Tenor and soprano saxophonist David Hillyard is one of the innovators of the American ska scene. His group, the Rocksteady 7, mixes instrumental Jamaican “roots” rhythms and extended jazz improvisation. His forthcoming cd, Get Back UP!, is a blinding tour de force of his Jamaican Jazz conception. The title track evokes the power of Coltrane’s Love Supreme and is a screaming triumph over adversity.

Beat The Smart Kids is the product of local Chicago ska and punk veterans banding together to give you that ska punk and other junk sound.

With former and current members of Waste Basket, The Indecisives, Still Alive, and The Damn Tracks you can be sure to find catchy horn riffs, gravely vocals, and a driving punk sensibility.

DJ Chuck Wren has hosted the ska radio show “Everything Off-Beat” across the Chicago dial since 1989, currently airing Sundays at 9 PM on WLUW-FM 88.7. Since 1993, his label JUMP UP RECORDS ( www.jumpuprecords.com ) has released over 100 albums including ones by local faves Deal’s Gone Bad, The Drastics, and Green Room Rockers. His monthly night at Delialh’s is Chicago’s longest running ska/reggae night at 18 years, and when he spins you see piles of piles of original Jamaican 45s sprawled all over the place.