Don’t look now, but a jazz combo that calls itself the A Train, and performs often on Fridays at Chicago Prime Italian in Schaumburg, is made up of mostly high school students. Only their music director, Andrew Luzwick, is out of college, but the other three are underclassmen at local high schools.
(L-R) Andrew Luzwick, Charlie Bromley, Anthony Luzwick and Braden Estanillo
They include: Charlie Bromley, a sophomore at Schaumburg High School, who plays drums; Braden Estanillo, a sophomore at Oak Park River Forest High School who plays the stand-up bass; and Anthony Luzwick, a freshman at Hoffman Estates High School, who plays saxophone.
“It has been so thrilling to watch the band grow and expand,” says Anthony, who is Andrew’s younger brother. Their mother, Dominica Seminaro and her sister, Chris, are well known in the Schaumburg area. They formed HOTT Productions, or Helping Others Through Theatre, in Schaumburg in 1995.
The company continues to stage popular musicals and next will present Jersey Boys June 27-29 at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg. Consequently, Andrew and Anthony, and their two brothers grew up immersed in music and theater.
“The band started last year when I was in 8th grade,” Anthony explains. “Myself and two of my good jazz buddies got together on Sunday mornings at Vintage Cafe in Schaumburg. A year later, and we are playing restaurants, bars, and getting booked for weddings and anniversary events.”
(L-R) Anthony Luzwick on sax, Charlie Bromley on drums and Noah on bass
Andy-John Kalkounos, owner of Chicago Prime Italian, heard the combo play a private event at his restaurant and promptly booked them to play on New Year’s Eve last year. Now, they play nearly every weekend.
All of these jazz musicians are active in their respective band programs. Anthony plays alto saxophone in concert band as well as piano in the jazz combo and saxophone and clarinet in the jazz big band, all at Hoffman Estates High School.
The drummer, Charlie Bromley, plays percussion in Schaumburg High School’s symphonic band and philharmonic orchestra and is the drummer for their jazz ensemble and jazz combo. Braden Estanillo, too, plays bass in the orchestra and jazz program at Oak Park River Forest High School.
As the combo’s music director, Andrew Luzwick plays keyboard. He Is a freelance music director for musical theatre as well as a jazz pianist. He also is the collaborative pianist at Hoffman Estates High School and the organist at the First Presbyterian Church of Barrington.
Andrew, left, and Anthony Luzwick
In part, Erika Bromley, Charlie’s mother and a teacher at Hoffman Estates High School, credits Agata Zabludowska, owner of Vintage Cafe, with giving the boys their start.
“The cafe is a female-owned, independent coffee shop that supports local artists and independent music,” Erika Bromley says. “Agata has been so supportive about letting young people set up and play on weekends, with a tip jar.”
Members of the A Train are enjoying the chance to go beyond their high school ensembles, and take their music out into the community.
“Playing in the combo style is different,” Anthony says. “It allows us to be more creative and explore our improvisational juices.”
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