Jazz on the Square teams up with Jamey Aebersold to bring jazz education resources to McHenry County schools

Jazz on the Square, a McHenry County nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting jazz education and live jazz performances in McHenry County, has teamed up with Jamey Aebersold Jazz Books to provide every middle school and high school in McHenry County copies of Aebersold's internationally recognized "Jazz Handbook and Volume 1: How to Play Jazz and Improvise."

In anticipation of their 11th annual Jazz on the Square Woodstock Jazz Festival Aug. 24-25, members of Jazz on the Square have distributed more than 300 copies of the "Jamey Aebersold Jazz Handbook" to jazz students of McHenry County and one copy of "Aebersold's Volume 1: How to Play Jazz and Improvise" to each middle school and high school music educator.

Bryan Kyrouac, president of Jazz on the Square and a music educator himself, stated, "These little red Jazz Handbooks have all the information a student needs to begin learning about jazz. 'Volume 1: How to Play Jazz and Improvise' has been used by hundreds of thousands of jazz musicians all over the world. It is the book and CD that revolutionized jazz education!"

Bruce Lane, Jazz on the Square's education committee chair, noted, "It is an honor to partner with National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Award winner and internationally known jazz education icon, Jamey Aebersold, to bring these books to our McHenry County kids and music educators. Our county has some incredibly talented young musicians. With just a little bit of help they can become great jazz musicians."

Jazz on the Square sponsors educational, user-friendly jam sessions on the first and third Fridays of the month at Stage Left Café, 125 W. Van Buren in Woodstock.

Musicians, young and old of all skill levels, are welcome to come and experience the joy of playing live jazz.

The Woodstock Jazz Festival will kick off 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at Stage Left Café with a performance by Le Percolateur, a nationally known "gypsy jazz" ensemble from Chicago. Also performing are Scientific Map and the Johnny Weber Trio with guest vocalist Heather Moran. Seating at Stage Left Cafe is limited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Reserved seating within first four rows (pre-sale only) is $20. General admission at the door is $10.

On Saturday morning, the festival will host free concerts on the Square, including the Peter Swenson Quartet at 9 a.m., Potts & Pans Steel Band at 10:15 a.m. and the Outcast Jazz Band at 11:30 a.m.

The festival concludes Saturday at 7 p.m. at Stage Left Café with the great Chicago-based Chris Greene Quartet. Seating is limited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Reserved seating within first four rows (pre-sale only) is $20. General admission at the door is $10.

Kyrouac noted, "While we are really excited to have Le Percolateur and the Chris Greene Quartet performing, we are equally excited to have the Nico Vallenas Ensemble opening for Chris Greene. Nico is one of the local high school students who regularly comes to our jams. He is an outstanding young tenor sax player from Jacobs High School who has just incredible ability and potential. We at Jazz on the Square are thrilled to give him an opportunity to play for the public!"

Visit www.facebook.com/jazzonthesquare/.