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Biography

Kevin Hart was born into a musical family in Bourbonnais Illinois and began playing his father’s drums to jazz records at an early age. His mother, a church organist, enrolled him in piano lessons in third grade, and he continued to experiment with jazz piano throughout high school. An older sister purchased a vibraphone, and Kevin began imitating the sounds of Lionel Hampton. At 15, Hart began drumming with established local musicians, while experimenting on various instruments throughout high school.

As a music student at Eastern Illinois University in the 1980s, Hart played drums, vibes, and piano in various groups. While playing drums in the jazz ensemble, Kevin and his fellow musicians played with jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, and Rufus Reid. He won a “Downbeat” Student award in 1990, was recognized as an outstanding performer at various jazz festivals including Notre Dame, and received an honorable mention in a “Modern Drummer” Neil Peart drum giveaway.

Upon accepting a teaching assistantship at the University of Northern Iowa, Hart began graduate school. Working closely under the guidance and influence of pianist, arranger, composer, and educator Bob Washut, Kevin’s interest in classic and fusion jazz expanded to include more modern jazz as well as Latin jazz. He began performing more extensively on vibes with such Iowans as Bob Dunn and Mark Urness, as well as playing drums with the jazz ensemble backing various guest artists, most notably Bob Berg.

With his Masters degree completed, Hart accepted a teaching assistantship at the University of Illinois and began working on his Doctorate. While at UI, he performed with more jazz greats such as Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Ed Thigpen. Kevin’s interest in piano continued to grow while studying with Chicago-based pianist Mike Kocour, and performing with local piano legend Don Heitler.

Kevin organized his own vibe-based groups and began performing at numerous venues, festivals, and concerts throughout the state while at the same time working with many notable regional musicians such as Ron Bridgewater, John Scott, Brian Wilke, Jeff Helgesen, Rachael Lee, Gaile Thomas, Jane Hartman, Dave Dreyer, Dave Hoffman, Sam Crain, and Mike Nellas.

In the past few years, Hart has performed with jazz greats such as Jack McDuff, Steve Turre, Henry Butler, Jerry Bergonzi, Terrell Stafford, Rufus Reid, and Jeff Newell. He has also performed with Chicago-based musicians Eric Schneider, Orbert Davis, Bobby Broom, and Zach Brock.

Notable Midwest performances with his own groups and other artists include the Iowa City Jazz Fest, Viva Chicago, South Shore Jazz Fest, Peoria Jazz Heritage Fest, CEFCU concert series, Carl Sandburg College concert series, Springfield Jazz Fest, Central Illinois Jazz Society, C-U Jazz and Blues Blowout, WEFT Fest, Sounds of Summer, Krannert Summer Swing, Bloomington Pub Crawl, Manito Art, Wine & Jazz fest, and many others.

Kevin's Latin Jazz Quintet (Quinteto Corazon) recorded "Corazon” in 1996, and in 2005 he released the stylistically eclectic “The Road To Everywhere.” This CD features long-time music partners Don Heitler, Mike Nellas, Tim Brickner, and Jeff Magby  and is comprised of original material, a few well-known songs, and compositions by former Illinois musicians.

Hart continues to perform with his current groups Kevin Hart & the Vibe Tribe, and the piano-based Kevin Hart Trio. He frequently performs as a sideman with The Swing Daddies, Cassie and Friends, Joe Metzka, and many others. Hart is also an instructor at Knox College, Parkland College, and Illinois State University.

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