One of the oldest and best collegiate jazz festivals in the country, the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival will celebrate its 48th year from Thursday, February 19, through Sunday, February 22.
This year’s featured performers include Jimmy Heath & the Jimmy Heath Big Band, the Bill Holman Big Band, trumpeter Sean Jones, saxophonist Ralph Lalama, percussionist Dennis Mackrel and the Elmhurst College Jazz Band.
Each February, the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival welcomes the industry’s top professional musicians and the nation’s leading college bands for three days of performances and education. The college bands take turns performing for some of the greatest names in professional jazz today, who offer critiques and award honors in a variety of areas. Then the professionals conclude each night of the Festival with an exciting performance of their own.
“This confluence of talent and aspiration makes the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival one of the most dynamic such events in the country,” says Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich.
This year’s Festival begins at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, with the High School Invitational, featuring local high school jazz ensembles, and will conclude with a performance by festival adjudicators Sean Jones, Ralph Lalama and Dennis Mackrel with the Elmhurst College Jazz Band.
Beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21, award-winning collegiate jazz ensembles from around the country will perform.
Friday’s evening session will begin at 7:30 p.m. with performances by college ensembles and will conclude with a performance by Jimmy Heath & the Jimmy Heath Big Band.
Saturday’s evening session will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will close with a feature performance by the Bill Holman Band.
Sunday’s afternoon session begins at 11:30 a.m. and will conclude with a performance by Jones, Lalama and Mackrel with the Elmhurst College Jazz Band.
The Elmhurst College Jazz Festival will be held in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Tickets range in price from $10 to $35. Weekend package tickets also are available. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Jazz Festival website.