I am located in Springfield, Illinois and will travel throughout the midwest and particularly the Central Illinois area.  The Trio can easily expand to up to 7 pieces and we play mostly standards and jazz but can mix in a little country and rock n roll.  
    The Swing Street Jazz Ensemble offers standard jazz tunes and some original pieces and unique arrangements.  I have also substituted with the Riverboat 5 + 1 and will be performing on a regular basis with the Springfield bebop group "Thornebyrds".  Two or three times a month I perform with the Don Smith Band which concentrates on dance music.
    My education is in music, business and law.  My "day job" is music performance in the "Old Time Piano Show" format.  Senior centers, nursing homes and special events take up most of the week days and each show can be customized to the specific needs of the venue.  Many years have been spent as a private piano and music theory teacher and church musician.  I have played for the Central Illinois Jazz Festival,  Illinois State Fair, various art receptions and numerous private parties.  Private events are the most favored but the trio has a wide popular draw to fill most any venue.
     Recordings include "Child's Play" 1996;  "My Favorite Things"  1998; and "From the Heart"  2002.  The next recording project is an Old Time Piano Show disc that will be offered on the web and at performances.

          THE TRIO
     Tom Fatten - Bass:  Tom was born in Aurora, Illinois and started performing at the age of nine.  He plays bass, trumpet and piano. He attended Illinois State University as a Music Major and has a Masters in Music Theory.  Tom has taught school at the secondary and university levels and has been recognized for his compositions at numerous collegiate jazz festivals.
      Performances include the Illinois Symphony, Guy Lombardo band, Tony Barron, Jim Markum and Johnnie Kay big bands.  Tom has played cruises on Celebrity, Carnival and Norweian cruise lines and has spent many years with the Alternatives Big Band of bloomington, Illinois.  He now performs with the Brian Choban Quintet and plays as a singles pianist in addition to this trio.
     Tom received a grant for composition and recording for his original score to a stage play "Jumping Mouse".  He has served as Music director for a number of community musical events, and was a founding member as well as the first President and Music Director for the State Farm Employees Association Big Band.
   

     Gary Niehaus - Drums:  Gary has a Masters in Music and has taught in high school and as an adjunct instrumental teacher at LincolnLand community College.  Gary is the principle percussionist for Riverboat 5+1 and is involved in Municipal Band and several other groups.  

          MY OTHER FRIENDS

       The bonus to being involved in music in the Springfield area is the opportunity to play with and become friends with many other talented musicians.  Trying not to leave anyone out - here is a sampling of the people who perform with me from time to time.

      Don Udey - Trumpet
      Don Dunham - vocals
      Bob White - Sax
      Don Smith - (the Don Smith Band)