Jazz Consortium celebrates sharing Big Band sounds

From 6-9 p.m. Sunday, June 8, a complimentary piece of anniversary cake, raffles and a surprise or two are in store as the 17-piece Jazz Consortium Big Band celebrates its third year of bringing Big Band jazz to the Northwest suburbs each month at Durty Nellie's Pub, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine.

Jazz Consortium bandleader Roy Vombrack said, "We've had local high school jazz bands open for us, we've played some Big Band rarities as well as faves, we've had listeners, dancers. We've created a fun, yet interesting, atmosphere. You don't have to be a died-in-the-wool ballroom dancer or a jazz scholar to enjoy our music. We'll feature Glenn Miller's 'In the Mood', Maynard Ferguson's theme from 'Rocky', and band members' original compositions all in the same set."

The performances at the club are a return by the Jazz Consortium Big Band (www.jcbigband.com) to its roots playing regularly at the original Durty Nellie's West Irish Pub back in the mid-1970s.

Back then, the group mostly consisted of recently graduated or 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 Chicagoland, 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 four years ago and has been performing second Sundays monthly at Durty Nellie's, as well as playing various concerts and clubs throughout the area.

Cover charge is $10; $5 for students 17 and younger. For information, call (847) 358-9150, ext. 0, or visit www.durtynellies.com.

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