Elmhurst College to heat up the night with cool jazz

Elmhurst College won't be rocking out this weekend.

Instead, they'll be playing it cool with jazz.

The college's 41st annual Jazz Festival brings some top musicians to Elmhurst Friday through Sunday at Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel.

In addition to some world-renowned groups and individuals showing off their talents, Elmhurst College Jazz Band and a number of other college ensembles will play, too.

"This has been kind of a staple in the college jazz area for 41 years," said Brad Macdonald, co-chair of publicity. "It's a great place for college ensembles to do some performing and get their name out to the jazz field, and it's also a great way to work with some of the top musicians in the genre."

Award-winning musicians, including drummer Dennis Mackrel, baritone sax player Gary Smulyan and trombonist Jiggs Whigham, will play with Elmhurst College Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, Mackrel, Smulyan and Whigham will be doing the judging.

Big-name performers during the weekend are The Mingus Big Band at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

"Each time a different group gets up, everyone in the audience is really excited to hear what they're playing," Macdonald said. "A lot of times people from other colleges come in, families come and it's really exciting."

Elmhurst College Jazz Festival

The festival runs Friday to Sunday at Elmhurst College's Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Includes performances by area college jazz bands, along with key shows by The Mingus Big Band, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Dennis Mackrel, Gary Smulyan and Jiggs Whigham. Individual shows are $3 to $24, and weekend passes are $45 to $60. For details, visit www.elmhurst.edu/jazzfestival.

Friday

11:30 a.m. Columbia College, Knox College, North Park University, Chicago College of Performing Arts, Vandercook College, College of DuPage, Rock Valley College, Knox College, North Park University, Elmhurst College and College of St. Benedict/St. John's University

7:30 p.m. Capital University, University of Missouri-Columbia, Kent State University and Capital University. Featured performance: Dennis Mackrel, Gary Smulyan, & Jiggs Whigham with the Elmhurst College Jazz Band.

Saturday

9:30 a.m. Clinic with Dennis Mackrel, Gary Smulyan and Jiggs Whigham. Bands will take turns performing while receiving critiques and awards

11:30 a.m. College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Monmouth College, Taylor University, Morehead State University, Moraine Valley Community College, Kirkwood Community College, University of Dayton, Newberry College, Purdue University, Millikin University, Monmouth College, University of Missouri-Columbia and Drake University.

7:30 p.m. University of Illinois, Millikin University and Elmhurst College. Featured performance: The Mingus Big Band

Sunday

11:30 a.m. Kansas City Kansas Community College, Illinois Central College, Elmhurst College, Michigan State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, University of Illinois, Harper College, Triton College, Joliet Junior College, and Purdue University.

4:30 p.m. The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra