Jazz Studies
INSTITUTE FOR JAZZ STUDIES
WHY WE EXIST:
+To restore IMPROVISATION to the landscape of music education in our community, by empowering musicians of all ages both to CREATE their own new music and to COLLABORATE with others in its creation.
+To mentor LIFE-LONG MUSICIANS toward a joyful and servant-hearted life in the arts.
WHO WE ARE:
We are young professionals, with advanced degrees in Jazz studies and extensive performing experience in the Chicagoland area.
We are friends! We’ve worked together for many years now, and love it that we get to launch IJS together.
WHAT WE DO:
Summer Jazz Camp - featuring lessons in Jazz History, Theory, Improvisation, Combos and more!
Monthly Jam Sessions! 3rd Sunday of the Month in Glen Ellyn Click HERE for Details!
Battle of the Combos - Click Here to sign up Now! MAy 1, 2026 Deadline!
Winners perform at Jazz Up Glen Ellyn 2026!
Private lessons - piano, guitar, bass, drums, voice
Improvisation classes - supplementary to students' regular private lessons (great option for non-IJS students)
Clinics in local schools - to raise the banner high for the power of improvisation.
Residencies - partnerships with local schools to help build up their jazz programs
Masterclasses - regularly bring in great players like Fareed Haque to help coach our students (great option for non-IJS students)
Check out our VIDEOS online! (Be sure to subscribe!)
COME JOIN US!
KEVIN BROWN, Director of Institute for Jazz Studies, jazz guitar
Canadian-born guitarist Kevin Brown is an experienced educator, performer, and composer in the Chicago area. He holds a B.M. in guitar performance from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and a M.M. in Jazz Composition from DePaul University.
Some of his primary instructors have included Peter Ulrich, Willie Wiebe, Larry Roy, and Stephen Ramsdell with additional lessons and masterclasses with Scott Hesse, Mike Allemana, Steve Coleman, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Rez Abassi, John Patitucci, and many others.
He has performed with musicians such as Bobby Watson, Jimmy Greene, Benny Golson, Jon Irabagon, and Marquis Hill and has appeared in some of Chicago's top venues for jazz including the Green Mill and the Jazz Showcase. Kevin has performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival, The Chi-Town Jazz Festival, Jazz Up Glen Ellyn and the Iowa City Jazz Festival.
Kevin Brown serves as Guest Lecturer for Jazz Guitar at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, he is an adjunct faculty member at Olivet Nazarene University. In addition to teaching jazz guitar and combos at Bellas Artes he also serves as director for the Institute for Jazz Studies.
ARTIE BLACK, jazz saxophone
Artie Black is a saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Chicago. Originally from Butler, Pennsylvania, he was first inspired to pursue a career in music through lessons with Dr. Terry Steele, professor of saxophone at Slippery Rock University. Artie graduated with a degree in music education from Messiah College in 2010.
After graduating from Messiah, he continued his studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, earning a Master's degree in Jazz Studies in 2012. At Indiana, Artie studied saxophone with Tom Walsh and worked as an Associate Instructor with legendary jazz educator David Baker.
Artie moved to Chicago in 2012, where he quickly established himself as an important part of the creative music scene. He has appeared at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival and as a part of the Next Gen Jazz Series, and has played as a leader and sideman at The Green Mill, Andy's Jazz Club, Constellation, and dozens of other Chicago venues. Recent highlights include a weeklong tour and recording with his group Living Bridge, and a series of performances and workshops with Steve Coleman's Five Elements.
In addition to his passion for performance, Artie is fascinated by the learning and teaching process. He maintains a busy schedule of private saxophone instruction, and also joined the faculty of Wheaton College as an adjunct professor in Spring 2014. His goal as a teacher is to inspire his students to find joy through learning for themselves.
SEAN RZEWNICKI, upright and electric bass
Sean Rzewnicki is bassist, composer and educator from Chicago, Illinois. He has experience performing in a variety of settings from jazz & classical to rock & funk; giving him a deep bag to pull from when teaching or in the studio. Sean enjoys teaching and works to develop a unique program for the needs and desires for individual students and groups.
Sean earned his associates degree in electric bass performance from the Musicians Institute (2011) and completed his Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies at California State University, Northridge (2020), where he studied with renowned educator Gary Pratt. He also studied classical bass with Dr. David Young at the Colburn School of Music in LA. Currently, Sean is pursuing his Masters Degree in Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University and is performing and teaching in the Chicagoland area.
Sean performed with a variety of groups while living in Los Angeles including: Phat Cat Swinger, The Battle of the Big Bands, The Opera by the Glass Orchestra, The Christian McBride Big Band, CSUN Jazz A Band and the LAPD Jazz Orchestra & Concert Bands. He has recorded and toured with rock bands Elodie & The Free Notion, The Evening Guests, Toy District and Stumpwaller. Additionally, he has maintained residencies at the famous Hollywood Piano Bar, Harvard & Stone, Disney California Adventure & the Hotel Constance in Pasadena.
In his 10 years of teaching experience, Sean has developed exciting and individualized lesson plans. He understands that all students have diverse goals, and Sean works diligently to help his students develop the skills to succeed in any situation. Sean teaches both electric and upright bass covering all musical styles. An emphasis on developing musicianship & technique will allow students to thrive wherever their musical aspirations take them! Whether you are preparing for college auditions, playing in a local band or just starting out on the bass, Sean is here to help on your musical journey.
In 2020, Sean moved with his wife to Seoul, South Korea. In addition to studying the Korean language and working as an actor, he performed at Club Evan’s and Burn in Hal Jazz Clubs as wells as playing the Daegu International Jazz Festival. Sean returned to Illinois in the fall 2021 and can now be found performing with the NIU Jazz Orchestra, NIU Jazztet & Jade Moon Jazz band. When not engaged in his studies or career as performer and educator, Sean can be found biking, reading & enjoying live music throughout Chicago.
Sean’s passion for music is inspiring, and he looks forward to applying his knowledge and experience to helping many upcoming musicians succeed in their dreams!
MASTERCLASS SERIES
STAY TUNED FOR CURRENT MASTERCLASSES
PAST MASTERCLASSES
Summer 2020 Online Jazz Guitar Masterclass Series with Farred Haque
July 2019 Ernest Dawkins - Creative Improvisation
July 2019 Fareed Haque - Blues to BeBop and Beyond!
July 2018 Arcomusical - Brazilian Music Demo
July 2017 Improv 101 and Improv 201 with Farred Haque
July 2016 Masterclass with Fareed Haque