2023 Elmhurst University Jazz Festival Program

THE 56TH ANNUAL ELMHURST UNIVERSITY

THURSDAY-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23–26, 2023

HAMMERSCHMIDT MEMORIAL CHAPEL

GORDON GOODWIN’S BIG PHAT BAND

JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO

TAMIR HENDELMAN • DENNIS MACKREL • TERELL STAFFORD

About the JAZZ FESTIVAL

Rich in both tradition and innovation, the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival has been operating continuously for over half a century. The first Festival, presented in 1968, rose from the ashes of the now-defunct American College Jazz Festival, which was comprised of eight regional sites throughout the United States. Elmhurst University (then Elmhurst College) hosted the Midwest event. Each regional festival produced a winning band, combo, and vocalist, who then performed at a national festival on Memorial Day weekend. American Airlines, Budweiser, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts sponsored the annual extravaganza. The national festival expired in 1973, but Elmhurst continued its festival with a new approach: instead of a winner-take-all format, the emphasis was shifted from competition to education. Since then, our guest artists/adjudicators have offered constructive critiques of each performing group, conducted clinics, and demonstrated their skill in concerts. The artists also grant awards to outstanding ensembles, individual musicians, and student composers and arrangers.

Recent additions to the Festival experience have further added to its educational value. For this year’s edition, we will continue a popular format change first adopted last year: our guest artists/adjudicators will emerge from the shadows of the Chapel balcony and provide onstage, on-mic, on-camera comments following each student ensemble’s performance. Additionally, bands participating in our High School Invitational will have the opportunity to attend clinics with our outstanding Elmhurst University jazz faculty in addition to their performance and clinic with our guest artists/adjudicators.

After presenting the 2021 Festival entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year we presented the best of both worlds with the addition of livestreaming to our traditional live format. This year we are pleased to continue both offerings (with the exception of our Sunday feature performance, which is only available live in person).

Over the years, the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival has hosted some of the most iconic names in jazz. Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Konitz, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, the Dave Holland Quintet, Nicholas Payton, Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, the Bill Holman Band, the Phil Woods Quintet, the Count Basie Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Patti Austin, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, the Joe Lovano Quartet, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, The Jeff Hamilton Trio, Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project, The Dave Douglas Quintet, and Kurt Elling all have graced our stage.

Since 1968, there have been countless memorable moments. Many of them have been the performances by the legendary artists who make the journey to our stage each year, but a great number of those magical moments have come from the student musicians themselves. They deliver heartfelt performances and give the audiences all they have and more. Many former Festival participants have gone on to careers in music and have made their mark in the art form. Professionals who performed here as students include Delfeayo Marsalis, Rich Perry, Cecil Bridgewater, John Harmon, John Fedchock, Peter Erskine, Tim Hagans and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

The Festival is above all else a forum for jazz education. It is a gathering where some of the world’s most acclaimed artists come together with the next generation of musicians not only to perform the music, but also to study it. The Festival is a place where students have access to some of the best musicians in the business and can ask them directly about their artistry. With our expansion into the digital realm, jazz fans across the world can now witness the magic that takes place on our Chapel stage each year. It is indeed a special happening: a rare blend of educational enrichment and exciting entertainment. Welcome to our celebration of America's sublime art form.

Thursday-Sunday, February 22-25, 2024

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Our JAZZ ART

This year’s signature artwork, featured on the poster and the program cover, was a commission by Paul Branton . Born in Chicago in 1973, Branton was influenced at an early age by the sights and sounds of the South Side’s urban environment. His art has been exhibited at venues throughout Illinois, including Millikin University, South Side Community Art Center, Gallery Guichard, the University of Illinois Chicago, Gallery D’Estee, Phoenix Gallery, and the Hyde Park Art Center, as well as in the homes of private owners from New York to Los Angeles.

Past Festivals

introduced you to Elmhurst University Jazz Band vocalist

Bethany Norman , class of 2009. She remains a major visual voice in the Festival through her painted banners which adorn the Chapel windows each year. Her exquisite work has transformed a place of worship into a cathedral that celebrates America’s native musical art, jazz, at least for a few glorious days each February.

High School INVITATIONAL

The Elmhurst University Jazz Festival has been a model of excellence for over half a century. An important part of that tradition is the High School Invitational, which began in 1980 and carried on through 1991. After a 21-year hiatus, it returned in 2012 and has continued ever since. This year, the Festival is proud to add a new element to this unique educational offering: free masterclasses with Elmhurst University jazz faculty throughout the afternoon.

Each school is allotted 40 minutes of stage time, which is split between their performance and a clinic with Festival guest artists Tamir Hendelman, Dennis Mackrel, and Terell Stafford.

The afternoon will conclude with a performance by the guest artists and the Elmhurst University Jazz Band.

12:30 p.m.

- Big Foot High School (Walworth, Wisconsin)

- Lyons Township High School (La Grange, Illinois)

- Oswego High School (Oswego, Illinois)

- Richwoods High School (Peoria, Illinois)

- Mundelein High School (Mundelein, Illinois)

4:30 p.m. (approx.)

- Performance by Tamir Hendelman, Dennis Mackrel, and Terell Stafford with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band

Matt Wilson and Sean Jones working with high school students during the 2018 High School Invitational

Primary funding for the High School Invitational has been provided by the Sylvia and William W. Gretsch Memorial Foundation. Additional support provided by an anonymous donor.

High School PARTICIPANTS

Big Foot High School joins us for the first time, all the way from Walworth, Wisconsin. Under the direction of Neal Raskin, Jazz Ensemble is the premier jazz band at Big Foot High School and performs repertoire with traditional big band instrumentation. Jazz Ensemble has a busy calendar of performances and competes annually at the UW-Eau Claire Jazz Festival and the Wisconsin Solo & Ensemble Festival.

Lyons Township High School joins us once again this year with their Jazz Ensemble, an auditioned band of upperclassmen. This ambitious extracurricular group, directed by Mark Dahl, has participated in special performances and clinics with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and the Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble, and has hosted an array of impressive guest artists including Elmhurst’s own Tom Garling, Neal Alger, and Mark Colby.

Oswego High School is another Festival regular. This year they return with Jazz Ensemble 1, the school’s premier extracurricular jazz band. This rigorous high school program regularly hosts guest artists, clinicians, and sectional coaches, with recent guests including The LowDown Brass Band and New York saxophonist Jon Irabagon. Director Kevin Schoenbach has brought this ensemble to the Purdue JazzFest, the Jazz Showcase, the Illinois Music Education AllState Conference, and a number of other venues and contests.

HISTORY OF HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS

Addison Trail High School, IL

Ashwaubenon High School, WI

Badger High School, WI

Barrington High School, IL

Batavia High School, IL

Belleville High School East, IL

Big Foot High School, WI

Bloomington High School North, IN

Buffalo Grove High School, IL

Carl Schurz High School, IL

Case High School, WI

Castle High School, IN

Cedarburg High School, WI

Champaign Central High School, IL

Chesterton High School, IN

Curie Metro High School, IL

Danville High School, IL

Decatur MacArthur High School, IL

Downers Grove North High School, IL

Downers Grove South High School, IL

Dundee-Crown High School, IL

East St. Louis Lincoln High School, IL

Elk Grove High School, IL

Elkhart Central High School, IN

Richwoods High School is participating in the High School Invitational for the first time this year. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this program is led by Christopher Render, who also serves as Jazz Division President for the Illinois Music Education Association. This season, the Jazz Ensemble will also travel to participate in the Illinois State University Jazz Festival, the Bradley Jazz Festival, and the Essentially Ellington Regional Jazz Festival in Edwardsville, IL.

The Mundelein High School Jazz Ensemble is one of the school’s two curricular, audition-based jazz bands. Their performance schedule each year includes school concerts, jazz festivals, and performances at venues such as Fitzgerald’s Nightclub in Berwyn and The Jazz Showcase in Chicago. In the past several years, the ensemble has been named Honor Band at the Purdue Jazz Festival (2018-2022) and Eau Claire Jazz Festival (2014), and has been selected to perform at the Illinois Music Education All-State Conference (2016 & 2020) and the 75th Annual Midwest Clinic (2021).

Fargo South High School, SD

Forest View High School, IL

Hinsdale Central High School, IL

Horlick High School, WI

John Hersey High School, IL

Lakes Community High School, IL

Lake Central High School, IN

Leyden High School, IL

Libertyville High School, IL

Lincoln Park High School, IL

Lincoln-Way Central High School, IL

Lyons Township High School, IL

McHenry West High School, IL

Metea Valley High School, IL

Milwaukee Lutheran High School, WI

Mundelein High School, IL

Naperville Central High School, IL

New Trier High School, IL

Northview High School, MI

Notre Dame High School, IL

Oak Lawn Community High School, IL

Oregon High School, IL

Oswego High School, IL

Peoria Woodruff High School, IL

Portage High School, IN

Pritzker College Prep, IL

Proviso West High School, IL

Rauner College Prep, IL

Richwoods High School, IL

Riverside Brookfield High School, IL

Rolling Meadows High School, IL

St. Charles East High School, IL

St. Charles North High School, IL

Streamwood High School, IL

Thornridge High School, IL

Warren Township High School, IL

Washington Park High School, WI

Waukesha West High School, WI

Wauwatosa West High School, WI

West Aurora High School, IL

Westmont High School, IL

Westside High School, NE

Wheeling High School, IL

Whitewater High School, WI

Whitney Young High School, IL

York High School, IL

Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage, IL

Feature PERFORMANCES

GORDON GOODWIN’S BIG PHAT BAND

Gordon Goodwin has built a larger-than-life reputation throughout the music industry for his composing, arranging and playing skills. He has earned three Emmy awards, a 2006 GRAMMY Award for his Instrumental Arrangement of “Incredits” from the Pixar film The Incredibles, and thirteen GRAMMY nominations.

Over the course of his impressive career, Goodwin has worked with numerous musical icons such as Ray Charles, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Mathis, Toni Braxton, John Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Brian McKnight and Quincy Jones. Goodwin has also conducted worldrenowned symphony orchestras in Atlanta, Dallas, Utah, Seattle, Toronto and London.

Goodwin’s cinematic scoring and orchestration can be heard on such films as The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Get Smart, Glory Road, National Treasure, The Incredibles, Remember The Titans, Armageddon, The Majestic, Con Air, Gone In 60 Seconds, Enemy of the State, Star Trek Nemesis and Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes. Goodwin’s soundtrack to Looney Tunes’ Bah HumDuck ! – a wacky Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck riff on the classic A Christmas Carol – also features the Big Phat Band’s patented sound.

A keyboardist and woodwind player, Goodwin formed Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band in 2000. Featuring eighteen of L.A’s finest players, the Big Phat Band takes the big band tradition into the future with a contemporary, highly original sound that features Goodwin’s witty, intricate, and hard-swinging compositions in a veritable grab bag of styles: swing, Latin, blues, classical, rock and more. Goodwin’s ability to combine jazz excellence with any musical style makes his writing appealing to fans across the spectrum. The band has recorded over 10 records together, including recent releases The Gordian Knot (2019) and their 2021 EP The Reset

The Festival is proud to welcome Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat band to Elmhurst for the third time.

Feature PERFORMANCES

JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO

Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” Established as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli has expanded that repertoire by including the music of Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim and the Beatles.

In addition to being a bandleader and solo performer with dozens of records to his name, Pizzarelli has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones and Dave Van Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, of course, his father– the late great Bucky Pizzarelli. He has performed on some of America’s most popular national television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and Great Performances, as well as the talk shows of Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Regis Philbin and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Pizzarelli won a GRAMMY Award in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category as co-producer of James Taylor’s American Standard in 2021. A radio personality who got his start in the medium in 1984, Pizzarelli is also

co-host, alongside wife Jessica Molaskey, of Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli

On April 21, 2023, Palmetto Records will release Pizzarelli’s newest record, Stage and Screen, a collection of classic songs from Broadway and Hollywood spanning nearly nine decades. Much of the cleverly chosen repertoire was inspired by Pizzarelli’s ongoing weekly Thursday night livestream concerts on Facebook.

Stage and Screen also features the tremendous talents of bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson, who together with Pizzarelli form his new trio. While Karn has been working with Pizzarelli for the last seven years, Thompson joined the trio only three years ago, in late December of 2019. A few months later his tenure was interrupted by the pandemic, only for the band to pick up again in August 2021. Even with a twoyear disruption to their touring schedule, the trio has developed a scintillating chemistry that is sure to excite the Festival audience at their performance this Sunday.

Mr. Pizzarelli last appeared at the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival in 2007 with his quartet. This is the first Festival appearance for his trio.

Guest ARTISTS/ADJUDICATORS

TAMIR HENDELMAN

Award-winning jazz pianist Tamir Hendelman began his studies at age 6 in his native Tel Aviv, and a number of early accomplishments cemented his reputation as a prodigious talent. Two years after moving to the United States, he won Yamaha’s national keyboard competition at age fourteen; concerts in Japan and at the Kennedy Center followed. Shortly after completing his bachelor’s degree at the Eastman School of Music, Hendelman became the youngest-ever musical director for Lovewell Institute, a national arts education nonprofit.

Since returning to Los Angeles in 1996, Hendelman has been in steady demand as pianist and arranger, touring the US, Europe and Asia, and receiving awards from ASCAP and the National Foundation For Advancement in the Arts. In 1999, he was a guest soloist with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

Hendelman joined the Jeff Hamilton Trio in 2000, contributing arrangements, recording, and touring Japan, Europe and the US. In 2001 he became a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, with whom he premiered John Clayton's new orchestration of Oscar Peterson's Canadiana Suite at the Hollywood Bowl. The following year he toured Europe with Tierney Sutton and the Bill Holman Big Band. Hendelman’s impressive list of collaborators also includes Harry Allen, Teddy Edwards, Warren Vaché, Houston Person, Nick Brignola, Phil Upchurch, Rickey Woodard, and Barbara Morrison.

As a leader, Hendelman explores standards, Brazilian music, blues, and his Israeli roots in his trio with John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton. Their record Playground was released in 2008.

Mr. Hendelman has been a guest artist at the Festival several times with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and we are delighted to welcome him back this year for his second stint as a guest artist/adjudicator.

DENNIS MACKREL

Dennis Mackrel is one of the finest drummers, composers and arrangers working in music today. George Shearing once said, "If I ever have a record date coming up that calls for a drummer and Dennis is not available, I'lI postpone the session. He's that good!"

In 1983, Mackrel joined the Count Basie Orchestra on vocalist Joe Williams' personal recommendation. After Basie's death the following year, he stayed with the band through the leadership of Eric Dixon, Thad Jones, and Frank Foster. Upon returning to New York, Mackrel soon became the drummer of choice for many large ensembles including the American Jazz Orchestra, the Carla Bley Big Band, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Buck Clayton's Swing Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. He also made frequent trips to Europe as a guest conductor, arranger and/or soloist for such outstanding ensembles as the Klüvers Big Band in Aarhus, Denmark, the Danish Radio Big Band in Copenhagen, Denmark and the WDR Big Band in Köln, Germany.

In 2010, Mackrel returned to the Count Basie Orchestra to serve as its leader and chief conductor until 2013, and in 2015 he was named chief conductor of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Holland.

Mackrel is also a highly respected composer and arranger whose commissioned works have been recorded by the United States Military Academy at West Point's Jazz Knights Big Band, the Temple University Jazz Ensemble, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and, most notably, the McCoy Tyner Big Band, whose GRAMMY-winning albums The Turning Point and Journey included four of his arrangements.

As an educator, Mackrel has taught at the Royal Conservatory in Aarhus, Denmark, and he was the Visiting Artist in Jazz Studies at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He currently teaches at Queens College in Flushing, New York, the Birch Creek Summer Jazz Camp in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, and the Skidmore Jazz Institute in Saratoga Springs, New York.

We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Mackrel for his eighth appearance at the Festival. This year, he serves as guest artist/ adjudicator.

TERELL STAFFORD

Terell Stafford has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time” and “a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. His signature style dances adventurously in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors with a spirited lyricism all his own. He is renowned in the jazz world as an educator, performer and leader, and has received countless awards, nominations, and accolades.

Early encouragement from Wynton Marsalis led Stafford to pursue jazz trumpet as a career. Marsalis would later provide him with the opportunities to perform in his group Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and to teach at The Juilliard School and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis continues to be a mentor and supporter of Stafford in his current role as Managing and Artistic Director of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia.

An exceptionally gifted and versatile player, Stafford has performed with groups such as the Benny Golson Sextet, McCoy Tyner Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Jimmy Heath Quintet and Big Band, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Dizzy Gillespie

All-Star Alumni Band and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Stafford has been an integral member in bands led by esteemed artists such as Cedar Walton, Sadao Watanabe, Herbie Mann, and Matt Wilson. He has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and You Bet

Stafford has released seven albums under his own name and has contributed to over 130 more, including the GRAMMYwinning Live at the Village Vanguard (Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, 2009), GRAMMY-nominated titles Tailor Made (Bobby Watson, 1993) and From This Moment On (Diana Krall, 2006), and several film soundtracks.

A renowned jazz educator, Stafford is also the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University.

A Festival regular with groups including the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Matt Wilson’s Arts and Crafts, Mr. Stafford returns this year for his second stint as a guest artist/adjudicator.

Festival PARTICIPANTS in

Calvin University is a newcomer to the Festival, making the trek from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Comprised of students from diverse areas of study, the Jazz Band performs throughout the region and records a studio album each year. Director Tyson Haynes leads the group in their inaugural Elmhurst performance on Sunday afternoon.

A frequent presence at the Festival, the DuPage Community Jazz Ensemble from College of DuPage appears on Sunday under the leadership of Matt Shevitz. The ensemble has accompanied guest artists such as Fareed Haque, Jens Lindemann, Victor Garcia, and Mark Colby, and in 2004 was recognized by the United States House of Representatives for its work on behalf of the Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund. COD is Illinois’ largest community college and houses Chicagoland’s preeminent jazz radio station WDCB 90.9 FM, an oasis for jazz lovers.

The Columbia College Fusion Ensemble performs contemporary jazz and original music, combining elements of jazz, R&B, and rock to create a dynamic and compelling sound. They have shared the stage with world-renowned artists such as Tia Fuller, Cory Henry, Donny McCaslin, Stefon Harris and many others. The ensemble has been performing at the Elmhurst and Notre Dame jazz festivals for the past ten years, and has won numerous DownBeat Student Music Awards. Led by Bill Boris, the Fusion Ensemble performs on Friday afternoon.

Drake University opens our Friday night session this year with their Jazz Ensemble One, directed by Andrew Classen. The university’s premier jazz ensemble, Jazz One tours regionally every year and internationally every four years. In 2018, they performed at the U.S. Embassy in China; other performance destinations have included England, Holland, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Jazz One has won the collegiate division at the UW-Eau Claire Jazz festival all eight times they have attended.

Host Elmhurst University is represented by four ensembles at the 56th Festival. Gayle Bisesi’s renowned Late Night Blues vocal jazz ensemble kicks off the Friday afternoon session. Later that day, Elmhurst’s top combo & Lab Band will perform, both under the direction of Dan Nicholson. The internationally-acclaimed Elmhurst University Jazz Band, directed by Kirk Garrison, headlines Friday evening’s concert featuring our three guest artists/adjudicators, and will open for Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band on Saturday evening with a set of their own.

Nearby Harper College brings two ensembles to this year’s Festival. Elmhurst alum Jeff Hedburg leads the big band in the Sunday afternoon leadoff spot, and later in the session, Darren Scorza leads the “Jazz Lab Band” combo. Like College of DuPage, Harper is another of Illinois’ large community colleges and is a Festival regular.

Hillsdale College joins us once again this year, all the way from south central Michigan. Directed by Chris McCourry, the Big Band is a large jazz ensemble modeled after the standard instrumentation of the popular groups of the swing era. The ensemble performs standard charts as well as new compositions, and maintains an active performing schedule both on and off campus culminating with a main stage performance featuring a guest artist each spring. This year they can be heard on Saturday afternoon.

Joliet Junior College has been a Festival regular since 1978. This community jazz band has achieved national recognition, having performed in St. Louis, Kansas City, Orlando and New Orleans. Always a crowd favorite, the big band performs Sunday afternoon under the direction of Rich Moore.

The Purdue University Jazz Band first performed at the Elmhurst festival in 1979 and has since appeared almost yearly. Although Purdue now offers degrees in Music Technology and General Music, the tradition of no music majors in the six jazz big bands continues. The Purdue Jazz Band travels extensively both nationally and internationally, and has appeared with many renowned jazz artists. Longtime director Mo Trout leads the band in their Saturday afternoon performance.

Roosevelt University has been a regular presence at the Festival since it began in 1968. Their Large Jazz Ensemble is a non-standard big band, performing repertoire that includes flute, french horn, and tuba. The ensemble’s season calendar includes performances at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and the legendary Jazz Showcase in Chicago. Led by trumpeter and Roosevelt alum Constantine Alexander, the band performs on Sunday afternoon.

The University of Illinois Chicago returns for an eighth Festival appearance on Saturday afternoon with their Jazz Combo, directed by Marques Carroll, and their Jazz Ensemble, directed by Andy Baker. UIC is located in downtown Chicago, and their Jazz Studies program currently includes two big bands, two combos, a vocal jazz ensemble, and a pop-rock ensemble.

The University of Kentucky has appeared at the Festival numerous times over the years. Their unique Mega-Sax program features quartets and quintets of saxophonists playing with or without a rhythm section. The top Mega-Sax ensemble has received three DownBeat Student Music Awards, and its debut album earned a four-star review in DownBeat. The ensemble also performs at festivals and clubs across the country. They close out the Saturday afternoon session this year, under the direction of Miles Osland.

This year, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater brings two groups to the Festival. Jazz Ensemble I, under the direction of Michael Hackett, makes its eighth appearance, and Jazz Ensemble II, led by Brad Townsend, appears for the sixth time. Recent guest artists at UW-Whitewater include Ingrid Jensen, Chris Vadala, Marquis Hill, Robert Hurst, and Jim Rotondi. Both groups perform Friday afternoon.

Wayne State University joins us all the way from Detroit, Michigan. The Jazz Big Band is the premier ensemble of the school’s Jazz Studies program, which was established in 1979. Featuring students from a variety of music degree programs, the ensemble will make their second-ever Festival appearance on Saturday afternoon, under the direction of Russ Miller.

STAGE TIME GUIDELINES

In order to keep the Festival schedule running in a timely fashion, all participating groups are asked to adhere to set time limits. A big band is allowed 30 minutes, a combo 20 minutes, and a vocal jazz ensemble 20 minutes. In addition to their written comments, our three guest adjudicators will provide live feedback onstage for 10-15 minutes following each performance.

Big bands participating in Thursday’s High School Invitational are each allowed 40 minutes on stage, which includes their clinic with the Festival judges.

RECORDING & PHOTOGRAPHY

Video and audio recording are allowed for university ensemble performances only — these activities are strictly prohibited for our feature performances. Flash photography is prohibited for all performances. Thank you for your cooperation.

Elmhurst University uses Gretsch drum sets exclusively.

History of Participants

Albion College

American Conservatory of Music

Aquinas College

Ashland University

Augustana College

Austin Peay State University

Baldwin-Wallace College

Ball State University

Boston College

Bowling Green State University

Bradley University

Butler University

California State University, Long Beach

Calvin University

Capital University

Carroll College

Case Western Reserve University

Cedarville University

Central College

Central Michigan University

Central Missouri State University

Central State University

Chicago Conservatory of Music

Chicago State University

Clark Terry Institute of Jazz Studies

Clarke University

College of DuPage

College of Lake County

College of St. Benedict/St. John's University

Collin County Community College

Columbia College Chicago

Concordia University

Culver-Stockton College

DePaul University

DePauw University

Dordt College

Drake University

Duquesne University

Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Michigan University

Elgin Community College

Elmhurst University

Ferris State College

Governors State University

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Valley State College

Grinnell College

Gustavus Adolphus College

Harold Washington College Harper College

Heartland College

Hillsdale College

Illinois Central College

Illinois State University

Illinois Wesleyan University

Indiana University, Bloomington

Indiana University, South Bend

Indiana-Purdue, Fort Wayne

Indiana-Purdue, Indianapolis

Iowa State University

Jefferson College

Joliet Junior College

Judson University

Kansas City Kansas Community College

Karlovarsky Repre Band

Kaskaskia College

Kellogg Community College

Kennedy-King College

Kent State University

Kenyon College

Kirkwood Community College

Knox College

KUG Honors Ensemble, Austria

Lake Forest College

Lawrence University

Liberty University

Lincoln College

Lincoln Trail Community College

Lindenwood University

Lorain County Community College

Loyola University, New Orleans

Macalester College

Malcolm X College

Marian University

Marshall University

Mayville State University

McHenry County College

McNally Smith College of Music

Memphis State University

Miami University (Ohio)

Michigan State University

Millikin University

Mineral Area College

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Missouri Western State College

Monmouth College

Moraine Valley Community College

Morehead State University

Morningside College

Morton College

Murray State University

Newberry College

North Park University

Northeastern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University

Northern Kentucky University

Northern Michigan University

Northwestern University

Oakland University

Oakton Community College

Oberlin Conservatory

Ohio Northern University

Ohio State University

Ohio University

Olivet Nazarene University

Penn State University

Principia College

Purdue University

Quincy University

Rock Valley College

Roosevelt University (Chicago College of Performing Arts)

Slippery Rock University

South Suburban College

Southeast Missouri State University

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

Southern University

St. Mary's University, Minnesota

St. Norbert College

St. Xavier University

Taylor University

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Texas Christian University

Tiffin University

Trevecca Nazarene University

Triton College

University of Akron

University of Arkansas at Monticello

University of Calgary

University of Cincinnati

University of Connecticut

University of Dayton

University of Evansville

University of Findlay

University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

University of Illinois, Chicago

University of Indianapolis

University of Iowa

University of Kentucky

University of Louisville

University of Manitoba

University of Mary

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota, Morris

University of Missouri, Columbia

University of Missouri, Kansas City

University of Missouri, St. Louis

University of Nebraska, Lincoln

University of Northern Iowa

University of North Texas

University of Notre Dame

University of South Dakota

University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse

University of Wisconsin, Madison

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

University of Wisconsin, Parkside

University of Wisconsin, Platteville

University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

Valdosta State University

Vandercook College of Music

Waubonsee Community College

Wayne State University

Western Illinois University

Western Michigan University

Wheaton College

Whitworth University

William Penn College

Winona State University

Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

Wright College

Wright State University

Jazz Festival MERCHANDISE

All items are available for purchase in the lobby. Please ask our Festival staff for assistance.

JAZZ

FESTIVAL SHIRTS

The Festival has always offered for sale a number of unique designs on various t-shirts, including Paul Branton's original paintings and each year's signature poster artwork.

CDS

Recordings by the Elmhurst University Jazz Band are available.

JAZZ FESTIVAL BOOK

Festival MCs

Your hosts for our 56th Festival include some old and new friends who all share a common interest: a passion for jazz. Joining us for his twelfth stint is 90.9 FM WDCB DJ Jay Greene Jay’s radio show gives you a proper start to your weekend; tune him in every Saturday morning from 7:0010:00 am.

We also welcome back another familiar face: Bob Foskett . In his days as an Elmhurst student, Bob was a college radio host and student producer of the very first Elmhurst University Jazz Festival. Bob went on to serve as program director for WBEE, Chicago’s last and longestrunning all-jazz AM radio station, and then as a host for WDCB, where he can currently be heard on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from 12:00-2:00pm.

Joining us for the second time as an MC is Elmhurst alum Andrew Ecklund Andrew played trumpet in the Elmhurst University Jazz Band for three years and joined our faculty in 2021 as an instructor of Digital Music. He is also an accomplished guitarist, singer, composer, and arranger, with his original advertising music earning spots in national campaigns for Apple, Google, and Mountain Dew.

Last but not least, we are delighted to welcome back Jazz Studies Director emeritus and former Elmhurst University Jazz Band Director Doug Beach . Doug served as Director of the Jazz Festival for 28 of his 43 years at Elmhurst, and he continues his work on the Festival now as Artistic Director and Director of Development.

Student Managers

CHRISTIAN SANCHEZ & TIM GORMAN

Since the Festival began in 1968, our team of student volunteers has been an instrumental part of its reputation as one of the best-run college festivals in America. Among these volunteers, no one carries more responsibility throughout the weekend than the student managers, who must command the respect of their peers while being popular leaders. This year’s student managers, Christian Sanchez and Tim Gorman, fulfill this demanding role impressively.

Christian Sanchez graduated from Elmhurst University in January 2023 with his B.M. in Jazz Studies. He has participated in the Festival since 2019, appearing four times with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band and three times with the school’s top combo. Christian leads the progressive fusion group Reaching Rosé and performs throughout the Midwest with Louis Pettinelli Entertainment, as well as contributing to a number of other freelance projects. Also a gifted educator, Christian teaches private saxophone lessons at Dundee-Crown High School and Glenbard North High School, and teaches woodwinds at Music & Arts. This is his second year as Student Manager.

Tim Gorman is a sophomore Music Education major with a minor in Jazz Studies at Elmhurst University. Primarily a trumpet player, Tim has been a member of the Elmhurst University Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble since he started attending the institution. Outside of Elmhurst, he has begun performing with numerous groups, as well as educating young musicians through private lessons. This is Tim’s first year as Student Manager.

Festival Staff

Director

Chris Parsons

Artistic Director / Development

Doug Beach

Assistant Director

Dan Nicholson

Student Managers

Christian Sanchez

Tim Gorman

Sound

John Born

Livestream

Nate Baxter

Office Manager

Gabby Bandera

Print Program Editor

Laura Pinto

STUDENT SECTION HEADS

House

Jeri-Ann Day

Melaney Walker

Tickets

Hanna Ceaser

Tristan Ramos

Security

Leo Rodriguez

Stage Crew

Daisuke Kamiuchi

Livestream & Sound

John Havrilla

Sound

Patrick Williams

Guest Artist Hosts

Matt Garcia

Gabby Juskey

Chris Tejeda

Phat Band & Pizzarelli Trio Host

Ian Martinez

Participant Band Host

Crystal Adaya

Public Relations

Claudia Rejowski

Jazz Festival SPONSORS

The Elmhurst University Jazz Festival gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our sponsors.

CLARK TERRY LEVEL

$10,000 AND ABOVE

Sylvia and William W. Gretsch Memorial Foundation

DOC SEVERINSEN LEVEL

$7,500– $9,999

City of Elmhurst’s Explore Elmhurst Community Grant Program

LOUIS ARMSTRONG LEVEL

$5,000– $7,499

Elmhurst University Jazz Band Alumni

Elmhurst University Student Government Association and the Office of Student Affairs

DUKE ELLINGTON LEVEL

$2,500–$4,999

The Jim Cunningham Trust

Anonymous

CHARLIE PARKER LEVEL

$1,000–$2,499

Kathleen Bonham

Anonymous in memory of Mark Colby and Frank Caruso

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Falk

Springhill Suites, Elmhurst

MILES DAVIS LEVEL

$500–$999

Sherry Bucaro

Mr. and Mrs. William Chittenden III

Larry Polly

CHET BAKER LEVEL

$300–$499

Manelli/Tet/The Rabbit

Paul Ranieri, Steve Tetrev, Greg Wangren

Andrew Ecklund

Jack Prost

JOHN COLTRANE LEVEL

$100–$299

Richard and April Arnold

Nick and Connie Avgerinos

Kelli Bender

Ruth Chapek

Jeannie Corsini

Christine Hunka

Nancy James

John Vivoda and Lisa Klein

Donald Lussky

Wayne Madle

Dr. Mary Kay Mulvaney

Tim and Ann Palumbo

Thomas Paprocki

Mike and Laura Pinto

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rarick

Sam Reese

Brooke Schrager

George Shutack

Howard Teich

Thomas Tierney

JIM CUNNINGHAM JAZZ SCHOLARSHIP

Jim Cunningham was the founding father of the Festival, a quintessential Renaissance man, and a beloved longtime professor of education at Elmhurst University. Without his presence and support, the Festival would be a mere footnote in the school’s history. Jim shifted the focus from competition to education, creating an environment where the collegiate musicians could not only perform, but also learn from the pros. The Festival is truly his legacy on this campus.

Jim passed away in April of 2013. To honor his legacy, the Jim Cunningham Jazz scholarship Fund has been created. You can make your gift online at elmhurst.edu/give, call (866) 794-1075, or mail a check to Elmhurst University Office of Institutional Advancement, 190 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Please make sure you designate your gift to the Jim Cunningham Jazz Scholarship Fund.

ELLA FITZGERALD LEVEL

$26–$99

Dwaine Keller

Mary Kay Mulvaney

Suzanne Nicholson

Tracy Nielsen

Mitchell Stemler

BENNY GOODMAN LEVEL UP TO $25

Phil Domines

Chona Dominguez

David Goldman

Rett Richards

Allen Savel

Linda Steck

Recognition of gifts includes donations made before February 13, 2023

SUPPORT THE ELMHURST UNIVERSITY JAZZ FESTIVAL

The Elmhurst University Jazz Festival is a unique experience that allows students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet, perform for, and learn from some of the most prominent names in jazz. Your contribution guarantees that the Festival will maintain its reputation of excellence and continue to be a major force in jazz education.

You can make your gift to the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival online at elmhurst.edu/give, call (866) 794-1075, or mail a check to Elmhurst University Office of Institutional Advancement, 190 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Please make sure you designate your gift to the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival.

CHICAGO’S HOME FOR JAZZ AND BLUES

... and more! www.WDCB.org

2023 Jazz Festival SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23: HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL

12:30 p.m. Session

Big Foot High School

Lyons Township High School

Oswego High School

Richwoods High School

Mundelein High School

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

12:00 p.m. Session

Elmhurst University – Vocal Jazz

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Big Band 2

Elmhurst University – Combo

Columbia College – Fusion Combo

Elmhurst University – Lab Band

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Big Band 1

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

10:00 a.m. Clinic

Free clinic/masterclass with Tamir Hendelman, Dennis Mackrel, and Terell Stafford

12:00 p.m. Session

University of Illinois Chicago – Big Band

Hillsdale College – Big Band

Wayne State University – Big Band

Purdue University – Big Band

University of Illinois Chicago – Combo

University of Kentucky – Combo

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

11:30 a.m. Session

Harper College – Lab Band

College of DuPage – Big Band

Joliet Junior College – Big Band

Harper College – Big Band

Roosevelt University – Big Band

Calvin University – Big Band

Feature Performance (at approx. 4:30 p.m.)

Tamir Hendelman, Dennis Mackrel, and Terell Stafford with the Elmhurst University

Jazz Band

7:30 p.m. Session

Drake University – Big Band

Feature Performance

Tamir Hendelman, Dennis Mackrel, and Terell Stafford with the Elmhurst University

Jazz Band

7:30 p.m. Session

Elmhurst University – Jazz Band

Feature Performance

Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band

Announcement of Outstanding Ensembles

Feature Performance (at approx. 4:30 p.m.)

John Pizzarelli Trio

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDING ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED DURING OUR FEATURE PERFORMANCES.

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY IS PROHIBITED DURING ALL PERFORMANCES.