The Flippojazz Ensemble

All my players are professionals, so they know how to act respectfully and appropriately. They are also all friendly and easy going and open to interacting with any guest that approach them during the breaks. We are sensitive to the appropriate volume for different parts of the evening… cocktail music may be brighter and more energetic and dinner music may be quieter, so people and conversation we had we had with the clients. The music will flow and give the listeners lots of variety of styles, grooves and tempos.

Dave Flippo, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, moved to Chicago in 1987 after completing a Masters and Doctorate in Music Composition/Piano at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan.

From that time on, he has worked as both a teacher, solo pianist, and small ensemble leader. He has performed for numerous private events as both soloist and group leader for weddings, ceremonies, cocktail hours, concerts, graduations, and holiday parties and also performed with After Hours, a 7 seven-piece wedding band, for fifteen years.

Dave has also led his own artistic group “Jazz from Planet Flippo” (formerly Flippomusic) which features his own compositions and arrangements. He’s recorded six CD’s and received numerous positive reviews and awards with that group. Many of his arrangements of contemporary artists such as Lennon / McCartney, Joni Mitchel, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, KT Turnstall, Steely Dan, Sly Stone and others are mixed into his performances at private functions. This gives the audience some fun, exciting sounds that are still familiar. He is also an adjunct professor at Triton College and College of Lake County and teaches piano, jazz piano and composition in his home studio and nearby student homes.

Dave has built up a diverse repertoire and is comfortable in any style: jazz standards, contemporary, show tunes, classic rock/pop, classical and even Bollywood. He is an easy going and attentive person that is eager to craft his musical performance to fit the vision and preferences of his clients. He offers the option to add vocals to his solo piano performances and to his small ensembles. He can also add melodica (a harmonica-like instrument) to his performance, if desired.

We will generally provide the PA system which includes a mixer with effects, cords and high quality microphonescables and stands. There generally isn't much to ask of most venues except having enough space to set up and having electricity. If a piano is provided, the venue or client will be responsible for having it acceptably tuned, otherwise I will provide an electric piano and stand (plus a vocal mike if I an singing). If there are other instrumentalists, they will provide their own instruments and stands.