UPDATE: Due to the likelihood of inclement weather, June Jazz has been relocated to R.A. Faganel Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Food and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought into the building; no concessions will be sold at the event. Lawn chairs will not be permitted.
The Grammy Award–winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer, performing with the acclaimed Elmhurst College Jazz Band, will headline June Jazz: A Summer Extravaganza on Saturday evening, June 13.
The Manhattan Transfer is known around the world known for its jazz, boogie-woogie and pop styles. In 1981, the group became the first ever to win Grammy Awards in both the pop and jazz categories in the same year, for Boy From New York City and Until I Met You (Corner Pocket). In 1982 and 1983 the group won consecutive Grammy Awards for Route 66 and Why Not! In 1985 they received 12 Grammy nominations for the album Vocalese, and closed out the decade by completing a 10-year sweep (1980-1990) as the Best Vocal Group in the annual DownBeat and Playboy jazz polls.
The Elmhurst College Jazz Band has gained international acclaim as an outstanding collegiate jazz ensemble. Under the direction of the Grammy Award–winning Doug Beach, the band has received outstanding ratings at jazz festivals from many jazz greats, including Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Conte Candoli, Pete Christlieb, Greg Hopkins, Jiggs Whigham, Rob McConnell and Bob Brookmeyer. The band has toured 17 nations and twice has been honored with invitations from the U.S. State Department to tour Europe.
Last spring DownBeat magazine, the most respected jazz magazine in the world, named the Elmhurst College Jazz Band the Best Large Jazz Ensemble in its 37th Annual DownBeatStudent Music Awards. Downbeat recently named Beach the recipient of the magazine’s esteemed Jazz Education Achievement Award.
June Jazz will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, in R.A. Faganel Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
This event is sponsored in part by BMO Harris Bank.