Food drive, Lakes Band, veterans salute with Jazz Consortium at Nellie's Nov. 14

For a 10th year, the 17-piece Jazz Consortium Big Band will be sponsoring a holiday food drive at its performance from 6-9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Nellie's Gastropub and Concert Hub, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. In addition, there will be a musical salute for Veterans Day, plus a guest performance by the Lakes Community High School Jazz Ensemble, Lake Villa, directed by Elliott Hile.

Patrons are asked to bring canned or nonperishable food items, which will be delivered to the Palatine Township Food Pantry. The pantry has a list of especially needed items at https://palatinetownship-il.gov/programs-assistance/food-pantry.

The performance is all-ages. Cover: $10 cash, or $5 for students 17 and younger. Masks required regardless of vaccination status.

Seating is limited, and reservations are encouraged at (847) 358-9150 ext. 2. Visit https://nelliespalatine.com.

Now in its 11th year of performing at Nellie's (formerly Durty Nellie's), the Jazz Consortium Big Band was founded in 1975, by college music student friends with a love of Big Band music. The group performed in club and concert venues throughout the Midwest, including the Chicago Jazz Festival. The band members went on to prolific professional careers in the studio and on stage with a wide range of entertainers and Big Band icons, including Tony Bennett, Maynard Ferguson, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Diana Ross and Frank Sinatra.

Currently, the band - with mostly all-original members - continues to share its love of the "Big Band sound" every second Sunday monthly at Nellie's. It also performs at other clubs, concerts and special events throughout the Chicago area, bringing its variety of Swing, Latin, Jazz-Rock and Funk Big Band sounds to audiences of all ages.

More Jazz Consortium Big Band information and its upcoming schedule can be found at www.jcbigband.com.