Jeff Hedberg - Jazz Vocalist, Trumpet, Leader, Educator

Jeff Hedberg is a Chicago-based, jazz vocalist, flugelhorn/trumpet player, band leader and educator.  Jeff currently teaches at Harper College in Palatine, IL, where he directs the Harper College Jazz Ensemble and works with vocal jazz and trumpet students. 
 
Jeff's musical training includes a Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Elmhurst College.  Through his schooling, as well as his own pursuits, Jeff has studied with Doug Beach, Mark Colby, Jackie Allen, Brenda Lualdi, Bob Rummage, Rob Parton, and Mike Kocour. Jeff has performed with jazz luminaries such as Bobby Shew, Lanny Morgan, Mike Abene, Orbert Davis, New York Voices, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Frank Mantooth, Kevin Mahogany, Maria Schneider, and Clark Terry.  
 
Jeff is also the leader and founder of JEFF HEDBERG & C11.  This unique 12-piece, Chicago-based jazz group, founded in April 2008, dedicated to preserving and performing the legendary "dek-tette" arrangements of master arranger, Marty Paich.  Grammy winning Jazz Critic, Neil Tesser notes - "they re-create, with fidelity and precision, selections from several albums that the jazz genius Mel Tormé recorded in the mid-50s...Hedberg sounds a great deal like Tormé. To which I can only ask, “What’s wrong with that?” At his peak, Tormé was the most artistically accomplished male jazz singer in history. Anyone who can reference that achievement, without wilting in the comparison, gets my vote." 
 
The band features many of the top soloists, section players and freelance artists that reside in the Chicagoland area. Jeff and C11 have released two recordings as part of their "Pages of Paich" project entitled "Too Darn Hot" and "Nice Work...If You Can Get It."