In March, Travis was interviewed by jazz radio personality Laura Kennedy (WGLT 89.1 fm) on his new album release, Natural Diversion. This short segment features a Q & A session between Travis and Laura along with selected tracks from the album. This Datebook appearance aired Saturday, March 30th.

A fixture in the Midwest where his trio appears regularly, pianist Travis Wesley is heard at his best on his new CD, Natural Diversion. Teamed with bassist Matt Hughes and drummer Tom Marko, the pianist displays what he learned from studying and enjoying the music of such straight ahead greats as Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Erroll Garner and Ahmad Jamal, yet infuses the performances with his own musical personality, building upon their innovations rather than merely recreating ideas from the past."

Scott Yanow

Leslie Beukelman is a first-call musician in Chicago because of a rare gift for versatility, as well as a disciplined commitment to ongoing musical growth. She prides herself on a willingness to create fresh, new music even while she honors and studies the music of the past. On any given night in Chicago, she could be leading her modern jazz quartet at the Jazz Showcase, performing with a swing-era big-band at Fitzgerald's, belting out soul and R&B hits at the Drake Hotel, or pushing the experimental music envelope with her band Information Superhighway at Schubas. Leslie is also active as a singer for the Chicago-based band, Treehouse.

You can catch Leslie on Friday, May 25th with The Travis Wesley Trio at Swinger's Grill (1304 Cross Creek Dr. Normal, IL) from 8-11pm. Leslie is scheduled to make a number of appearances at Swinger's with Travis throughout the spring & summer of 2012. Future dates will be posted here so stay tuned!