Jeff Kier
Jeff has over 150 original musical compositions to his credit. Mark Stevens, a San Francisco DJ, commented, "Jeff is emerging as one of the great composers of our time.”
After studying piano from a young age, Jeff earned his B.A degree as a Liberal Arts music major at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Jeff has co-led the Jeff Kier Quartet featuring Mike Hershenson for many years. The group has been featured in local clubs such as Oz, Orphans, The Bulls, the Jazz Showcase in Chicago and Nighttown in Cleveland. Also, his works have been orchestrated in the Concerto Grosso format and performed with the Grilly Brothers and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Big Band.
In addition, Jeff served as Musical Director for the premier Improv venue, The Comedy Shrine, for over 15 years.
Mike Hershenson
As well as being a successful architect, Mike has been playing guitar for 60 years. He has studied with Chicago jazz professionals Dave Onderdonk, George Allen, Bobby Roberts, Dave Cherry, and Bobby Broom.
Mike met Jeff in a music history class at U of I and they have been working together since. Under the band names "The Jeff Kier Quartet featuring Mike Hershenson", and "St. Lawrence Runaway", Mike and Jeff have performed at the Jazz Showcase, Cairo, Oz, The Jazz Bulls, Uncommon Ground, Nighttown in Cleveland, and other jazz festivals in the Midwest area.
Mike’s guitar influences are Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, George Benson, Pat Martino, John McLaughlin, John Abercrombie, Bobby Broom, and John Scofield.