Season Also Features May Concerts with Saxophonist Phil Woods at Jazz Showcase

Given Chicago’s rich jazz traditions, it is hardly surprising that the DePaul University School of Music boasts one of the finest collegiate bands in the country. The DePaul Jazz Ensemble, founded more than four decades ago, enjoys a loyal and enthusiastic following throughout the metropolitan area and beyond because of its high quality sound. The band has been invited to perform with such top jazz artists as Bobby Shew, Bob Brookmeyer, Tom Harrell, Louie Bellson and Clark Terry, and it has recorded CDs with several of these artists, including a CD with Shew that will be released this spring.

In addition to a full schedule of appearances in venues throughout the city, the DePaul Jazz Ensemble will present three concerts this season in the DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave. These programs, like the majority of DePaul’s music events, are open to the general public at no charge. The first of these programs will be presented Nov.17 at 8 p.m.

According to bandleader and jazz studies chair Robert Lark, the evening will feature performances by three big bands—approximately 60 students in all—in arrangements penned by students and faculty, as well as works from the Count Basie and Woody Herman Big Band libraries. Subsequent performances in the DePaul Student Center are slated for Feb. 26 and June 2. For more information about these concerts, call DePaul’s School of Music at (773) 325-7260.

The DePaul Jazz Ensemble will perform at the annual conference of the Illinois Music Educators Association held Jan. 28-31, 2004 in Peoria, Illinois. This is an especially important honor because the Jazz Ensemble is the only student group invited to participate at this event.

Jazz enthusiasts also should mark their calendars for DePaul Jazz Ensemble’s twice nightly shows May 20-23, 2004, with legendary saxophonist Phil Woods at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave. For ticket information, call the Jazz Showcase at (312) 670-2473.