The Art of Persistence

Donovan’s Garage
AKAR Auditorium, 2715 Hurd Ave, Evanston

May 19, 2026 7pm

Edward L. Wilkerson Jr. (born July 27, 1953 in Terre Haute, Indiana) is an internationally recognized American jazz composer, arranger, musician, and educator based in Chicago. As founder and director of the cutting-edge octet 8 Bold Souls, and the 25-member performance ensemble Shadow Vignettes, Wilkerson has toured festivals and concert halls throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and the Middle East. "Defender", a large-scale piece for Shadow Vignettes, was commissioned by the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Fund and featured in the 10th Anniversary of New Music America, a presentation of BAM's Next Wave Festival.

His music can be heard on 14 recordings, including two film soundtracks and the critically acclaimed albums Birth of a Notion, and 8 Bold Souls, both on his own Sessoms Records label.

One of the great saxophone and clarinet players on the Chicago scene, Wilkerson from the 1980s into the new millennium may have become best known as a bandleader and composer, particularly associated with medium- to large-scale projects (somewhat daunting in an era when creative music bandleaders are challenged to keep even small ensembles together). He has also been a major presence in Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), teaching composition at the organization's music school and serving for a time as AACM president.

Christopher Dammann is a composer/bassist who lives in Chicago. He considers himself indebted to the generosity and knowledge of those he collaborates, studies, and performs with, including Jim Baker, Steve Hunt, Avreeayl Ra, Vincent Davis, Brian Sandstrom, Edward Wilkerson Jr, Mike Reed, Jon Irabagon, Mabel Kwan, James Davis, and Brian Gephart.

Recent work includes his current sextet (Scott Clark, Jon Irabagon, Edward Wilkerson, Mabel Kwan, James Davis) debut recording with Out Of Your Head Records, the score for Kera MacKenzie & Andrew Mausert-Mooney’s award winning non-fiction montage feature, Make A Distinction, the Restroy release, sketches, for ears&eyes records and IKZ (Toby Summerfield, Kevin Davis, and John Niekrasz) release I saw the Cryptic Problem of my Generation Destroyed on Chicago label, Amalgam music. July 2026 will see the release of a new quintet (Jim Baker, Mike Reed, Jon Irabagon, James Davis) project on the Shifting Paradigm label.

Christopher is a 2025 Illinois Arts Council Creative Catalyst Grant recipient and a 2025 3arts Make a Wave Awardee.

In addition to his work as a performer, Christopher is also proud to be a teaching artist with The People’s Music School of Chicago, Chicago’s largest tuition free music school.

Dushun Mosley, a percussionist, bandleader, and proud father of three, hails from the vibrant musical scene of Chicago, IL. As the bandleader for the Vizitors and the Signature Group, and has performed as member of Eight Bold Souls, Front Burners, Chicago 3D, Hanah Jon Taylor Arteet, Shadow Vignettes, AACM Big Band, Orbert Davis, Fenix, Adegoke Steve Colcon Unity Troupe, Mosley Storey Project, and the DPD Trio, Mosley's musical footprint spans across various ensembles and genres. Mosley's dynamic career has taken him on extensive tours as a soloist and collaborator, gracing stages in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and Japan. His performances in social clubs, music halls, and festivals have earned him a distinguished reputation as a trailblazer among this generation's musical innovators. With a style rooted in Traditional Jazz, Blues, and Funk, Mosley thrives in combo band settings while also pushing the boundaries of big bands and orchestras. His multifaceted approach and unwavering dedication to musical excellence continue to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying his legacy as a standout figure in contemporary jazz and beyond.

Bethany Pickens is an award winning pianist and composer. Born in Chicago, she began her musical training under the watchful tutelage of her father Willie Pickens, world-class Jazz pianist. She also was impacted deeply by the 9 years she spent as a member of the Chicago Children's Choir during her formative years. Since graduating from the American Conservatory of Music, Bethany has had the opportunity to perform, record, and conduct clinics with such artist as Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Bobby Watson, Von Freeman, Steve Turre, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen, Willie Pickens, Susan Anton, Lizz Wright and Grammy award winners Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove and Branford Marsalis, Rascal Flats, Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle and Usher.

Sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians