Barrington High's Rithum Machine to join Jazz Consortium at Durty Nellie's

The Barrington High School Rithum Machine jazz band will be the special guest of the Jazz Consortium Big Band Sunday, March 11, at Durty Nellie's Pub, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine.

Directed by Randy Karon, they are fresh from their performance at the Jazz in the Meadows festival at Rolling Meadows High School, the largest high school jazz event in the Midwest.

The Rithum Machine will play at 6 p.m., immediately followed by the Jazz Consortium, which plays until 9 p.m.

“This is a trial concept to give local school jazz bands the opportunity to perform in a club setting, and for our audience to hear the next generation of up and coming jazz musicians — and hear us too,” said Roy Vombrack, Jazz Consortium bandleader and saxophonist.

Beginning its 10th month of residency at Durty Nellie's, the Jazz Consortium Big Band's brassy mix of four trumpets, four trombones, five saxes and rhythm section has been so well-received that the club has added more main floor seating and has a second level overlooking the main floor to accommodate the overflow.

The performances are a return by the Jazz Consortium to its roots playing regularly at the original Durty Nellie's in the mid-1970s. Then, the band mostly consisted of recently graduated or current University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University musicians with a love of Big Band music. The group went on to perform at jazz clubs, nightspots and concerts throughout the Chicago area, including an appearance at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

The Jazz Consortium disbanded in the early 1980s, with most of the members going on to full-time music careers. But following a successful private reunion concert last year, it was decided to “get the band back together” and find a public venue to play regularly. Vombrack, a full-time professional musician, arranger/producer and charter band-member, approached the new Durty Nellie's because of its history with the band, resulting in crowd-pleasing performances and a commitment to perform monthly on the second Sundays through 2012.

Tickets are $10, $5 ages 17 and under with ID.

For tickets, call (847) 358-9150 or visit durtynellies.com.

For information, call Roy Vombrack at (847) 695-3710.

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