About Transient Sound Performing Touring Theater Kick the Cat Contact

Keyboardist  ·  Producer  ·  Composer  ·  Chicago, IL

Vijay
Tellis-Nayak

One of Chicago's most sought-after musicians — pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, engineer, and producer. Performing across jazz, classical, musical theater, and indie rock. Currently on tour with Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy celebrating R.E.M.'s Life's Rich Pageant.

Studio Work Samples Transient Sound Studio
Featured in DownBeat Magazine Keyboard / EQ Magazine Late Night w/ Seth Meyers Vanity Fair
01 About
Vijay Tellis-Nayak Vijay Tellis-Nayak live

Musician,
Producer,
Composer

Education Northwestern University
B.A. Music Theory & Technology
M.A. Rhetoric / Mass Media Based In Chicago, Illinois Press DownBeat Magazine (Contributing Writer)
Keyboard / EQ — "Unsigned Artist of the Month"

Vijay Tellis-Nayak has received accolades for his musical talents since childhood and is currently sought after as one of the top musicians in Chicago as a keyboardist, producer, composer/arranger, and engineer.

Vijay began studying classical piano at the age of 5 and by 11 had won numerous awards for his symphonic compositions. He began playing electric guitar at 13 and by 16 was performing professionally. Vijay attended Northwestern University, receiving an undergraduate degree in Music Theory and Technology and a master's degree in Rhetoric/Mass Media.

He has been a featured artist and product/performance demonstrator for Hammond organs, as well as a contributing writer to DownBeat Magazine — and was featured in Keyboard/EQ as "Unsigned Artist of the Month" for his work with the pioneering Chicago-based fusion group Kick the Cat.

Pianist / Keyboardist Multi-Instrumentalist Composer / Arranger Producer Recording Engineer Mixer Mastering Engineer
Read Full Biography → Listen on Bandcamp →
02 Transient Sound — Recording Studio

Transient
Sound

For several years after college, Vijay ran a successful recording studio out of his home, producing many of Chicago's top jazz recordings. Outgrowing the space, he partnered with Steven Gillis in 2007 to build out Transient Sound — a full commercial recording studio on Chicago's north side.

Vijay's passion for jazz and acoustic recording has put him at the helm of scores of projects featuring internationally renowned artists and Grammy winners. Clients span jazz, R&B, gospel, hip hop, indie, metal, and beyond.

Notable Studio Credits
Kurt Elling
Brian Blade
Los Lobos
Donny McCaslin
Miguel Zenon
Oz Noy
Kenny Werner
Richie Beirach
Darryl Jones
Naked Raygun
Howard Levy
Trio Globo
Joe Locke / John McLean
Candyrat Records

Hear Studio Samples → Visit Transient Sound →
Location
1803 West Byron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60613
Email
[email protected]
Founded
2007, with Steven Gillis
Facilities
Control Room A · Control Room B
Live Room · Multiple Booths
Services
Recording · Mixing · Mastering
Production · Arrangement · Composition
Production Samples →
Listen on Samply
03 Performance — Artist Credits

Across
Genres

As a keyboardist, Vijay has performed with top artists across jazz, pop, orchestral, and musical theater — ranging from sold-out stadium tours to intimate jazz club residencies. His fluency across idioms makes him one of Chicago's most versatile and in-demand sidemen.

Genres covered include jazz, fusion, R&B, gospel, hip hop, classical, orchestral, indie rock, pop, and musical theater. Whether anchoring a rhythm section, leading an ensemble, or layering textures in the studio, Vijay brings deep musicianship and decades of professional experience.

Featured artist and performance demonstrator for Hammond Organs. Contributing writer, DownBeat Magazine. Featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Listen on Bandcamp →
Selected Artist Credits
Marcus Miller
Jennifer Hudson
Chuck Berry
Stewart Copeland
Billy Strings
w/ Béla Fleck & Jack Pearson
Randy Brecker
Umphrey's McGee
Howard Levy
Jon Irabagon
Dee Alexander
Fareed Haque
Bill Dickens
John Moulder
John McLean
Grazyna Auguscik
The Supremes
Paderewski Symphony
Milwaukee Symphony
04 Touring — Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy

Celebrating
the Music
of R.E.M.

Vijay serves as keyboardist for Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends — the widely acclaimed project reuniting members of R.E.M. and performing their landmark albums live, front to back. The project produced the first R.E.M. reunion in 14 years, bringing all four original members together onstage in Athens, GA.

The band has been featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers and in outlets including Premier Guitar, Brooklyn Vegan, Vanity Fair, and Consequence. The project began with a one-night tribute and has expanded into a major touring series with multiple U.S. and international runs.

2023
R.E.M.'s Murmur — Chicago Metro
One-night tribute marking the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.'s debut. Mike Mills joined the band onstage. The response was overwhelming and launched the full touring series.
w/ Mike Mills
2024
Murmur — National Tour
Expanded U.S. run including sold-out Athens, GA dates where all four original R.E.M. members gathered onstage — their first reunion in 14 years.
First R.E.M. Reunion in 14 Years
2025
R.E.M.'s Fables of the Reconstruction — U.S. & UK / Ireland
Nearly three times the dates of the Murmur run. Brooklyn, LA, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, plus a six-show UK/Ireland leg. Featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Frequent surprise appearances from Peter Buck and Mike Mills.
Late Night w/ Seth Meyers · UK/Ireland
2026
R.E.M.'s Life's Rich Pageant — 22-City U.S. Tour
Currently on tour for the 40th anniversary of Life's Rich Pageant — 22 shows, Feb–March 2026. Two nights at Chicago's Metro, two nights in Athens GA, 9:30 Club, The Fillmore, Brooklyn Steel, and more.
On Tour Now — Feb/Mar 2026
05 Musical Theater

Pit &
Stage

Vijay has extensive experience in Chicago's musical theater scene — performing in pit orchestras, serving as Cover Conductor, rehearsal pianist, and sound programmer for productions ranging from Broadway blockbusters to original works.

His theater credits span major venues across the city including the Goodman Theatre's Albert Theatre, Cadillac Palace, Ford Oriental, and Harris Theatre — and include original productions featuring fellow musicians like Stewart Copeland.

Other productions include The Lion King (Cadillac Palace), Wicked (Ford Oriental), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Imagine Tap! (Harris Theatre / Millennium Park), Turn of the Century, and Stewart Copeland's "Deranged."

Featured Production · Goodman Theatre · 2025
The Color Purple
The Musical — Goodman Theatre, Albert Theatre · June 21 – August 3, 2025

Vijay served in three roles for this landmark production of the Tony Award–winning musical, directed by Lili-Anne Brown and presented in the Goodman's 856-seat Albert Theatre.

Cover Conductor Official Goodman Theatre credit — prepared to conduct the full production orchestra.
Keyboard 2 — Pit Performed keyboards nightly in the pit orchestra alongside a full ensemble of Chicago's top musicians.
Rehearsal Pianist Served as rehearsal pianist throughout the production process, supporting the cast and creative team.
06 Kick the Cat

Kick
the Cat

DownBeat Magazine · 2022
Critic's Pick — Gurgle
Keyboard / EQ Magazine
"Unsigned Artist of the Month"
Royal Artist Group
National touring in support of Gurgle
Discography
Kick the Cat (1999) · Weirdo (2002)
Scramble (2006) · Gurgle (2021)
Listen on Bandcamp →

Kick the Cat is an internationally renowned Chicago-based jazz fusion band — within the virtuosic lineage of classic fusion/prog ensembles like Return to Forever and Weather Report, but drawing on contemporary groove elements, electronics, and a healthy dose of humor. The result is a high-energy amalgam of mind-bending rhythms, harmonies, and kaleidoscopic textures that is, somehow, surprisingly approachable.

Vijay is a founding member and serves as keyboardist, mixer, and co-engineer. The band's most recent album, Gurgle (released June 2021 and recorded at Transient Sound), earned a DownBeat Magazine Critic's Pick in 2022 and led to a national tour through Royal Artist Group. KTC has performed with Jeff Coffin, Bill Evans (sax), Sierra Hull, Cory Wong, and Daru Jones.

Band — Gurgle Lineup
Vijay Tellis-Nayak
Keyboards
Nord Stage 3, Nord Lead 2, Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, Moog Voyager, Clavinet, Yamaha C7
Chris Siebold
Guitar
Electric, Acoustic, Lap Steel, Sitar Guitar
Chris Clemente
Bass
4 & 5-String, Fretless Bass, Tritone Whistle
Kris Myers
Drums & Percussion
Drums, Percussion, Beat Production
Latest Release
Gurgle
Kick the Cat · 2021 · DownBeat Critic's Pick
Listen on Bandcamp →
07 Contact

Contact

For performance bookings, studio sessions, production projects, or general inquiries — reach out.

Email [email protected] Instagram @vijaytellisnayak → Facebook @vijay.tellisnayak → Studio Phone 773.880.5253 Studio Email [email protected] Studio Website transientsound.com →