Meet the Feestet
The Madison-based Helen Feest Quintet (Feestet for short) brings a fresh display of rhythm and sound to the table with a side of jazz standards you know and love – made famous by the stylings of Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Amy Winehouse, and more.
Formed in 2021, their blend of arranged jazz classics and originals pay tribute to the sounds and stories that withstand the test of time.
Members
Helen Feest
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.
Matty Benjamin Allen
A lifelong entertainer, Matty began playing live music at the age of 5 when he started taking violin lessons. His musical interests quickly expanded into other instruments including the Drum Set which is one of his main passions today. Practicing drum set has provided Matty with many outstanding opportunities such as performing at Lincoln Center, working on a cruise ship in the Hawaiian Islands, Recording with Grammy winning Cuban artist Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, and accompanying Hip Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow.
Ari Smith
Ari is a bassist and composer active in the Wisconsin jazz, contemporary classical, an experimental music scenes. While working to complete his Ph.D. at UW Madison, he has shared the stage with such names as Vincent Davis, Jim Baker, Hanah Jon Taylor, and Isaiah Collier, and has been commissioned to compose pieces for performers such as Trace Johnson and Joe Connor.
Anthony Utehs
Anthony is originally from Portland, Oregon. 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.
Luke Leavitt
Luke Leavitt is a musician, composer, producer and graduate student who has toured nationally and has performed his own music at the Apollo, the Bitter End, the Smell and other internationally renowned venues. He has played and worked with Hanah Jon Taylor, John Cristensen, Devin Drobka and other national and regional figures in jazz and beyond.
Recent Show Snippets
Quarantine Jams
Featuring Lucas Simpson, Paul Hastil, Aaron Gochberg & Jim Huwe. Video by Sam Olson.
Featuring Aaron Gochberg. Video by Sam Olson.