Chicago Bassist, Dr. Crystal Rebone, is the Jazz Ensemble Director at Wheaton College and Affiliate Instructor of Bass at Bradley University. Originally from Beloit, Wisconsin, Dr. Rebone graduated Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a master’s degree in jazz performance. Graduating with her Doctorate in Jazz Performance from the University of Illinois in 2021, she has striven to research ways that middle school and high school directors can support female students in their jazz programs. Her research highlighted the importance of community within female students and how that community can build a strong female presence in secondary jazz ensembles. Being a part of groups such as the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra, the Women in Jazz Organization, the League of Women Bass Players, and participating in events such as Jazz Girls Day has furthered this mission of inclusion and mentorship of young women in the jazz community. She has also been able to present her research at conferences and colleges throughout the United States.

An active and diverse performer, Dr. Rebone has performed all over the country with a variety of groups. She has played with countless musicians around the Midwest as well as her own bass trio, Taco Belles. Her bass trio focuses on use the three bass to accompany vocalists and exploring techniques to try and “fill in the gaps” of a traditional jazz trio. Outside of her bass trio, she arranges video game music for small and large ensembles. By doing this, she is bringing her joy of video game culture and jazz into the same realm. This allows people to experience jazz through a lens of their video game interests. She has brought her own trios to such places as the International Society of Bassist 2023 Conference, the 2024 Oak Park Jazz Thaw, the Iowa City Jazz Festival, Champaign-Urbana Jazz Festival.

Outside of her own projects, she has toured the east coast with Monika Herzig’s all-female jazz combo, Sheroes. She can also be seen playing with the Chicago Tango Ensemble, Shout Section Big Band, Blueshift Big Band, the Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra, Northwest Symphony Orchestra, and the Heartland Festival Orchestra. In true freelance musician style, she can be found at a variety of venues throughout the Chicagoland and across the Midwest.

Dr. Rebone is equally passionate about music education. She has been an active instructor at summer camps at the University of Illinois, Simpson College, University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin Whitewater, and Western Illinois University. She has also adjudicated at jazz festivals at Culver-Stock College, Iowa Jazz Championships, the University of Northern Iowa Tallcorn Jazz Festival, South Dakota State, and Bradley University. In 2024, she was commissioned to compose the jazz bass audition material for the Illinois Music Education Association and directs and adjudicates at district and state levels. She also served as the Spring 2024 Artist in Residence at the College of DuPage. She holds an active private studio with a wide range of ages, string instruments, and genres