Elmhurst College jazz fest keeps 'em coming back for more
Free tickets usually lure Elmhurst College students to the school's annual jazz festival.
Amazing jazz talent from across the country calls them back again for a second listen.
“They're not entirely sure what the festival is but they know it's something important going on,” said Chris Parsons, 23, a jazz studies and music business major who is one of the fest's student managers. “They usually come and check it out and end up coming more than one night, and they'll usually bring their friends back with them.”
The 44th annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival opens Thursday and runs through Sunday in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, 190 Prospect Ave.
As the nation's largest collegiate jazz festival and the second-longest running, the Elmhurst College event is so good, organizers say, that college bands must join a wait-list to get involved.
Each evening includes a headliner performance beginning with jazz vocalist and songwriter Simone at 7:30 p.m. today accompanied by the Elmhurst College Jazz Band.
Other headliners include Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts, which performs Friday, Feb. 25, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, which performs Saturday, Feb. 26.
Collegiate performances take place at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 and 26, and at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 27.
The festival began as an educational experience and has grown over the years to include professionals who listen to the college performances, critique them and have conversations about the performance. The judges also pick people out as soloists and give awards.
“The professionals are chosen because they're great musicians and players, but they're also carefully chosen because of their educational skills,” Beach said. “It's a very open two-way street.”
Those guest artists and adjudicators are Michael Abene, a keyboardist and composer; Dennis Mackrel, a drummer; and Byron Stripling, who plays trumpet.
The professionals will play in a concert accompanied by the Elmhurst College Jazz Band at 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
Another unique aspect of the college's jazz festival is that it's almost entirely student-run from working the stage to security to running the house.
“We have a couple of student managers who help manage an army of students who make everything work really, really well,” Beach said. “We're very proud of that as well.”
Past professionals who have appeared at the festival include Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Cannonball Adderley, Thad Jones, Clark Terry and many more.
Ticket prices vary from event to event and range from $8 to $30.
For details, call (630) 617-5534 or visit elmhurst.edu/jazzfestival.
If you go
What: Elmhurst College Jazz Festival
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 through Feb. 27
Where: Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst
Cost: $8 to $30
Info: (630) 617-5534 or www.elmhurst.edu/jazzfestival