Naperville jazz concert celebrates peace

For the members of ThinkGlobal Arts Foundation, the holiday season is a perfect time to share the organization's mission.

After all, the season is filled with messages of warmth, caring and a sense of peace. The Naperville-based foundation strives to use the arts to spread those messages all year long.

This weekend, the group is setting the message to music.

Jazz artist Rick DellaRatta, known for his efforts to promote peace through his music, will perform “Jazz at Christmastime” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, in North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville.

The concert is an extension of ThinkGlobal Arts' monthlong Celebration of Peace, which included a range of events and activities intended to get the community thinking and talking about peace.

A singer, pianist and composer, DellaRatta has performed with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Paquito D' Rivera. He founded Jazz for Peace in 2002 after bringing together American, Israeli and Palestinian musicians to perform at the United Nations. Performances have supported more than 700 organizations.

His efforts have been praised by President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Sen. John McCain, activist Noam Chomsky, actor Ed Begley Jr., New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others.

He also has been honored by The Foundation Center, which listed him along with Bono, Elton John, Peter Gabriel and Sting among the top musician philanthropists.

Tickets for the Naperville performance are available at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets in advance, call (630) 697-4441 or (202) 212-0515, or visit jazzforpeace.org or thinkglobalarts.org.