, and video streaming services for commercial airlines.

Bill lives in Palatine with Jennifer, who has helped carry his equipment since their high school band trips. Their son Mitchell has musical and technical talents of his own, with work involving satellites for NASA near Washington, D.C.

Randy retired in 2023 after 31 years as Director of Bands at Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Iowa. His postgraduate studies included Vanderbilt, the University of North Texas and Illinois State University. Before moving to Illinois, he directed bands in Williamsburg and Indianola, Iowa, and served as an adjunct trumpet teacher at Simpson College.

Randy’s freelance trumpet work includes performances with Bopology, the Sidemen Big Band, the Dana Legg Stage Band, RSVP Orchestra and the Crystal Brass Quintet. His performing experience includes the Jazz Showcase, Joe’s Bebop Café, Taste of Chicago, Chicago Bulls and White Sox events, and Arlington Park.

Alongside his work as a musician and educator, Randy is an avid cyclist who enjoys taking on 100-mile rides.

Dave began playing saxophone in 1973 under the direction of his father, a band director. He earned a bachelor’s degree in performance at Northern Illinois University, where he performed with the award-winning NIU Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Saxophone Quartet. During a 1988 Disneyland performance, jazz euphonium great Rich Matteson nicknamed him “The Chicago Flash” for his Chicago jazz sound.

Rooted in cool jazz and bebop, Dave’s style has been influenced by Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. His freelance performing credits include Maynard Ferguson, Louie Bellson, Conte Candoli, Kurt Elling, Freida Lee, Randy Brecker and Pete Christlieb.

Dave also brings vocal talents to the group, including scat singing and the third vocal part in Jazz Spectrum’s male quartet. He lives in Lindenhurst, Illinois, is married and has two children.

Ryan represents the third generation of a musical family. His father John is Jazz Spectrum’s drummer, and his mother Stacy sings alto. Ryan began sitting in with Jazz Spectrum at eleven and became a full-time member after graduating from the University of Illinois, expanding the horn section to three.

After earning a degree in finance, Ryan joined PNC Financial Group and advanced into a role in Milwaukee. At 26, he was among the company’s youngest employees to be named an officer. In April 2024, a PNC corporate customer nominated Ryan for Forbes’ Forty Under Forty designation. Like his father, he describes himself as a businessman by day and a musician by night.

During college, Ryan worked with nonprofits whose causes ranged from collecting and distributing children’s books to teaching entrepreneurship in Tanzania. His interests have taken him to studies in Italy and travels across Europe, Asia and Africa.

Ryan played saxophone throughout middle school, high school and college. He was a member of Midwest Young Artists, was featured with the Illinois Music Education Association and performed with the University of Illinois jazz bands. Beyond Jazz Spectrum, he has also played keyboards with Fern! The Funk Sensation.