Jake Hertzog is a guitarist, composer, and bandleader from the small town of Champaign IL. As a result of winning , the grand prize at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition, held at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Jake performed at the 2007 festival this past July showcasing his original music and what the Boston Pheonix has declared "...the wow! factor". Most recently, Jake can be seen performing with The Naked Brothers Band and has performed with them on national television shows such as Good Morning America and ABC's The View, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards and NBC's TODAY show and CW11 Morning Show and Fox Morning Show. As The musical director for Nat and Alex Wolff he as recently toured with them on their first national tour, the "Fully Clothed Tour". Jake has performed at the IAJE convention and is also an experienced sideman for any style of music and loves the opportunity to play multiple genres (promo dvd is up!). Jake is a 2007 graduate of the Berklee College of Music and while there, won almost every award for guitar performance. Most Importantly - Jake has a new record coming out in April 2009! The project "Chromatosphere" was recorded and produced by Grammy-winner Joshua Paul Thompson and features some of the best musicians on the New York scene including Victor Jones, Harvie S and special guest Michael Wolff. Hertzog’s music was also featured on the Berklee student jazz record label, Jazz Revelation on their 2007 compilation The New Old School and their 2006 compilation, Ars Nova. Jake Hertzog has recently joined the legendary drummer Victor Jones in his band Culturversy and is also a member of the Roads To You International Musicians Assembly, devoted to peace and understanding through music that has traveled the world to perform the music of Zade Dirani from Jordan and promote peace. He has been a member of the Fenway Brass Arts Jazz Orchestra in Boston, The Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra, Phil Wilson’s Rainbow Big Band and the newly formed Lindale project featuring Grammy nominated saxophonist, Donny McCaslin. Hertzog has also performed with his own groups throughout the United States and Europe at a myriad of venues including Ryles and Scullers, Jazz Clubs in Boston, and the Dizzy’s at the Lincoln Center in New York. He has performed with Max Weinberg, Greg Osby, Phil Wilson, Chip McNeill, Kevin Turner, Glen Wilson, Bruno Raberg, Rocky Maffit, and Donny Heitler among many others. In Novermber Jake will be appearing at a Highlights in Jazz concert with Bucky Pizzarelli, Aaron Weinstein, Warren Vache and other jazz luminaries. Jake played in rock bands early on, but soon turned his interests to jazz. While still in high school he began studying with Chip McNeill and performed regularly with University of Illinois jazz ensembles. Upon graduation Hertzog began his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. As a 17 year old scholarship student, Jake started with some of the most renown teachers in the world including Mick Goodrick, Rick Peckham, Hal Crook and Ritchie Hart. In addition, he has worked closely with jazz heavyweights Joe Lovano, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dave Samuels, Greg Hopkins and Phil Wilson. Hertzog is currently seeking to travel the world with his band, finish a new album, and bring his love of music to as many people as possible. He is currently living in New York.