Funk Du Jour and Doug James & The Pocket

Doug James & The Pocket:

Pocket drummer Ron Schur will play anywhere, anytime, any beat! He’s a highly respected and popular guest at many Chicago open jams with well developed roots in the local scene. Ron’s not so humble beginnings include stints with Curtis Mayfield's band, former hard rock veteran bands Sluggo and Sheba, recording with progressive band Gabriel Bondage, sessions with Dave Mason and Sammy Fender, and most recently laying down the beat in the studio for Zero Defekts. When not pounding out the pulse for The Pocket, Ron enjoys cycling, his family, and giving Dave crap about his hair.

Chicago rock and blues veteran Rick Demski, the blue-eyed soul man of the Pocket, lays down the bass tighter than slice of ham on rye, with mustard! (tighter than bike shorts on Lance Armstrong…pick your analogy). Rick has been a staple on the Main Stage at Naperville’s Ribfest several times, even sharing the stage with bandmate Dave as they appeared larger than life on the Jumbotron screen! His most recent project was contributing lead vocals and co-writing a soon to be released CD with Dave. Rick’s triple threat of bass playing, gritty, intense lead vocals, and boyish good looks adds yet another facet to the Pocket that must be heard and seen to appreciate; and gives the band a much needed anchor in conjunction with drummer Ron to keep the other members from completely spinning off into the cosmos!

Guitarist Chuck Wasserburg plays swampy slide guitar that you’d swear comes straight from the Delta, and blazing blues riffs directly from the south side of Chicago even though he is an L.A. transplant. Close your eyes and you will swear you hear Johnny Winter, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, and Duane Allman when Chuck lights up that slide, but The Pocket’s repertoire allows him to add a style all his own. Chuck is also an open jam regular and it was at one of those where he made his pact to play with the devil . . . or maybe it was Doug James. His memory remains hazy about this.. In a band full of wiseguy jokesters, Chuck’s sly wit is as unpredictable as his guitar playing, coming when you least expect it! Wait for it…

The energy pouring from harmonica player Dave Rix is enough to jump start an entire parking lot of stalled cars in Chicago in January. Dave spent most of the 80’s playing bass in big hair bands Kyler and Bombs Away, and for whatever reason still has most of that hair. Dave’s latest project was contributing bass and harp as well as co-writing a soon to be released CD along with Rick. Recently the blues came calling and he rekindled the love affair with the Mississippi saxophone he began playing at 14, and since meeting up with Doug James, Dave has finally taken the opportunity to step out front and wail! From influences as diverse as Howard Levy to Sonny Terry, don’t be surprised when you see Dave boogieing across the tabletops or maybe even the ceiling!

Joe Tsikretsis, "Joe T", remains a bit of a mystery, as he won't provide any photos for his webpage. We think he's in the witness protection program, but that hasn't affected his guitar playing any! Joe brings a fresh sound and perspective to Doug James and The Pocket and he's already contributed to the recording of our upcoming CD of all original tunes. But probably the best part about having Joe in the band is he's just as crazy as the rest of us!

Ken Johnson, aka "The Deacon", is the latest addition to Doug James and The Pocket.  The level of musicianship Ken brings to the band on keyboards is making the rest of us work that much harder to keep up! After taking up piano at 4, he started his own band at 13 and has been gigging ever since, being baptized to the power of the blues at a B.B. King concert as a teenager. Ken's love for music has enabled him to master all styles and he has shared the stage or recorded with many Chicago music legends such as Koko Taylor, harpist Gus Stagg and many others. Now at 7 members in our band, it may be crowded up on stage, but with Ken Johnson on keys, it's the more the merrier!

And then there is Doug, as in Doug James who, now that James Brown is gone, has taken over the title of hardest working man in show business. We don’t think Doug sleeps, ever. Doug’s unbridled energy enables him to tackle many projects at once, whether it’s jamming and networking on a weekly basis at many area clubs (drop a name and Doug will know that person), doing tributes to his favorite musicians like Joe Cocker, or his career as a professional voice over artist, actor, and MC. Originally a DJ, Doug has found it necessary to keep on talking by fronting Doug James and The Pocket. As Chairman of the Board, Master of Ceremonies, Big Kahuna, and Ringleader, Doug leads and inspires his fellow band mates on this crazy, soulful blues and boogie circus!

Vocals:   With her unique smooth and silky style, this soft, yet feisty side of Funk du Jour easily pumps out the leads to the hit tunes of Cher, Gloria Gaynor, Madonna and Gloria Estefan.  She is also the perfect balance to the font line of singers, adding the solid high-end to the four-part harmonies.

Vocals, Guitar, Percussion:  Alfredo started singing at 5 years of age and is a self-taught guitarist.  You’ve probably seen him perform in the past with these Chicago-based groups – Direction, Pegasus, Funktion, Treazures, The Movers, Hip Shake, Monkey Tongues and most recently with The National Society of Hispanic Letter Carriers of America, an all-Hispanic line-up.

Vocals:   Trained in both piano and voice from a young age, Mona has established herself as an exceptionally versatile musician.  Her talents have allowed her to perform at many premier local and regional venues as well as festivals, TV and out of state.

Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Trombone:  Originally from New York, Paul arrived on the Chicago music scene in 1990. He has appeared at the Elbo Room, Lakeview Links and the Beat Kitchen playing with Dream In Color and the Who Needs Dove Jazz Ensemble.

Trumpet, Flugel Horn:  Dave was born & raised in the Chicago area.  With a father as a music educator, he grew up listening to all sorts of music.  After learning the piano at a young age, he took up the trumpet at age 8.  Dave received a BM in Music Education from Elmhurst College and is currently working on his MM in Jazz Studies at DePaul University in Chicago.  His biggest musical influences include Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove & Nicholas Payton.

Tenor Sax, Flute: Born and raised in Chicago, Herman has been playing since he was a teenager.  He attended Northeastern University where he received his BA in Music.  Along the way, Herman studied with the legendary Joe Daley and studied Jazz Piano with Dee King.

Baritone Sax, Vocals, Percussion:  Born and raised on Chicago's North side Joe began playing saxophone at age 14 and has studied with Shelly Yoelin and Rich Corpolongo.  You may have heard Joe's deep baritone sax in these Chicago bands; Black Mahriya, Desperate Souls, Souled Out and also with the College of DuPage and Triton Jazz Bands.

Keyboards, Back-up Vocals:  Julian has been playing piano longer than … well.  He grew up playing in Chicago with local greats, including Mike Balter, Ed Rothberg, Bob Sambrosky and Bob Kaiser but left the professional music scene to pursue a career in science.

Saxophone:   John was born and raised in the Chicago area.  He began playing saxophone at age 8. He attended Maine East H.S. in Park Ridge and was recipient  of the John Phillips Sousa award his senior year.  At age 17 he was accepted by The Julliard School of Music in New York City to study saxophone.  After Julliard, he was invited to study at The Conservatory in Bordeaux, France by world renown saxophonist Jean Marie Londiex.  Upon completion of his studies, John received The First Place Prize in performance from The Conservatory.  Upon return to the U.S., John attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Music.

Bass Guitar, Back-up Vocals:  Reggie has been involved in the Chicago music scene for many years, playing in bands such as Clever, Black Wonders and Up From the Bottom.

Lead Guitar:  Guitarist Dave grew up in Chicago listening to the great rock, blues, pop and R & B of the 60's and 70's.  He has played in many area bands and was a longtime member of The Haymarket Riot, a Chicago horn band.

Bandleader, Musical Arrangements, Drums, Back-up Vocals:  Born in Chicago to a professional, musical family, Rick grew up on the north side of the city.  He started playing trumpet as a child, but switched to drums at the age of sixteen.

Starting with a 5-piece band, the switch to drums brought him some immediate satisfaction.  Local studio work followed, at Universal Studios in Chicago for McDonald's, Burger King, Ral Donner and Johnny Cooper, which led to more studio work in L.A..  Arriving back in Chicago, he was called to play gig work opening for The Platters, The Shadows of Night, 4 Days and a Night, American Breed, Martha and the Vandellas and The Outsiders.  Five years later he hooked up with some horn players and they formed the band Jumbo.