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Creative growth through improvisation

Welcome to the web site of Bill Chapin, jazz pianist and teacher. Bill plays and teaches jazz piano and bass, leads his own jazz combo, and coordinates the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop from his creative space, Chapin Jazz Studio. Explore the site and sign up for the monthly newsletter to learn more about opportunities to learn jazz at the studio and to hear jazz where Bill is playing.

CJS Students Perform at Art Show

Students from Chapin Jazz Studio will perform swing, blues, holiday, and Latin jazz tunes for the Grayslake Arts Alliance Holiday Art Show from 5-8 pm on Friday, November 25th. The event is free and open to the public. Come up to the 2nd floor of the Grayslake Village Hall at 10 Seymour Av, Grayslake, IL.

New Chapin Jazz X-tet Recording

Learn about the Project

Recorded in early 2021, Suspended Bridges is composed by Bill Chapin. Jim Batson-bass, Bill Chapin-piano and melodica, and Jim Richardson-drums recorded themselves at home; Bill assembled it as part of an adventure in learning about audio and video recording, editing, and mixing.

The November jam session players–we all had fun rehearsing Horace Silver’s Song for My Father, which we will play at the Nov. 25th Art Show, Sonny Rollins’ Doxy, Gillespie’s Night in Tunisia, and Rollins’ Sonnymoon for Two. Join us next month on Dec 11 for more fun jamming.

CJS Sunday Jazz Jam

Students of all ages who can read music are welcome at the Sunday Jazz Jams…

Join us to play some jazz tunes. The jam is a friendly environment where musicians can try out and learn more about improvising jazz. And it’s free! Want to improve as an improviser? Come join us!

2022-23 CJS Sunday Virtual Jazz Jam dates ~ from 3:30- 5:00 pm:

Dec 11 | Jan 15 | Feb 12 | Mar 19 | April 16 | May 7

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Gigs

The Bill Chapin Jazz X-tet, a combo performing modern jazz, performs regularly in the Chicago area. Playing in formats from one to six pieces, the X-tet provides the sleek sound of solo piano, the pulse of a trio, or the harmonies of a full combo with saxophone, trumpet and trombone. Perfect for upscale dining and lounges, classy cocktail hours and receptions, fundraisers and galas, and corporate events.

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Lessons

The Chapin Jazz Studio offers lessons for the serious jazz pianist, for instrumentalists wanting to learn theory and explore jazz piano, and for anyone wanting to experience the fun of playing jazz piano. The studio also offers a monthly jazz jam session, jazz solo coaching, and instruction on jazz bass and composition. The Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop, where students study jazz every summer, also calls the studio home.

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Meet Bill Chapin

Bill Chapin has performed as a professional pianist in the Chicago area since 1978 – as a leader of a combo, as a free-lance member of a variety of groups, and as a solo jazz pianist. As a teacher he has coached a succession of jazz pianists and improvisers at Chapin Jazz Studio, where he offers private lessons and other jazz-related learning opportunities. His students range in age from 10 through adult; and for each learner Bill’s goal is “creative growth through improvisation.”
More about Bill Chapin

Drew Chapin Scholarship

The Drew Chapin Memorial Scholarship for Change memorializes Drew Chapin, now deceased, a 2003 graduate of GCHS who lived his life consciously and was committed to family, the pursuit of knowledge, respect for all persons and cultures, peace, and celebrating life. The scholarship honors Grayslake Central High School students who are knowledgeable about national and international social problems and have a personal philosophy about what actions they might take to improve some aspect of our world.

Funds for the annual $2,000 scholarship are raised through the Drew Chapin Memorial Jazz Jam and Concert, held in August. At this annual concert area jazz musicians hold a jazz jam session and concert at the Grayslake Central Park Pavilion.

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