Jazz Blues European Union: – Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with Jazz Blues EU. Tell us about your music. When did you start performing?
Chicago Soul Jazz Collective is a 7 piece ensemble whose members include John Fournier tenor sax, Larry Brown jr. guitar and vocals, Dee Alexander vocals, Amr Fahmy piano, Keith Brooks drums, Micah Collier bass and Ryan “Blue” Nyther trumpet. The CSJC began performing in 2017 and have released 4 records. This interview is written by the leader of CSJC, John Fournier who plays tenor and composes most of the music for the ensemble.
When we first began we concentrated on playing the instrumental classics of the soul jazz era and released a record with a set of those tunes including The In-Crowd and Wade in the Water by Ramsey Lewis and also some tunes by Stanley Turrentine and Jimmy Smith. That record did really well for us and landed in the top 20 of the jazz charts for 2017 so we felt good about the ensemble and began to develop it further. Our next record was all originals and featured some guest artists Nicholas Payton and Raul Midon and it was also well received so we continued on the path of performing original compositions influenced by Chicago soul, blues and jazz. Our third record brought the legendary Chicago vocalist, Dee Alexander, into the band and we were able to craft our own sound and began to get booked in major clubs and music festivals in the United States. Our recent record which was released in April 2026 on the Calligram label is called No Wind & No Rain and it is the fullest realization of our sound and is bringing us a lot of great attention for our live shows. No Wind & No Rain was arranged and produced by our guitarist Larry Brown Jr.
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
As our name indicates we come from and represent our hometown Chicago, Illinois. Our sound is steeped in the traditions of Chicago blues, jazz, soul and gospel and influenced by the musical greats that came from Chicago. We try to hold onto the teachings and legacy of Herbie Hancock, Muddy Waters, Oscar Brown Jr., Terry Callier, Von Freeman, Etta James, King Oliver, Mavis Staples and add to it as best we can to keep this music alive and growing.
What performers have been your inspiration?
Ramsey Lewis, Eddie Harris, Terry Callier, Charles Stepney, Oscar Brown Jr., Herbie Hancock, Muddy Waters. We love our Chicago roots!
What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
We have been fortunate that we have always had a loyal audience. However, I would say the amount of new music out there makes it hard to break through to new ears and get people’s attention. Hopefully doing things like this interview will bring some attention to our work.
What do you base your success on?
If we sell records and get big crowds to our shows that is wonderful BUT we really make this music because it is inside us and we need to get it out. I truly love this style of music and am happiest when I’m playing it so the success comes from the simple act of playing this music to the best of our ability. Whatever happens after that is out of our hands and we remain grateful for any chance to play.
Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians? How does it influence your creative process?
The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective is a 7 piece band and we are constantly collaborating and pushing each other to be the best we can be. The entire ensemble and all the music we play is a collaboration so our creative process is a group effort and our music is made through 7 musicians blending their sound together.
What was your latest musical release?
No Wind & No Rain is our latest record released in April 2026 on the Calligram Label and produced by our guitarist Larry Brown Jr.
Do you have any news to share? Could you share the story behind your latest new CD Chicago Soul Jazz Collective – No Wind & No Rain and what inspired its creation?
No Wind & No Rain is about perseverance through difficult times and the strength we find when we come together as a community like we do in Chicago. We made this hopeful music to lift people up and heal and soothe. It is a record steeped in the glorious musical traditions of the Windy City while still striving to create something modern and fresh.
How does your latest album fit into your creative path? Is this a goal you wanted to achieve?
Our latest album is the pinnacle of our collaboration. The compositions, lyrics, arrangements and group performances showcase our shared vision at its most pure and powerful.
How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
For this record I was working on the themes of perseverance as the world is a difficult place these days. In the words to the title track I think it sums up the theme best when we say “They can’t make no wind strong enough to blow my castle down.” All the lyrics for the CSJC deal in themes of rising up, lifting up and finding strength through music and community.
As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
Honestly I don’t ever think about it. We make the music we like and hope other people like it as well. Why be an indie musician if you are not going to let yourself be completely free creatively. What’s the point.
What role does technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
We do the best we can to utilize all the tools available to us to get the music heard. There are great opportunities in the social media to reach listeners all over the world and we try our best to take advantage.
Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
When we performed as a headliner at the Chicago Jazz Fest and got an overwhelmingly positive response to our original songs and performance style, that was a very exciting moment for us. It was like 10,000 members of our community standing up and giving us a stamp of approval through applause to our efforts and that felt incredible.
In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
If you are a musician you find a way to perform and express yourself and reach your audience. I am inspired as I watch my fellow artists embrace the challenges in the new terrain of music consumption and the desire to be heard never wavers and the great music always finds its way.
Musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music?
We have a dedicated audience that attends our live shows so we enjoy meeting them in person. That is the most exciting part of this band, we play live a lot and I think it fills a void for people who have grown weary of screens and streaming services. As we continue to grow it is also exciting to take advantage of technology as it allows us to reach fans globally through our records and we communicate with them through our website and facebook and instagram which is very exciting.
How can fans find you? Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
chicagosouljazzcollective.com is our website and you can hear our music, see our videos and photos and press clippings and also reach us with messages.
Or you can purchase our new record here:
https://chicagosouljazzcollective.bandcamp.com/album/no-wind-no-rain
We are Chicago Soul Jazz Collective and we’d love to share our take on Chicago blues, jazz and soul with you!
By Olivia Peevas
