Drummer Paul Wertico headlines Jazz in Glen Ellyn
Drummer Paul Wertico can make jazz out of anything — even the kitchen sink.
He’s bringing his Grammy-winning beats to Jazz in Glen Ellyn on Saturday as the evening’s headliner.
“The thing about live music is that when you go to a live show, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Wertico said. “It’s just something that happens.”
And sometimes a red metal sink appears by the stage, and sometimes a really talented musician incorporates it into his drum solo — like Wertico did at a recent gig in Springfield.
You just never know what’s going to happen next, Wertico says. That’s jazz.
The sixth annual Jazz in Glen Ellyn runs 3 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 14, on Main Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Crescent Boulevard.
“We have a terrific lineup of jazz artists from Chicago who are coming to play for us,” said Georgia Koch, co-executive director of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event.
Five groups of artists will take the stage beginning at 3:30 p.m. with BakerzMillion, a jazz sextet that performs original compositions by co-leaders Andy Baker on trombone and Steve Million on piano.
Jazz vocalist Typhanie Monique performs at 5 p.m. with influences from a range of genres, including jazz, funk, hip-hop, pop and improvised freestyle.
Marshall Vente and Tropicale will follow.
“They’ll bring back the swinging sound of the big band of the old days,” Koch said.
At 8 p.m., guitarist and composer John Moulder will play songs, including those from his latest release, “The Eleventh Hour: Live at the Green Mill,” a collaboration with musical companions Paul Wertico, Larry Gray, Jim Trompeter and Geof Bradfield.
Wertico, the evening’s headliner, taught himself to play the drums at age 14 and never looked back — collaborating with countless musicians and racking up a long list of accolades, including seven Grammy Awards.
“I always did the pencil on the table and played ‘Wipeout’ before I was even a drummer,” Wertico said. “I just loved it, and people seemed to love what I was doing.”
His success led to tours in 60 countries and through all 50 states.
Even so, no show has ever been the same, Wertico said.
“I always make things up. I try never to repeat anything,” Wertico said. “People come to hear music to inspire or escape, and I think music serves that purpose.”
Food from the Tap House Grill will be for sale throughout the event, and people are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
“We do set up some chairs, but it’s a large crowd who comes along,” Koch said. “We usually have enough people to fill up the block. We encourage people to bring their own chairs.”
A beer tent will serve beer, wine, sangria, soft drinks and water. Another tent will sell the artists’ CDs.
“All people have to do is bring a chair and come downtown,” Koch said.
For information, call (630) 469-0907 or visit jazzinglenellyn.org.
If you go
What: Jazz in Glen Ellyn
When: 3 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 14
Where: Downtown Glen Ellyn, Main Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Crescent Boulevard
Cost: Free
Info: (630) 469-0907 or jazzinglenellyn.org