Paul Stilin began his foray into the world of guitar when he first picked up the instrument at the age of 12. He quickly became impassioned with Jazz music when his first guitar teacher turned him onto it. He excelled in jazz band in high school and even won an Award at the Eau Claire festival for best jazz soloist. In his late teens/early 20s he continued to improve his skills by studying with guitar greats such as funk master Bruce Conte of Tower of Power and jazz/swing/big band guitarist Jack Skiles, who was a member of the Fred Waring orchestra in the late 30s playing alongside the Les Paul trio.
After spending his twenties playing in a variety of bands down in Texas, Paul made his way back up to Milwaukee where he began gifting audiences with his tasty playing as lead guitarist for the Blues Disciples. He has played at Chicago Blues Fest multiple times, with the Disciples as well as Severn Records’ artist Lou Pride, for whom he served as musical director and also accompanied to play in Europe. Stilin has also played numerous times at Milwaukee Summerfest and has toured both regionally and nationally in the past.
Paul has been known predominantly for playing blues around the Milwaukee area, but is now revisiting his first passion, jazz, with his newly formed group. Citing influences such as Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell , Pat Metheny, Freddie King and Ronnie Earl, The Paul Stilin Group fuses Stilin’s two favorite genres, Jazz and Blues, to create a sound that is upbeat, entertaining and dynamic. By his own words, this is not your standard jazz lounge act. Stilin is looking forward to recording and releasing music with the group as well as collaborating with other musicians in the future.
Eric Koppa is an Oshkosh, Wisconsin based jazz saxophonist and graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Jazz Studies. Eric has toured nationally and internationally and has studied and performed with artists including, the late drummer and long-time Madison, Wisconsin resident, Clyde Stubblefield, saxophonists Richie Cole, Bob Berg, Seamus Blake, Tom Washatka, Walt Weiskopf, Chris Potter, James Carter, Sharel Cassity, Chad LB, pianists Danilo Perez, Kenny Werner, John Harmon, and composers Frank Mantooth, Johannes Wallmann, and Maria Schneider. Eric performs throughout the Midwest with Wisconsin ensembles including the Water City Jazz Orchestra, the Pocket Kings, the Harmon Brothers, vocalists Erin Krebs, Johnny Rodgers, Johnny Chimes, and blues artists, Paul Stilin, and the Blues Disciples.
Chris Kringel (no Santa Jokes please) is a professional bassist and sound engineer in the Milwaukee area.
Chris has been playing bass professionally for over 40 years. He has written 9 instructional method books for Hal Leonard publishing and has a DVD called “Play Bass Today”. He’s produced over 75 instructional music books, multiple albums and audiobooks. You can check him out at www.kringelbass.com.
Dave Cornette has been crafting grooves and keeping the time on the bandstand for 40 years. At 15 years old, the calling to drum set and percussion was undeniable after also pursuing piano, baritone horn and voice. He brings a groove mindset to every ensemble he accompanies laying out a great rhythmic platform to highlight the song as well as his fellow musicians.
His joy for music and groove creation during performance is evident to all audience members. He considers his rhythmic journey to be never ending and is always honing his craft, constantly creating a better version of himself through inspiration by other musicians as well as working on the technical aspects of drumming and percussion.
He has performed with various musical acts and artists in the folk, blues, R&B and jazz genres both live and in the studio including The Blues Disciples, The Danny Miller Band, Paul Stillen Jazz, Inside Sky, The Chesterfield Kings, Roxi Copeland, Jimmy and the Flamethrowers, The Persuaders, New Living Spaces, Scott Sharrard, Larry Thiess, Susan Julian, Billy Flynn, Perry Weber, Steve Cohen, Stokes and many more.
