The Hanging Hearts are a free jazz trio with strong melodic roots dedicated to the fearless exploration of group improvisation. Featuring Chris Weller on tenor saxophone, Cole DeGenova on keyboards, and Devin Drobka on drums.
Chris Weller is a saxophonist and composer living in Oak Park, IL. He attended Berklee College of Music on scholarship from 2007-2010 where he received his bachelors degree in saxophone performance. During that time, Weller performed in jazz, latin, and hip hop groups across the nation. Since college, he has performed internationally as a bandleader, established a reputable private teaching studio, and hosted clinics in the U.S. and abroad on elementary, high school, and college levels.
In 2013, Chris formed his main project Hanging Hearts, with friends Devin Drobka and Cole DeGenova. Described by Pavel Šanda (Neratoviny, Czech Republic) as “hammering the walls between genres,” their music bridges the gap between jazz, rock, and experimental music. The band released their self-titled debut album in October 2014 to international review with supporting US shows and European tour (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania).