BLEND
ACOUSTIC
About Us
Since 2000, these skilled musicians have entertained guests at corporate events, country clubs, wedding ceremonies and private parties across some of Chicago's greatest venues.
Sean Cantorna
Sean began his career at a college talent show where he delivered a stirring rendition of “American Pie” which, to his surprise, brought the entire auditorium to their feet and landed him on the front page of the school newspaper. (see GALLERY). After his graduation, Sean fulfilled a lifetime dream and moved to Spain where he honed his skills in local ‘tavernas’ and gained much of the Latin influences that he still incorporates today.
Upon his return to Chicago, Sean toured the country as the lead singer for a nationally known Dave Matthews cover band. He’s performed with Brett Michaels and Bobby Dall from Poison, bass player Stu Cook from Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Todd Park Mohr, from Big Head Todd & The Monsters.
Sean has spent the last fifteen years playing popular Chicago venues, country clubs, corporate events, festivals and private parties as a solo or duo acoustic artist. When Sean is not performing he is a full-time ESL (English Second Language) & Spanish teacher working with children grades 6-8.
Neal Alger
Guitarist Neal Alger is known in Chicago for his consummate musicianship, versatility, and accompaniment skills. Alger has been heralded as “one of the most sensitive and creative guitarists in a city filled with them” by Howard Reich (Chicago Tribune) and has been described as “monstrously talented” by Christopher Loudon (Jazz Times magazine).
Neal graduated summa cum laude from Northern Illinois University with a bachelors' degree in jazz guitar performance and studied with renowned virtuoso guitarist Fareed Haque. After college studies, Neal moved to Chicago in 1995 and established himself as an in-demand sideman and leader. Neal has performed or recorded with Lin Halliday, Howard Levy, Luciano Antonio, Don Stiernberg, Under the Streetlamp, Ed Thigpen, George Fludas, and most notably, singer/pianist Patricia Barber. Neal has toured Europe, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Russia, and South Korea with Patricia and he is featured on her Blue Note Records releases Verse (2002), Live: A Fortnight in France (2004), Mythologies (2006), and The Cole Porter Mix (2008).
Neal is influenced by many styles of music: jazz, rock, R&B, Latin styles, classical and pop. His solid rock background has enabled him to play in
Cast Iron Skillet, a classic rock cover band of 25 years, and in his own original project, Needles in the Red, in which he sings, plays guitar, and composes all of the music and lyrics. Neal also recorded three CD’s as a co-leader with vocalist Typhanie Monique, capitalizing on their intimate voice/guitar duo: Intrinsic (2004), In This Room (2007), and Yuletide Groove (2008).
