Formed in 2011, Heisenberg Uncertainty Players (HUP) is a jazz big band that performs exclusively original compositions and arrangements by its leader and founder, John Dorhauer, and features some of the finest performers of big band music in the Chicago area. HUP has been a mainstay on the Chicago music
scene for the past 15 years, having given over 200 public performances during that time. Aside from performing at many of Chicago’s premiere venues, HUP has received multiple Illinois Arts Council grants for recording projects and was invited to perform at the internationally-renowned Ear Taxi 2021 Festival.
HUP’s music is noted for its uniqueness and eclecticism, particularly with Dorhauer’s quirky reinterpretations of beloved rock and pop music. HUP has performed Dorhauer’s arrangements of several entire albums, including The Beatles’ “Abbey Road,” Led Zeppelin’s “Houses of the Holy,” Heart’s “Dreamboat Annie,” Wings’ “Venus And Mars,” and Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.” HUP is also known for their one-of-a-kind themed performances, which have included a historical retrospective of boy band music, heavy metal music, blues, all 90’s music, movie music, and symphonic movements. Furthermore, several of Dorhauer’s original
compositions for HUP are built around inventive themes, including “The Basketball Suite,” which features songs inspired by various aspects of the modern NBA, and “We Tear Down Our Coliseums,” which is a 9-movement multimedia suite in which each movement is written as an homage to a baseball stadium that has
been destroyed.
HUP recently recorded music for a couple of upcoming releases, and their most recent recording – 2020’s “Gradient” – has received national and international radio airplay and is currently available on all major streaming platforms. RADIO ADDS 01/26/2026
CREDITS
1) Catalpa (5:10)
Chris Parsons, guitar / Emily Kuhn, trumpet
2) I Want It That Way (7:05)
Josh Torrey, trombone / Natalie Lande, alto sax / Dan Parker, bass
3) Canyonero (7:23)
Kelley Dorhauer, alto sax / Andrew Meyer, trombone
4) Alright (7:22)
Stuart Seale, piano / Jonathan McQuade, trumpet /
Josh Torrey, trombone / Natalie Lande, alto sax
5) Echolocation (7:02)
Chris Parsons, guitar / James Baum, tenor sax
6) Hold On (8:30)
Bennett Heinz, trumpet / Andrew Meyer, trombone
7) At What Point Does a Pillow Become a Cushion? (6:02)
Matt Zmuda, tenor sax
8) Threshold (6:15)
Andrew Meyer, trombone / Sam Pilnick, tenor sax
All music written by John Dorhauer, except “I Want It That Way”, written by Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson, and arranged by John Dorhauer, and “Hold On”, written by Carnie Wilson, Chynna Phillips, and Glen Ballard, and arranged by John Dorhauer.
Heisenberg Uncertainty Players is:
John Dorhauer (DOOR-how-er): director
Natalie Lande (LAND-ee): alto sax, soprano sax, flute
Kelley Dorhauer: alto sax, clarinet
Sam Pilnick: tenor sax, bass clarinet
Matt Zmuda (zuh-MOO-da): tenor sax, flute
James Baum: bari sax, tenor sax
Josh Torrey: trombone
Andrew Meyer: trombone
Dominic Gaietto (guy-EH-toe): trombone
Dan DiCesare (dee-CHEZ-a-rey): bass trombone
Grace Mulvey: trumpet
Jonathan McQuade: trumpet
Bennett Heinz: trumpet
Emily Kuhn (KYOON): trumpet
Chris Parsons: guitar
Stuart Seale: piano
Dan Parker: bass
Ethan Bouwsma: drums
Produced by John Dorhauer
Recorded by Andy Shoemaker at Rax Trax on February 1 & 2, 2025
Mixed & Mastered by Brian Schwab
Album artwork by Kelley Dorhauer
Photography by Harvey Tillis