North Central jazz faculty plans Christmas concert

Members of the internationally acclaimed North Central College jazz faculty will perform their second annual Christmas Concert Dec. 12.

The performance begins at 8 p.m. in the college's Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and senior citizens. Call the North Central College Box Office at (630) 637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

The concert will feature a collection of well-known holiday favorites with a jazz twist. The faculty artists include vocalist Janice Borla, trumpeter Art Davis, vibraphonist Brad Stirtz, pianist Chris White, bassist Jim Cox, saxophonist Mitch Paliga and drummer Jack Mouse.

At the top of their game, each faculty artist is a talented musician-teacher in the college's jazz studies program. They're also successful as independent jazz artists, regularly performing in public venues and releasing new work.

Borla's latest CD release, "Promises to Burn," has received numerous outstanding reviews, including four stars in DownBeat Magazine. Davis is one of Chicago's leading jazz trumpet artists and has been a busy performer and teacher since the early 1980s.

Stirtz, a jazz/percussion educator, has served on the faculties of many schools and taken his career around the world. A busy freelance musician, pianist White has performed at Chicago's The Jazz Showcase, Andy's, House of Blues and Navy Pier.

Bassist Cox has an extensive discography of more than 100 CD releases, including styles as diverse as jazz, bluegrass, klezmer, folk, cabaret and pop. Paliga, an active performer and composer, has taught saxophone and toured with actor/musician Gary Sinise's Lt. Dan Band.

The coordinator of jazz studies at North Central College, Mouse is a staff artist/clinician for Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Aquarian DrumHeads and has performed with an array of jazz artists.