March 7: Free concert by the U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors
The Jazz Ambassadors, the official touring big band of the United States Army, will give a free concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County in Grayslake.
Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America's greatest original art form, jazz. The band's diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals and patriotic selections, many of which are written or arranged by members of the Jazz Ambassadors.
The band has appeared in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and throughout Europe. Recent performances include concerts at the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Richmond Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center Honors, the Jazz Education Network Conference and an appearance on "The Colbert Report." The Jazz Ambassadors have been featured in joint concerts with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony Pops, the Colorado Pops Orchestra, and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall.
As part of its outreach and education program, the band will offer for free music clinics for band students at Libertyville High School, Palombi Middle School in Lake Villa and Viking Middle School in Gurnee on March 6. In addition, several local middle and high school musicians will join the band for one song.
Seeing the Jazz Ambassadors perform will be a very special treat for CLC adjunct business instructor Andrew Sagartz, MBA, JD, who teaches business and business law. His sister is lead trumpet player, trumpet section leader and arranger, Sergeant First Class Liesl Whitaker, of Burlington, N.C. "The band travels all over the nation, so I have trouble getting to her performances, and here she is coming to play a mile away from my home. I am very excited to see her play at CLC!"
Although this is a free event, a ticket is required for entry into the theatre; and a limited number of tickets remain. There is a limit of four tickets per person for the general public. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., and audience members should be in their assigned seats by 6:45 p.m. At 6:50, any unclaimed seats will be released to walk-ins. Please contact the Box Office at (847) 543-2300, Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for complete details. Promotional assistance was provided by WDCB radio 90.9, the Daily Herald and WXLC 102.3.