Bios

Tony Bussone, percussion, is one of the co-founders of the Martini Manifesto. Tony studied jazz and music at the College of Lake County, University of Wisconsin - Madison, and at the University of Illinois - Chicago and played in the top bands at both schools. He studied with Joel Spencer and Edward Petersen in Chicago and has performed with Edward Petersen, Larry Novak, Conte Condoli, Michael Hesiak, and Frank Catalano and currently plays with the Sound Generation and Last Dance Bands. His influences include Tony Williams, Jack De Johnette, Herlin Riley, and Joel Spencer.

Cat, vocals, is an Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA)-award recipient for her accomplishments in piano, flute and voice. She has been performing in Chicago since 1999 in jazz, blues, cover, and rock bands at various venues, including Navy Pier, Green Dolphin Street, Magnum's, and Lovell's of Lake Forest, to name a few. Her style is greatly influenced by soul, the blues, R&B, contemporary music, musicals, and artists such as Carmen McRae, Peggy Lee and Julie London. She can also be seen performing with Reely Dan, a Steely Dan tribute band.

Michael Hesiak, saxophone, keyboards, and group co-founder, holds a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Illinois - Champaign and has over 18 years of professional playing experience. He also plays bass guitar, and writes, arranges and records jazz, rock, and electronic and commercial music. In his spare time, he teaches saxophone and is also a recording engineer.

In addition to freelancing, Michael also plays in the BeBop Daddys, The Fabulous Mudhounds, The Derrick Stout Orchestra, and Reely Dan, a Steely Dan tribute band. His influences include Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Jimmy Smith and many others in various musical genres

Adam Walker, bass, has gigged in jazz, alt-folk, rock and blues settings around Chicago since moving here in the mid-1980s. Before then, in Minneapolis, he covered an equally wide range of styles, from big band jazz to polkas. He has been a sideman on a couple recordings and has done some production work, too. His instruments include double bass and fretless and Fender Jazz basses. His "bassic" influences include Rufus Reid, Charles Mingus, John Paul Jones and Jim Fielder. Adam also plays violin with the Classical Symphony Orchestra. When he's not playing music, he is an attorney and a leader of Chicago's secular humanist community.

Cathy Batscha, pianist, composes as well, and has performed with jazz and pop groups in Boston and Chicago. Musical influences include Monk and Bill Evans with a dash of Chucho Valdez mixed in. She can be heard playing and singing on Ability and Desire by the Mr. Curt Ensemble. When she is not playing piano, she is pursuing a doctorate of nursing practice..

For booking information contact Michael at 773.415.7129, or
Michael@martinimanifesto.com

Among other cities, Martini Manifesto may serve the following areas: Chicago, Rockford, Carol Stream, Schaumburg, Aurora, Palatine, Evanston, Joliet, Naperville, Des Plaines, Elgin, Hinsdale, Loves Park, Oak Park, Bensenville, Arlington Heights, Crystal Lake, Melrose Park, Waukegan, Barrington, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Chicago Heights, Downers Grove, Elk Grove Village, Fox Valley, Glen Ellyn, Libertyville, McHenry, North Chicago