Named for the offbeat character in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road, the Dean Moriarty Jazz Band has been playing to enthusiastic audiences for over a decade in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The band's repertoire includes dynamic original compositions and jazz classics in a variety of styles ranging from straight ahead jazz and bebop to energetic Latin and Contemporary sounds.

Band members each have over 20 years of professional experience in a wide variety of venues such as clubs, festivals and benefits. Past appearances include Riverfest in LaCrosse, On the Waterfront festival in Rockford and Beloit Riverfest. They currently appear at Cafe Belwah in Beloit, Wisconsin, and The Speakeasy in Janesville, Wisconsin.

This long history of music making brings forth an intense level of musical telepathy during performances. The players improvise new arrangements, melodies, and harmonies as they respond to each other and to the audience. The joy of musical invention is evident in each set as the band mixes the familiar with the new to form a delightful aural brew. The music draws on the rich traditions of jazz, but also encompasses pop, rock, and world music.

Catch a show soon - your ears will thank you.