About this project
The Fatum Brothers’ Jazz Orchestra is not your ordinary jazz big band. No sir, no ma'am, we pride ourselves on what makes us unique. Composed of the top college-aged jazz musicians in the country, members of the Fatum Brothers’ Jazz Orchestra study at Colleges and Universities across the country.
In our second summer, we made it our goal to find new ways to continue to share our passion and love for jazz music with more and more people. Thus began the CD release and California tour project. Yesterday (June 27th), we finished spending two full days in the recording studio recording our first CD ever, an album of original jazz big band music written by the talented Downbeat Award Winning young composer Levi Saelua (Eastman School of Music '12). After our CD release party at the beautiful Skokie Theatre Music Foundation on July 30th, the band will hop on a plane and take the music on a national tour to California for the first two weeks of August! Performances are scheduled as far south as San Diego and as far north as the International San Jose Jazz Festival. We return to Chicago just in time to perform the final date on our tour, a CD Release party at the world famous Jazz Showcase!
Running a big band of 16 top young jazz lions takes time and effort, and requires some financial assistance. Donating to this project helps support live jazz music, supports jazz education, will help us pay our composer Levi for all of the incredible music that he has written for us, will help us pay for the recording, mixing, mastering, and production costs of our first album, and will help cover travel expenses for the 19 man tour to California! Most importantly, donating to this project will help fuel a dream for 16 incredible characters, each with their own unique sound and personality, but all sharing the same dream: to share our passion for this incredible thing we call jazz!
We can't wait to see you, hear from you, and swing with you soon!
FAQ
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60
Backers
$5,386
pledged of $3,500 goal
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on August 2, 2010.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Receive a personalized postcard from members of the band while on our California tour.
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
Receive a copy of our first album "Here to Say," featuring the Fatum Brothers' Jazz Orchestra playing the music of Levi Saelua, autographed by the entire band!
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Each member of the band currently studies at a major college or university in the United States! If you are in the neighborhood, or know someone who is interested in a specific college or university that we attend, a member of the band can give you a 1 hour private tour of that school. Participating schools include: Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Illinois, University of North Florida, College of DuPage, DePaul University, Northwestern, University of Michigan, New York University, Brown University, University of Indiana, and Cal State Northridge.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
1 hour private lesson with an FBJO musician and an autographed CD. Instruments include: trumpet, saxophones, clarinet, trombone, drum set, percussion, guitar, bass, piano.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
A night out with a group of FBJO musicians to a Chicago jazz club (anytime) or New York City Jazz club (only valid during the calendar school year). Grab a bite to eat, enjoy the show, meet the musicians, and learn about jazz history and music from our passionate band members.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
3 hour private jazz quartet performance comprised of FBJO musicians for your next private party, event, or intimate house concert.
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
A once in a lifetime opportunity: join the FBJO on the bandstand at the world famous Jazz Showcase in Chicago to sing a standard or take a solo with the band on your instrument on Tuesday night, Aug. 17th. Sets at 8 and 10pm. (www.jazzshowcase.com) (This reward is limited to one vocalist. No limit on instrumentalists).
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Get the whole gamut... (1) 5 autographed CD's of "Here to Stay!" (2) a one hour private lesson with an FBJO musician (3) a one hour college tour at one of the participating colleges. (4) a private performance of an FBJO quartet at your next house party/event (5) an intimate night out to a jazz club with members of the FBJO (6) a personalized postcard from each stop along the 2 week California Tour
Project By
Connected as Michael Fatum (981 friends)
Some have said that twins John & Michael Fatum went straight from the womb to the stage. They first began performing publicly in Chicago when they were 5 years old and after several years of Suzuki Piano lessons, John found his calling with the drums and Michael with the trumpet. The brothers have performed extensively as band leaders in Italy, New York City, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Boston, and "Sweet Home Chicago!" in addition to performances abroad in Spain, China, Portugal, and South Korea. They are most proud of their accomplishments in leading the Fatum Brothers' Jazz Orchestra in over 50 performances, their first album "Here to Say!", jazz for young people workshops, and more. Most recently they were chosen by the Music Institute of Chicago for their first ever "Alumni Award for Achievement in Music," and have also been awarded scholarships and performed in several Downbeat award-winning groups.
Michael & John are currently entering their senior year at NYU and the Eastman School of Music (respectively), love the Chicago Cubs, and are always causing trouble.
