Vol. 70: Let the Good Grants Roll! Cohort Spotlight: The Windy City Ramblers

Mark Monaghan for Hyde Park Jazz Fest 2024

Today’s Collective Catalyst Cohort Spotlight - Meet Mario Abney of The Windy City Ramblers!

PLOT TWIST - we have a new member of our cohort! As our initial cohort members moved through their work, we noticed another founder making moves in the community who was on a similar trajectory. The energy he brings to his work flowed harmoniously (pun intended) with the dynamic changemakers we’d already been partnering with since May. Seeing a natural alignment and the potential for synergy towards our collective goals, we asked him to join the band!

Master Musician and bandleader Mario Abney is the founder of the Windy City Ramblers, a Chicago-based brass band keeping the spirit of brass and Second Line culture alive. A gifted multi-instrumentalist from a young age, Abney’s musical beginnings stemmed from the Black church, inspired by a gospel sound that had been baptized in the Mississippi and travelled North with our people during the Great Migration. After honing his chops at Fred Anderson’s legendary Velvet Lounge, he lived in New Orleans for a time and was deeply inspired by the music and Second Line culture there. Upon his return to Chicago, he yearned to bridge what he heard and felt in New Orleans with his hometown, continuing to cultivate and uplift the links between not only the sound, but the history.

After a rousing Millennium Park performance by the band that would become the Ramblers in 2022, and with encouragement from Mario’s business partner Dot Jones, the Windy City Ramblers was born, and was officially established as a nonprofit. Blending New Orleans rhythms with Chicago’s jazz, blues, and gospel roots, they bring soulful energy and authenticity to every performance — creating music that celebrates heritage, joy, and unity.

Sarah Ji for Honey Pot Chicago, Juneteenth 2026

The minute you hear those horns and that electrifying beat, we dare you to stand still. Mario and the Ramblers bring life to so many community events, from Honey Pot Performance’s Juneteenth Celebration to Cabrini Art House’s Party on the Blacktop, from Bud Billiken to the 60th Anniversary of the Chicago Freedom March .

As a nonprofit, the Ramblers also have another focus - educating and inspiring the next generation of musicians. Through performances, parades, and free workshops and classes for youth, they help young artists grow in skill and confidence.