The Modal Music (tm) story
Presenting high quality ethnic and American music, recordings, dancers, and information for fun family entertainment since 1988.
It was back in 1988 that we realized we had grown beyond just being a single band, the Balkan Rhythm Band (tm), which in 1980 was one of the first “world beat” groups on the Chicagoland scene. It was clear that we needed an umbrella organization for our then two bands. By 1990, the decision to create Modal Music, Inc. had proven to be exactly the right thing to have done because we had grown to become five bands.
Then we began to present concerts here in America and in Denmark. We have also developed a number of powerful educational programs and have occasionally booking a number of artists who were related to our groups in one way or another.
In addition, we have a product line of CDs, small instruments, and various things “ethnic” that are and will continue to be interesting to our fans and clients.
Our growth is fueled by the quality of our products, both live performances and items we sell. Generally, over half of our business is with repeat clients! People hire our bands repeatedly because they know we provide them with flexible, high quality, family-friendly professional entertainment. And, of course, it helps that we present our music in as an acoustic manner as possible in any given performance situation. Add on our efforts to include the audience in the fun by getting them up and dancing and / percussing along with us, and you have the Modal Music story: good music, good players, and responsive, friendly, interactive entertainment.
Our roster reflects the variety of American immigration. We have upbeat Jewish Klezmer, exotic Greek Rembetika, sweet Scandinavian dance music, and hot World Music groups like the Earwig Music label recording artist, Jutta & the Hi-Dukes (tm) which is all of the above and more. And then there is ethnically American music, too. We have a Swing / Tin Pan Alley / Dixieland band and can book a number of traditional Blues artists and bands.
We can also book a firey Flamenco music and dance troupe and can offer Raqs Sharqi dancers, Greek dancers, Jewish dancers, and Scandinavian dancers.
Please sign up on our e-mail list. We will keep you posted about new and exciting events around town as well as anything regarding the arts as seen through an ”ethnic”-arts-oriented eye. And while you are at it, please let us know what you think about our site, our mission, and our artists! We appreciate your comments and interests. And, of course, please spread the word about us so that others can get involved. A great way to do that is to Like the Hi-Dukes Facebook page.
“[Their] music is exciting, and listeners will find it hard to keep from leaping up to dance.” — Natalie Wainwright, Arts & Life reviewer, Round Table
“… such a wonderful show! Not only was your performance entertaining, but also informative and instructive, which is what we were hoping for in a university environment. … everybody had a wonderful time. Thank you again for a great show!” — Michael B. Cosmopoulos, Ph.D., Fellow, Academy of Science St. Louis, Professor of Archaeology, The Hellenic Government-Karakas Foundation Professor in Greek Studies, Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri
“I am not exaggerating or giving empty words when I say your performance was my favorite ever.” — Ashleah White, Reporter for The Current, University of Missouri – St. Louis, Nov. 28th, 2015
“Thank you so much for performing at our Bishop Hill Folk Festival! We have heard nothing but compliments about your music.” —Todd DeDecker, Bishop Hill Heritage Association Administrator
“Your performance was truly amazing and we are very glad that you could be part of this special event.” —Juan Carlos Acevedo, Outreach Coordinator, Wheeling Park District
Videos by Earth Star Graphics (tm). Web design, photos, videos, band names, company name, and text © 2013, Modal Music, Inc. (tm). All rights reserved. Duet photo by Wally Reichert. © 2003 Modal Music, Inc. Trio photo by Betina Distler. © 2012 Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Quartet photo by Rumiana Shumanov. © 2009, Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Quintet photo by Jim Godsey. © 2010 Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Banner image of dance class © 2012 Modal Music, Inc. All rights reserved. All other photos, unless otherwise indicated, © Modal Music, Inc. Audio sound recordings and Video sound recordings (P) performance rights Modal Music, Inc. (tm). All rights reserved. “Modal Music, Inc.”, “Modal Music”, “Modal Music Records”, “Modal Music Market”, “Modal Market”, “Fine ethnic entertainment since 1988”, “Quality entertainment since 1988”, “Jutta & the Hi-Dukes”, “Jutta & the Hi-Duke”, “Hi-Dukes”, “Hi-Duke”, “Euro Roots World Music”, “Euro Roots”, “Balkan Gypsy Dixie Klezmer”, “Balkan Beats”, “Meet Your Neighbor’s Folk Music”, “Ethnorobics”, “On The World Beat”, “Ensemble M’chaiya”, “M’chaiya”, “Chicago’s Original Klezmer Band”, “Chicago’s Original Revival Klezmer Band”, “Trad Roots and New Beats to move the heart and feet”, “Trad Roots and Gypsy Beats to move your heart and feet”, “Terran’s Greek Band”, “Greek Music Beyond Boundaries”, “Old style acoustic Greek dance music”, “Nordland Band”, “Nordland”, “Warm music from cool lands to melt your heart”, “Two For Tea”, “Les Beaux Chemins”, “Balkan Rhythm Band”, “The Jazziest Balkan Dance Band Around”, “Razzemetazz”, “Swingin’ Pop From The Past”, “Swingin’ Songs From The Golden Era Of Pop”, “World Hillbilly Swing Band”, and “Globe Toddlers” are all trademarks of Modal Music, Inc. (tm). All rights reserved.
Terran @ HiDukes dot com / ModalMusic @ juno dot com / Info @ ModalMusic dot com
847 864 1022 from 10 AM to 10 PM C.S.T.
Modal Music, Inc., P.O. Box 6473 Evanston, IL 60204-6473 U.S.A.