Musicians
Steve Schneck grew up in New York with jazz and classical music in the background and a photo of Louis Armstrong in his bedroom. From the beginning, his mother wanted Steve to be a trumpet player. After learning to play the ukulele and piano, Steve began studying trumpet at age 9 and he's been playing the trumpet and flugelhorn for more than 50 years. Steve's mother taught classical piano and his father played folk guitar. His extended family (including 4 generations of mandolin players) regularly played music whenever they got together (and still do). While in high school, Steve studied at the Juilliard, Manhattan and Eastman Schools of Music and was a member of the New York State Music Association All-State Jazz Ensemble, McDonald's Long Island Jazz Ensemble and Nassau County Jazz Ensemble. He also taught trumpet for two summers at Camp Encore/Coda in Maine. Throughout college, Steve played in the Cornell University Jazz Ensemble, which he also directed during his junior and senior years. While in law school, Steve played in the New York University Jazz Ensemble and in a jazz quintet directed by Joe Lovano. Soon after moving to Chicago, Steve regularly joined jam sessions and gigs with local musicians and in 1990, Steve started his own group. The Steve Schneck Quartet has been playing throughout Chicago for the past 33 years and released 2 CDs: "Together Again" in 1994 and "Dedicated to You" in 2012. Steve was also a member of Marshall Vente's Project Nine for several years and he has performed throughout Chicago as a sideman with other musicians including Pat Mallinger, Jeff Newell, Jim Massoth, Richie Fidoli, Bob Centano, Bob Ojeda, Stuart Rosenberg, John Mose, Frank D'Rone, Dave Baney, Curt Morrison, Neil Saroka, Jimmy Ryan, Don Stille, Frank Caruso, John Baney, Eric Hochberg, Nick Tountas, Alejo Poveda, Izzy Perez, Mo Jennings, Tim Davis and Barrett Deems. Steve's musical inspirations include Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. Since 2009, Steve has volunteered as the Director of the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy (a Chicago public elementary school) Jazz Ensemble, for musicians in grades 5-8. Steve created the ensemble and arranged all of its music. In 2016 and 2018, the Hawthorne Jazz Ensemble performed at the Chicago Public Schools Jazz Festival. In September 2022, Steve played with New Orleans clarinetist Doreen Ketchens and her quartet at the Sisters Folk Festival in Sisters, Oregon, where they played Strutting with some BBQ and Sweet Georgia Brown.
Neal Alger (guitar). After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a bachelors' degree in jazz guitar performance, Neal moved to Chicago and has been freelancing in town for over 20 years. Neal has performed or recorded with Lin Halliday, Howard Levy, Grazyna Augusick, Under the Streetlamp, Ed Thigpen, and most notably, singer/pianist Patricia Barber. Neal has toured Europe, Canada, and the U.S. with Patricia and he is featured on her Blue Note Records releases VERSE (2002), LIVE: A FORTNIGHT IN FRANCE (2004), MYTHOLOGIES (2006), and THE COLE PORTER MIX (2008). Neal has also appeared on recordings by Chicago-based musicians/groups including William Kurk Enterprise, Jo Ann Daugherty, BMR4, Matt Geraghty, Bad Sneakers Orchestra (Steely Dan Tribute), and Brian Gephart. When not performing as a sideman, Neal leads the Blue Note Quartet (which performs classic tunes from the legendary Blue Note jazz label) and an instrumental trio which performs several varieties of Brazilian music (samba, choro, baiao, frevo, etc.). Neal is also passionate about jazz education and leads various combos (Fusion, Brazilian, Motown, etc.) and teaches private lessons at Roosevelt University.
Scott Mason (bass) has been a member of the Steve Schneck Quartet since its inception. Mason began his musical studies on piano, then switched to double bass while in high school. After graduating from Grinnel College in 1975, Scott pursued his original ambition of becoming an orchestral bassist, playing with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and studying with Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal Joseph Guastefeste. However, a strong interest in improvised music led him to lessons with the great bassist Rufus Reid, and in 1979, Scott switched his focus to jazz and commercial fields. Scott obtained a Master of Art from DePaul University in jazz arranging and composition and has freelanced extensively in Chicago, playing with jazz artists such as Bunky Green, Joe Daley, Guy Fricano and Marshall Vente. Scott has also played on numerous radio and TV spots and, in the commercial field, backed such diverse acts as Bob Hope, Carol Lawrence, The Fifth Dimension, Mary Wells, and The Lettermen. Scott was a finalist in the jazz division in the International Society of Bassists' Competition and has been on the faculty of The Music Conservatory at Roosevelt University since 1984, where he is currently Head of Jazz and Contemporary Music Studies. Scott teaches classes in traditional music theory and ear training, jazz theory, jazz piano for non-majors, jazz rhythm section techniques, string techniques and studio instruction in applied jazz bass.
Bobby Schiff (piano). Whenever the Steve Schneck Quartet has a pianist on stage, it has always been Bobby Schiff and his wonderful sound. For over 45 years, primarily in Chicago and Los Angeles, Bobby has played piano, led orchestras/bands and arranged for musicians including Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, Johnny Hartman, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Frank D’Rone, Barbara McNair, The Arbors, Bobby Rydell and Ruth Pointer. Bobby’s jazz style is most influenced by Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris. Bobby has also had an extensive career in the music production and publishing business, beginning at Chicago’s Universal Recording Studios, continuing with award winning commercial and studio work for clients such as Sesame Street, McDonald’s and Hallmark and including recording sessions with Marvin Hamlisch and Jerry Goldsmith. For many years Bobby has served as a National Trustee and Vice-President of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (The Grammy's) and as Vice President of the Association of Professional Orchestra Leaders.
Chuck Christiansen (drums) is a life-long musician and the newest member of the Steve Schneck Quartet, taking over for Rusty Jones in 2015. Chuck may be best known as the drummer for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, with whom he has toured regularly since 1981. Chuck has also performed with numerous other musicians in Chicago and beyond, including Peggy Lee, Bob Hope, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney, Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Michel Legrand, Ira Sullivan, Tommy Flanagan, Larry Novak, Frank Caruso, Bobby Schiff, Nick Schneider and Frank D'Rone.
Former long-term members of the Steve Schneck Quartet:
Frank Dawson (guitar). Frank Dawson was a founding member of the Steve Schneck Quartet and one of the most gifted guitarists in Chicago for several decades. During his extensive career, Frank played with Sonny Stitt, Art Van Damme, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Patti Page, Chuck Hedges, Les Elgart and Manfredo Fest. Throughout the 1970s through the 1980s, Frank and his wife Anna Dawson (vocalist) performed together in Chicago with Batucada and Marshall Vente's Project 9. Frank also toured Europe with the Chicago Bears Band at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival and at Cafe Unique in Amsterdam. For the last 20 years of his life, Frank was a member of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and taught at Columbia College, where he formed the Jazz Guitar Ensemble. Frank performed and recorded with the Steve Schneck Quartet until his passing in 2010. The jazz classic "Body and Soul," was recorded on the Quartet's "Dedicated to You," as a tribute to Frank. Frank was and will always be a musical inspiration to everyone fortunate enough to play with and listen to him.
Charlie Brougham (drums). Charlie Brougham was one of the founding members of the Steve Schneck Quartet and, unequivocally, one of the best and most in demand jazz drummers in Chicago for decades. Charlie played in Chicago, New York and elsewhere, including as a regular member of Marian McPartland’s trio and Clark Terry’s ensembles, frequently recording with both. For many years, Charlie was also the drummer in the Jazz Showcase’s "house trio," accompanying artists whenever they booked engagements in Chicago. In addition, Charlie was a regular member of the house band that accompanied weekly jam sessions for local Chicago musicians led by bassist John Baney at Andy’s, Weed’s and The Chambers. Charlie performed and recorded with the Steve Schneck Quartet through 2012. His final recorded musical contributions are on several tracks of “Dedicated to You.”
Rusty Jones (drums). Isham Russell (“Rusty”) Jones II was a prominent member of the Steve Schneck Quartet for over 20 years, sharing the chair with Charlie Brougham until Rusty’s passing in December 2015. Rusty was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and came from an extended musical family, including his great uncle, Isham Jones, who was a bandleader and wrote many jazz hits including “It Had to Be You,” “The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else,” “I’ll See You in My Dreams” and "There Is No Greater Love." Rusty played extensively with Judy Roberts, George Shearing, Buddy DeFranco, Lee Konitz, Ira Sullivan, Marian McPartland, Adam Makowicz, Larry Novak, Patricia Barber, Frank D'Rone, Art Hodes, J.R. Monterose, and Stéphane Grappelli. Rusty also performed with Buddy DeFranco, Art Van Damme, Kai Winding, Curtis Fuller, "Wild Bill" Davison, Anita O'Day, Mark Murphy, Flip Phillips, Morgan King, Red Holloway, Eddie Higgins, Ike Cole, Clifford Jordan, Franz Jackson, Bobby Enriquez, Monty Alexander and Catherine Whitney. On top of his musical talents, Rusty had a warm heart and engaging smile that captivated everyone who played with him and watched him on a bandstand. He will be forever missed by countless musicians throughout Chicago and beyond.