Jane Lady, “Grand Dame of Jazz”
Jane had multiple interests, including ice skating, boating and golfing, but most of all, music was her passion. She played in the Peoria Symphony for 28 years from 1943-1957, and sang in the Arcadia Presbyterian Church Choir for over 26 years, where she also served as the Head of Deaconesses.
Her most visible and passionate role in the community was serving as the President of the Central Illinois Jazz Society from 1990-2010. Although founded by her son, Doug, Jane was the driving force in providing growth for the Society and the jazz scene in the area. She was a tireless advocate for live jazz and was a major force in helping to give local musicians a consistent performance venue in Peoria. Because of this, her positive influence in promoting awareness and appreciation of live jazz continues today throughout Central Illinois and beyond.
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Finding Jazz in Peoria
I set out to discover—to define—the history of jazz in Peoria, to “unlock the secrets” of a storied past. But what I discovered was something, like the word itself, too broad to be summed up so neatly—though I tried!
How, really, does one answer the question, “So, what was it like back then?” How do you map that territory for someone who wasn’t there?
Just like the improvisation that is at its heart, the definition of jazz is a moving thing. It doesn’t stay put, and it’s not the same for everyone.
Whether it’s John Philips’ evocation of a long-lost Peoria teeming with jazz clubs, David Hoffman’s 13 years on the road with the Ray Charles Orchestra or Preston Jackson’s memories of sneaking in the back doors of Decatur’s clubs at sixteen, jazz is a collection of people’s stories, of individual moments of experience. To “define” it is to limit it—and leave out an essential piece of the puzzle.
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Setting the Scene in 1978: The Founding Story
The Jazz Society was born in 1978 when over 200 people gathered for an outdoor jazz concert in Jane Lady’s backyard in Peoria. Everyone enjoyed the experience so much that Doug Lady, Jon Doren and Ron Hopper – supported by countless others – formed the Central Illinois Jazz Society (CIJS) in 1978 to provide more opportunities for jazz performances in the region.
The Charter for the CIJS was first composed in September 1978, and the first concert officially presented by CIJS took place on December 1, 1978, at Illinois Central College.
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MUSIC HEALS: In Memory of David J. Keyes
Watching him perform was mesmerizing. He and the others put every brain cell, heart and soul into their craft and the resulting jazz exceeded any possible expectations one could have of a couple of scrappy kids... you could see the unadulterated joy on their faces.
Because of the opportunities CIJS created for him to stretch and grow musically, he earned confidence performing, learned how to work well with other personalities and truly experience the give and take of the creative process. There were also valuable lessons in responsibility, creating opportunities for others and leadership along the way.
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