Woodstock annual jazz fest this weekend
Its all that jazz - and so much more this weekend in downtown Woodstock for the third annual Woodstock Jazz Festival.
Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27, the Woodstock Square will be filled with the smooth sounds and rolling rhythms of 11 different area jazz groups from around northwest Illinois. The groups will be performing over the course of the entire weekend at different local restaurants and cafes.
"I love jazz music," said Billy Denk, president of Jazz in the Square, the nonprofit group that puts on the jazz festival. "I perform jazz music. When we first started (putting this festival together) we did not have a venue to feature jazz performance in the community.
"The response has been very positive. We have seen the audience grow and the number of jazz fans continue to grow."
The first ensemble, Typhanie Monique with Neal Alger, takes the stage at 7 p.m. at the Stage Left Cafe, located next to the Woodstock Opera House on East Van Buren Street. The performance includes two other jazz groups, the Shawn Maxwell Quartet and Elaine Dame with Kyle Asche, and costs $10.
But for those looking for a free jazz fix, have no fear. At 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28, four different jazz groups will be performing for free in the Woodstock Square.
New this year is a jazz clinic on Duke Ellington and the imagery within his music. The clinic is open to all ages and Jazz in the Square asks only for a $5 donation.
The clinic will include a multimedia presentation that discusses the life of Duke Ellington and explains the meaning of his music.
"Duke Ellington was such an important American," Denk said. "Not just as a musician, but as a composer, Denk said. The mission of (Jazz in the Square) is to provide jazz and music education."
Jazz in the Square first began in 2007. The group meets two times a month in downtown Woodstock at Stage Left Cafe for jazz jams. Jazz musicians of all ages are welcome.
Jazz jams allows professional musicians to interact with younger musicians, Denk, a guitar player, said. The culmination of all of this is the jazz festival.
This year Jazz in the Square also has more groups from Chicago, a trend organizers hope will continue in the years to come.
"We want to see more groups from Chicago," Denk said. "All of our performing groups are local because we want to feature groups from the region We definitely expect it to be standing room only this year."
If you goWhat: The third annual Jazz on the Square jazz music festival. New this year: a clinic on the imagery behind Duke Ellington's music.When: from 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28; performance times vary Where: Woodstock Square, downtown Woodstock, and Stage Left CafeHow much? Performance costs vary. Organizers ask a $5 donation for the Duke Ellington Clinic.Details: (847) 340-8319 or www.jazzonthesquare.netFalse8581218Elaine Dame is set to perform at this weekend's jazz festival in Woodstock.Courtesy Elaine Dame DuoFalse