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St. Charles Jazz Weekend to feature 35 shows at 16 venues

St. Charles' downtown - and beyond - will take a jazzy turn this weekend when the St. Charles Jazz Weekend brings saxophone, trumpet, bass and piano players to pubs, restaurants, a church, businesses and outdoor stages.

Performances are scheduled Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 12-15.

“We have music all day Saturday and Sunday on the First Street Plaza,” said Laura Purdy, tourism and sales manager for the St. Charles Business Alliance.

The plaza's free shows will feature performances from Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Frank Catalano at 4:30 p.m. Saturday;, trumpeter Victor Garcia at 11:30 a.m. Saturday; and saxophonist John Wojciechowski at 3 p.m. Saturday along with jazz ensembles from St. Charles North High School, St. Charles East High School, DePaul University, all on Saturday, and Northern Illinois University on Sunday.

Dana Hall's Spring performs at last year's St. Charles Jazz Weekend. This year's event, set for Sept. 12-15, features 35 shows at 16 venues. Courtesy of St. Charles Business Alliance

“Wojciechowski is the band director at St. Charles North High School. He's a nationally recognized musician,” Purdy said.

Catalano also will appear at 6 p.m. Thursday at The Filling Station and at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at The House Pub.

Mount St. Mary Park, located east of Geneva Road and south of Prairie Street, will host shows Sunday afternoon featuring singer Maureen Christine and Alex Stombres, orchestra and guitar ensemble director at Addison Trail High School, beginning at 4:10 p.m.

“We also have some Latin jazz,” Purdy said. “We have some restaurants that are really embracing it.”

The Juan Pastor Chinchano Latin Jazz Trio will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday and at 4 p.m. Sunday at Eden on the River, where the Ruben Alvarez Latin Jazz Trio will play at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Kingdom of Groove will play at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church.

Purdy said the jazz featured in this eighth annual weekend reaches beyond the city's downtown to places such as Pheasant Run, where the Henry Altenberg Jazz group will perform at 6 p.m. Friday in the Harvest Lounge.

Saxophonist John Wojciechowski, who is also a St. Charles North band director, will perform at the St. Charles Jazz Weekend. Courtesy of John Wojciechowski

In all, there will be 35 jazz shows at 16 venues.

There is no admission charge for the outdoor shows.

“The business owners might have a cover charge,” said Nathan Wendt, business support coordinator for the St. Charles Business Alliance.

“Our goal is to get people into the downtown businesses and restaurants. Over the four days, we probably have about 30,000 people that come down,” said Purdy. “It draws from Chicago and it draws from all over.”

Eighth annual St. Charles Jazz Weekend

When: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday; 5:45 to 10 p.m. Friday; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12-15

Where: Downtown St. Charles and nearby venues

Admission: Varies by venue

Details and schedule: www.stcjazzweekend.com

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