Chicago’s Mayor’s Office of Special Events “...Outstanding performance”
Illinois Entertainer “Stunning guitar wizardry, confident vocals, all around musical savvy”
Jazz Times - "Not surprisingly, his résumé… would make a great book. Pasenko’s voice, with hints of Hoagy Carmichael and Mose Allison, graces each tune with intimacy/awareness…"
Greg Pasenko has had a remarkable history in the world of music. Born and raised in Springfield IL he is now living in Chicago IL. He is the founder and president of the successful alternative jazz/creative music record label, Blujazz Label and Promotions www.blujazz.com. He is also a dynamic vocalist and a master guitarist. He has played and led bands in the jazz, blues, and R&B scene throughout the world.
For Blujazz Greg manages all areas of operation, artist contracting, radio and press promotion, distribution, and booking. Blujazz has handled over 100 artist releases with many charting on the national radio charts, receiving reviews and articles in all of the major trades, and booking major venues for a select management roster. The Blujazz paradigm has brought young artists to major artists as Blujazz does not tie up an artist’s intellectual property. Greg with his wife 4 times Down Beat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Star Category, violinist Diane Delin, who helps run Blujazz opened a concert club venue in Chicago, Club Blujazz, for several years and helped build, manage, and book Skokie Theatre in Skokie IL.
During Greg’s core touring years, he lived and led bands in Springfield, KC, LA, Denver, St. Louis, and Chicago with his groups headlining or sharing the bill with jazz artists like Ramsey Lewis, Eddy Jefferson, Maynard Ferguson, blues artists like Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, and rock groups like Rush, Mountain, James Gang, Canned Heat, and Blue Oyster Cult. This period also includes playing with Buddy Guy’s brother Phil Guy’s band, playing for Chuck Berry and performing at Chucks ranch in MO. Greg played in a duo with Bobby McFerrin (before Bobby’s recording career) with Bobby playing piano and Greg singing and playing guitar. As a jazz producer he has 5 cd’s to his credit, including one with George Mraz, Ed Thigpen, Frank Wess, and Lew Soloff. Others include jazz violinist Diane Delin, saxophonist Nick Bisesi, The Mike Frost Project, and more.
He worked in the publishing dept. for United Artists Records in LA during the time Blue Note was part of UA while performing at Harry James’ drummer, Les DeMerle’s LA Cellar club, backing artists like Ritchie Cole, Eddie Jefferson, Alex Acuna, and more. While there he also played many of the famous clubs during their “hey day” like the Whiskey, Roxy, and Troubadour.
Greg was a featured artist at the Signature Room Jazz Club on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building in Chicago for four years. He also was featured at Chicago’s major festival, “Taste of Chicago”.
Greg currently continues to promote and book artists internationally. He has promoted and/or booked over 130 artists and their projects. And he still performs and travels internationally. He has also started to blog about his history and the music business and consults with artists. See his new Buy A Cup Of Coffee page that will support this endeavor.
