For our annual Student Appreciation Night, CIJS presents Elmhurst University Jazz Band with very special guest Illini Bluffs High School Jazz Band: two highly respected student groups out of Central Illinois.
Thank you to our concert Sponsors, Dale Spooner and Judithe Rexford, for their support!
Elmhurst University Jazz Band 7:15pm
The Elmhurst University Jazz Band has earned worldwide acclaim.
In June of 2014, the Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards named the Elmhurst University Jazz Band the Undergraduate College winner in the large jazz ensemble category.
The band has performed in Greece, Romania, England, Croatia, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Indonesia, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Canada and the Bahamas. It has twice toured Europe at the invitation of the U.S. State Department. It has appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Northsea Jazz Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival and others. In 1997, the band was the only college jazz ensemble invited to perform at the Jak Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Closer to home, the Jazz band has performed at festivals across the United States, received outstanding ratings from jazz greats Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Rob McConnell, Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, and Bob Brookmeyer among others. In 2001, the band accompanied Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park.
The band regularly appears with some of the top musicians in professional jazz. Recent guest artists have included Bobby Shew, the Yellowjackets, Patti Austin, John Pizzarelli, Nnenna Freelon, Denis DiBlasio, Michael Davis, Tom Scott, Bill Watrous, Patrick Williams, Marshall Gilkes, Wayne Bergeron, Danny Gottlieb, and Doc Severinson.
Following the 43-year tenure of legendary jazz educator Doug Beach, the Jazz Band is now lead by longtime faculty member Kirk Garrison. The performance will also feature guest artist Dan Nicholson, Elmhurst University Adjunct Professor, on saxophone.
ILLINI BLUFFS JAZZ BAND 6pm
Glasford Illinois overlooks the Illinois River Valley and is home to Illini Bluffs High School, where 250 students attend from Glasford, Mapleton, and Kingston Mines.
The Illini Bluffs Jazz Band is known for their emphasis on small ensembles and intended focus on improvisation.
Focusing on their students’ abilities for creativity and expression, they take pride in sharing their collaborative arrangements with audiences throughout Central Illinois.
We look forward to having them kick off our annual Student Night!
Concerts are held at Trailside Event Center
4416 N Prospect (above Trefzger’s)
Third Sunday of the month (unless otherwise noted)
Members $8
Non-members $12
Students Free