Anthony Jay Houston

Any performance provided here is entirely customized for the client. If you want Solo Vibes, or you want a full Steelband, or a Jazz duo, or anything else, Anthony Jay Houston will put together the show YOU want. Background music? No problem. Evening Concert? No problem. Special tune requests? No problem. Once you decide what you want in your performance, what you will ALWAYS get with Anthony Jay Houston is professional quality music, clear communication before and leading up to the event, early arrival and set up, and happy guests enjoying a great performance!

Anthony Jay Houston is a Percussionist in the Chicagoland Area. Not only is he a double-degree holding musician (BA in Music Education, University of Dayton. MM in Percussion Performance, Roosevelt University), but he is a frequent and accomplished performer. Houston's music is mostly rooted in jazz, but style is not a limitation for him -- if you ask him to play something, he'll either be ready to do so, or he'll learn how! Houston performs mostly on Vibraphone, and works to incorporate the instrument in as many musical settings as he can. He also plays steelpan and other percussion instruments. At a typical solo performance, Houston will bring his Vibes, his pans (double seconds), and some backing tracks and perform a mix of solo acoustic pieces on either instrument and fully arranged pieces with backing tracks. For extra fun, he sometimes will even bring along his looping pedal so he can lay down an accompaniment on the vibes, then play a tune on pan to the "live" backing track.

Beyond Solo performance, Anthony works extensively with Potts & Pans Steelband. If you want the full Calypso experience, you don't need to travel to Trinidad, it's right here in Chicago with Potts & Pans. Anthony can give you a taste as a soloist, or bring out a P&P ensemble for any event. Potts & Pans is THE steelband to hire for ANY event!

Anthony is also a founding member of the Jazz Quartet Totem. Totem grew out of the desire of 4 Roosevelt Jazz Students wanting to continue sharing their music beyond the halls of the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Vibes, Guitar, Bass and Drums come together to play originals, standards, and standards in an original style with Totem. Heavily influenced by the ECM record label, Totem's favorite artists are Joe Henderson, Joe Locke, Carlos Antonio Jobim, and too many more to count.

Beyond the Jazz and Calypso, Houston plays pretty much any percussion instrument. The big ones, Timpani and Drum Set, are ready to go, along with a wide selection of latin percussion and hand drums from around the world. Of course, if you are looking for something he hasn't had a chance to learn yet - he'll learn it for you!

In most cases, performance will require some type of cover from the sun (for the instruments protection) and some type of power (an extension cord will do!) Naturally, if this is a problem, I'll work with you to find a solution!