Jake Rosenkalt
Jake has rapidly become one of my favorite young drummers on a scene with a deep bench in that department. He's interactive, fiery, and a joy to make music with."
Prolific Saxophonist and Co-Founder of Calligram Records-Geof Bradfield
Jake Rosenkalt is one of the most dynamic young drummers on the jazz scene today. After moving to Chicago in the fall of 2023, he quickly integrated himself into the vibrant music scene. He has performed with an exhaustive list of the city's top musicians including woodwind master Geof Bradfield, Grammy Award-winning bassist Clark Sommers, internationally acclaimed saxophonist Greg Ward, Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian Dillingham, Chicago bass legend Dennis Carroll, Chris Madsen (Director of the Jazz Department at Loyola University) Joe Policastro, Dr. Mike Allemana, Scott Hesse, Alyssa Allgood, Paul Marinaro, Marlene Rosenberg, Chad McCullough, John Tate, Ben Walzter, Jeremy Kahn, Dave Miller, Pat Mallinger, Dan Trudell, Tim Fitzgerald, Jeremiah Hunt, and John Wojciechowski. He's played at many of the premiere venues in Chicago including the legendary Green Mill, Andy's Jazz Club, Winter's Jazz Club, and Evanston Space. Rosenkalt has become the go-to drummer for major artists such as pianist Joe Alterman, who is considered "one of the freshest voices in modern jazz." (Artsatl.Org) and award-winning vocalist Champian Fulton, who is as recognized as the “most gifted pure Jazz singer of her generation” (Mark Stryker, the Detroit Free Press) when they perform in Chicago. As a bandleader, Rosenkalt's Guitar Quartet was featured in the September 2025 issue of NYC Jazz Record, one of New York's most respected jazz periodicals. He has also headlined at Evanston Space under his own name in 2024. Outside of Chicago, Rosenkalt performs with internationally renowned musicians such as Paul Bollenback, Steve Cardenas, Alex Claffy, Kenny Werner, bass legend Harvie S, and John Webber. In addition, Rosenkalt has performed with many other notable musicians such legendary Boston bass player and member of the Fringe, John Lockwood, Peter Slavov, Rick Dimuzio, Sheryl Bailey, Jeff Lockhart, Stan Strickland, Tim Ray, and Phil Grenadier. While studying at Berklee College of Music, he was a member of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, where he studied with luminaries such as Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, and Joe Lovano. In addition to performing, Rosenkalt is highly respected educator and clinician. He runs his own private drum studio in Chicago.
