About the Band
Svengali is Kevin Flynn on sax, Dan Waldis on piano, Jim Stout on bass, and Mark Chaney on drums and vocals. Recently featured at the Murray Heritage Center, their uptempo tunes remind one of a funkier Spyro Gyra, while their ballads have Mark Chaney crooning ala Sinatra or Buble. The band formed with the goal of playing authentic, but accessible jazz, that would take the listener on a journey through swing, bebop, funk, fusion, and modern styles of jazz. The name Svengali was taken from the hypnotic character in a French novel, who cast a spell on a woman so she could sing like an angel. The members of Utah’s Svengali hope to cast a spell with their music wherever they play.
Kevin Flynn - Sax, flute, harmonica
"Music has been my passion ever since I was a wee lad listening to my father sing Irish ballads while strumming the guitar. I picked up the sax at age 10 and learned to play in school bands as we roamed the country like restless gypsies, stopping in Minnesota, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, California, and finally Utah. I loved listening to the cool sax of Paul Desmond (Dave Brubeck Quartet), then became enamored with the sassy blues of Cannonball Adderly. While working as a gas station attendant, I taught myself to play the blues harp to pass time during those cold winter nights when business was slow. Muddy, Sonny Boy, Little Walter; they struck a chord deep inside of me and the blues have never left me since. After high school I lived in Ireland for two years, and it was there that I reconnected with the mystical, soulful, and rollicking Irish music that was already in my blood. I learned to play the tin whistle, and you will still see me every year in the St. Patricks Day parade, playing jigs as the Flynn Clan comes down the street."
Mark Chaney - Drums
"Have drums, will travel." reads the card of this versatile percussionist. Mark Chaney has accompanied a diverse group of artists, including Bobby McFerrin, Mose Allison, Elvin Bishop, Herb Ellis, Laurel Masse, Von Freeman, and Joe Henderson. As a bandleader, he has enjoyed two European tours, including a spot at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival. Recent compositions include an original score for the successful PBS documentary, "Salt Lake- Once Upon a Time", and further contributions to the series, "Utah in the Fifties”. In 2002, Mark performed extensively during the Winter Olympics, and has been featured in the Utah Arts Festival, and the Park City International Jazz festival, backing up French guitarist Serge Kreif. Now in the fortieth year of teaching private music lessons, Mark is also Band Director for the Weilenmann School of Discovery. He travels extensively from his home base, “Blue Sky Studios”.