Guitarist Louka Patenaude recently released his third album as a leader, Testing Your Patience. He plays with Tony Castaneda’s award-winning Latin Jazz Band and with Ben Sidran’s group. He has also performed with reggae group Natty Nation, the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and with notable jazz artists such as Tony Monaco, Richard Davis, Bob Rockwell, Billy Peterson, Richie Cole, Bob Malach, and Manty Ellis.

Pianist Dr. Johannes Wallmann directs the UW Jazz Studies program. A veteran of the New York and San Francisco Bay Area jazz scenes, he has released ten albums as a leader, including Elegy for an Undiscovered Species, which Downbeat magazine named a “Best of 2021” album. Wallmann is a Shifting Paradigm recording artist, a Yamaha Piano Artist, and an H.I. Romnes fellow.

Bassist Peter Dominguez returned to his alma mater in 2021 following professorships at Oberlin College and Michigan State University. A highly accomplished classical and jazz bass performer and educator, Dominguez’s jazz performance credits include Gary Bartz, Marcus Belgrave, Cyrus Chestnut, Eliane Elias, John Ellis, Tommy Flanagan, Billy Hart, JJ Johnson, Joe Lovano, Woody Shaw, Bobby Watson, and many others.

Drummer Dr. Matthew Endres teaches drum set and jazz history at the University of Wisconsin, and is the UW Marching Band Percussion Coordinator. He has performed extensively as a bandleader and a sideman. A native of Sauk City, Endres adjudicates music festivals and competitions throughout the United States.

The Quartet is joined by special guest trombonist Darren Sterud. Sterud has been an active, young, freelance trombonist in Wisconsin and Minnesota since 2001. While still in high school Darren began playing and touring with Mama Digdown’s Brass Band, a popular New Orleans style group from Madison, WI. He went on to study music performance with Maynard alum, Steve Wiest at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. A gifted student, Darren played in the university Jazz Symposium, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Winds. He also started his own band at college, The New Tradition Brass Band. Darren has played with other active musical groups in Madison including the Tony Castaneda Latin Jazz Band, Grupo Candela, The Jimmys and the Clyde Stubblefield Blues Band. Darren is always ready for a last minute gig or an open jam session where his joy in performance shows through.