Food drive at jazz group’s Durty Nellie concert

For the second year, a holiday canned food drive is being sponsored by the Jazz Consortium Big Band as a part of its Sunday, Dec. 9, performance at Durty Nellie’s Pub, 180 N. Smith St., in Palatine.

The show will feature big band arrangements of holiday favorites plus swing and jazz-rock favorites by such famous Big Bands as Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson.

The show is open to all ages, 6-9 p.m. with a $10 cover charge, or $5 for students 17 and under.

“We’re asking everyone attending to bring canned or nonperishable food items, which we will deliver to the Palatine Township Food Pantry,” said Jazz Consortium bandleader/saxophonist Roy Vombrack. The pantry has a list of especially needed items at www.palatinetownship.com/food_pantry/.

“Last year’s response was very gratifying, and we hope to get an even greater response from our fans and friends this season,” he said.

The 17-member Jazz Consortium first started in the mid-1970s, consisting of former and current University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University musicians with a love of big band music. The group went on to perform at jazz clubs, nightspots and concerts throughout the Chicago area, including an appearance at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

The Jazz Consortium disbanded in the early 1980s, with most of the members going on to full-time music careers. The band reunited two years ago, and has since been performing second Sundays monthly at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine, as well as playing various concerts and clubs in the area.

For information on the Jazz Consortium Big Band’s Durty Nellie’s show, call (847) 358-9150 or visit www.durtynellies.com.

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