Mosquitos Jam Band
The Mosquitos Jam Band is a Chicago based powerhouse jam band playing a blend of Blues, Alternative, Pop, Dance, Reggae, and Jazz grooves. The Band has over 100 songs in their catalogue and are launching their Fall 2022 tour with over 15 dates around the Chicago area.
Contact Information
Mundelein, IL
Meet The Band
Mosquitos Jam Band
Eli Orfanos
Guitar/Lead & Back Up Vocals
Eli (aka: “Bongo Mike’s” older 1st cousin) is the bands lead vocalist, lead guitarist. Most of his influences are rooted in Classic rock, and the Soul music of the late 60’s, and early 70’s. His voice was formed by emulating the vocal styles of all the great Motown singers. Guitar influences include: Carlos Santana, Duane Allman, BB King, Jimmy Page, and Pete Townshend. Eli is always on the look out for a great melody, either to sing or play on his guitar.
Jill Cornelius
Lead Vocals
Jill is the newest member of the group, and she brings a nice blend of lead vocals and backing harmonies to the mix of songs that we cover. Her experience in other bands throughout the Chicagoland area made the transition to The Mosquitos effortless. Jill is influenced by singers such as Fiona Apple, Joan Osbourne, and Natalie Merchant. In addition to her vocal stylings, she plays a variety of hand percussion to add to the mix of rhythm. She especially likes to play the "Goat Toe Rattle"!!!! .
Glenn McHenry
Bass Guitar/Backup vocals
Before Glenn joined the Mosquitos, the Bass position saw a mish mash of players: a little Ron, a little Eli, and a little Bob (pass the hot potato!.) When we talk about The Mosquitos after Glenn joined, we talk about how his playing has elevated the rhythm section to greater levels. Glenn brings years of expertise to the mix. His influences come from Blues Jazz, & Classic rock music. When he plays you hear Jack Bruce, John Entwhitsle, and if you listen closely he might even pull off a Jaco P. run from time to time.
Jeff Ambrose: Percussion
Percussion
Jeff – Djembe, mini congas, blocks, bells, and assorted hand percussion. Jeff is the second percussionist who fills in the rhythm with several different percussion instruments. His playing rounds out and compliments the rhythmic sound of the band. He is influenced by a variety of styles, but still gravitates towards the funky reggae beats of bands such as The Dead, The Allman Bros., Traffic, etc.
Mike Orfanos
Percussion
Mike - (aka: "Bongo Mike") Plays congas, bongos, timbales, shakers, assorted drums & percussion. The band's true "rock historian" is influenced by such musical acts as Santana, Rare Earth, The Grateful Dead, and much much more. He has a love for all that old 60's and 70's rock and roll, and is constantly searching for classic tunes and forgotten nuggets for new material that the band can interpret and percussify!!!!
Ray Kirschner
Keyboards/Back up Vocals
Behind every great jam band there is a great keyboard player. Ray brings over 25 years of musicianship to the mix. Ray’s love of R&B, Blues, Motown, and the classic rock of the 60’s and 70’s have provided some interesting soundscapes to the Mosquitos. His piano and organ sounds are the saucy part of the band. Plus he’s the only who can actually read music.
Ron Hoshizaki
Guitar/Back up Vocals
“The Hosh man” as we call him, brings an elegant yet rockin' style of playing to the game. Ron’s guitar influences are guys like, Pete Townshend, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana. However it was the thrash guitar styles of the 70’s 80 punk movements that spark his aggressive style. But don’t let that fool you, he can blow you way with mind blowing melodic improvational Guitar solos at a drop of a dime! The Mosquitos Secret weapon (check out some of his rhythm guitar work too…Wow!)
Jeff Fite
Drums
Jeff picked up his first set of sticks at a friends house when he was 7 years old. Early on, Jeff studied with Jake Jerger:, then he spent time at Berklee studying with Gary Chaffee and other faculty before returning to Chicago where he studied with Mark Walker. After receiving a percussion performance certification, Jeff played with many bands before replanting his roots around Chicago. Some of those bands include Numbers, Expose, The Rob Zetti Trio, Mosaic, Funk Revolution, Second Time Around, Last Exit South, and Vic Lombardi and the Chicago Seven. He has spent time playing a wide variety of genres including Jazz, Latin, Rock, Prog/rock and Funk. He has also spent 15 years playing and recording with the Willow Creek Community Church music ministry. Along with the Mosquitos, Jeff is currently playing with Chicago based band Whatismu, as well as Latin/ Jazz band Jazzilla. Jeff has been on staff at the Music Workshop in Mundelein since 2006 teaching drums and percussion.
Setlist
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After Midnight - JJ Cale
Aint no love in the heart of the city - Whitesnake
Aint no Sunshine - Bill Withers
Alabama Getaway - Grateful Dead
And it Stoned Me - Van Morrison
Beautiful Wreck - Shaun Mullins
Bertha - Grateful Dead
Carnival - Natalie Merchant
Chain of Fools - The Commitments
Cisco Kid - War
Couldnt Get it Right - Climax Blues Band
Criminal - Fiona Apple
Cry Love - John Haitt
Dark Star - Crosby Stills and Nash
Daughter of the Night - Santana
Dead Flowers - Rolling Stones
Diamonds on the Inside - Ben Harper
Do It Again - Steely Dan
Doctor my Eyes - Jackson Browne
Down by the Water - Decemberists
Eminence Front - The Who
Evil Ways - Santana
Fade Away - The BoDeans
Fell in Love With a Boy - Joss Stone
Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller
Franklins Tower - Grateful Dead
Funky Nassau - Soul Stew
Gimme Some Lovin - Spencer Davis Group
Gold on the Ceiling - The Black Keys
Grey Seal - Elton John
Hang on to Your Love - Sade
Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
Heat Wave - Martha and the Vandels
Hello Old Friend - Eric Clapton
Hey Hey What Can I Do - Led Zeppelin
Hold On - KT Tungstal
Hope In A Hopeless World - Widespread Panic
I Cant go for That - Hall and Oates
I Just Want to Celebrate - Rare Earth
I Shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley
If I Wanted Someone - Dawes
It Doesnt Matter - Manasas
Ill Be Around - The SpinnersJefferson Jerihco Blues - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Jesus is Just Alright - The Doobie Brothers
Jingo Lo Ba - Santana
Knockin on Heavens Door- Bob Dylan
The Ladder - Joan Osbourne
Listen to the Music - The Doobie Bros.
Lonely Boy - The Black Keys
Long Time Gone - Crosby Stills and Nash
Long Train Runnin - The Doobie Bros.
Low Rider - War
Love the one Your With - Steven Stills
Me and My Uncle - Grateful Dead
Me and Julio Down by the School Yard - Paul Simon
Medicine - Grace Potter
Mercy Mercy (The Ecology Song) - Marvin Gaye
Midnight in Harlem - Susan Tedeschi
Mirage - Santana
Money Grabber - Fitz and the Tantrums
Move By Yourself - Donovan Frankenrieter
Mr. Charlie - Grateful Dead
New Speedway Boogie - The Grateful Dead
No Time - The Guess Who
Oh Well - The Rockets / Fleetwood Mac
One of These Nights - The Eagles
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young
Rest of my days - Indigenous
Rock & Roll Stew - Traffic
Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Save Tonight - Eagle Eye cherry
Sleep to Dream - Fiona Apple
Spanish Moon - Little Feat
So Into You - Atlanta Rhythm Section
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
The Ladder - Joan Osbourne
Them Changes - Hendrix / Buddy Miles
Thin Air - Widespread Panic
Time to Confess - Gov't Mule
Too Rolling Stoned - Robin Trower
Treat Me Right - Grace Potter
US Blues - The Grateful Dead
Use Me - Bill Withers
Used to Rule the World - Bonnie Raitt
West LA Fadeaway - Grateful Dead
Whipping Post - Gregg Allman
Why can't we live together - Steve Winwood
Why Does Love Have to be so Sad - Eric Clapton
Yellow Moon - The Neville Bros.
You can't always get what you want - Rolling Stones / Rusted Root