Feestet (pronounced “Feest-tet”) is a Madison-based, gateway jazz sextet (though sometimes a quintet, quartet, or duo,) fronted by vocalist Helen Feest.
Cutting their teeth on standards from the Great American Songbook, Feestet formed from a weekly jazz jam in 2021. Since then, they've performed at several notable local venues and events: Jazz at Five, North Street Cabaret, Atwood Fest, The Sessions at McPike Park, and the Madison Jazz Festival.
Our self-titled debut—after four years together, our first pressing is here!
No turntable? No worries. We have gear for you, too.
Local pickup: Going to be in Madison sometime soon? Buy from the local pickup store instead to save on shipping.
Roulette is for anyone who's swiped right and ended up in a high-stakes game with worse odds than a casino. Dating apps are a gamble, and this track rides that chaos—fast, unpredictable, and just unhinged enough to keep things interesting. Like improv, like love, like whatever this is.
“A song that retains an air of comforting familiarity will still imparting their own recognizable imprint... Exceedingly charming and bathed in warm tones, Roulette is another small victory for a band quickly amassing a formidable repertoire all their own.” - Steven Spoerl
Great photos taken from a perfect day in August.
"Founded in 1994, the annual summer Jazz at Five series made a move this year to the King Street side of the Capitol Square, due to construction at its previous spot on South Hamilton Street. " Read the article.
Feestet loves to introduce jazz sounds into new spaces. New fans often say: “I don’t like jazz much, but I loved that!" Thus, Feestet dubs their sound “gateway jazz.”
Feetet’s mission is to create jazz music loved by all: jazz lovers and new listeners alike. We take inspiration from funk, folk, bebop, swing, bossa and allllll that jazz.
Helen’s vocal training includes classical, musical theater and jazz styles. Her formal education included a minor in music from Southern Illinois U – Carbondale. She’s performed in the Madison scene from the time she was 15, and in 2014 earned “Female Youth Vocalist of the Year” from the Madison Area Music Awards.
Anthony is originally from Portland, Oregon area. During his time there, he studied and performed with jazz musicians Dan Balmer, John Stowell, Randy Porter, Mel Brown, and Gerald Wilson. Since moving to Madison, he has performed with the Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble, Darren Sterud’s NOLA Tribute Band, John Christensen, Jonathan Greenstein and more.
Former trumpet player Frank McKearn IV has transferred his talents over to a new sound: the Electronic Valve Instrument. Frank, a native of Beloit, WI, made his foundation playing with Darren Sterud, Tony Barba, Fareed Haque, John Christensen, and many other Madison greats, and is excited to return to Madison with the Feestet, bringing the essential sound of the EVI with him.
What is the EVI? Invented in the 1970's, this analog synthesizer predates MIDI. It uses simple breath pressure to activate its eight-octave range, not unlike a trumpet.
In addition to drumming for a wide range of Madison-based bands, Greg is a Lecturer of Music in percussion at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music. He holds a BM from Lawrence and an MM from Rutgers University.
Greg grew up in the world of classical percussion and earned early recognition through the Bolz Young Artists program on PBS and the Neale Silva Young Artists competition. That foundation gives him both technical discipline and a deep sense of musical feel.
With Feestet, Greg is equal parts anchor and spark. He keeps a tight pocket, adds subtle percussive color, and lifts the whole band with energy and intention.
The youngest member of the group, pianist Jack Johnson (but not the banana pancakes one) is excited to join Feestet as he starts his career. A jazz student double majoring in psychology at UW-Madison,
he has undergone extensive training in both classical and jazz music. Jack can be found in various venues around Madison and his hometown of Beloit.
Alex Feucht is Feestet’s newest member on bass. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a bachelor’s degree and is currently pursuing a master’s, blending his academic path with a deep commitment to the Madison music community.
Alex is both a listener and a highly musical player. He has become a familiar presence on the local scene, performing with groups led by artists such as Alex Cope and Charlie Painter, along with appearances in UW–Madison jazz ensembles and creative music projects.
“Feestet’s musical imprint should be familiar to anyone versed in Madison’s jazz scene.”
