University News

Navy Jazz Band Opens Al Sears Jazz Festival in the Park Sept. 16

August 23, 2006

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MACOMB, IL - - Attention on deck. The Navy Band Great Lakes Jazz Ensemble will open the fifth annual Al Sears Jazz Festival in The Park at 1200 hours (noon) Saturday, Sept. 16 in MacombÂ’s Chandler Park, across from the Amtrak station.

The 16-piece big band Jazz Ensemble led by tenor saxophonist and Musician First Class Steve Carmichael has performed at ChicagoÂ’s Symphony Center, playing alongside jazz greats and former Navy musicians Clark Terry, Gerald Wilson and Lou Donaldson.

“What a thrill it is to have this exciting band in their dress uniforms performing right here in Macomb,” said Ann Collins, jazz pianist and member of the festival organizing committee. “Both children and adults will want to come out to support these fine representatives of our young men and women in military service.

“Special thanks goes to Congressman Lane Evans and his office for facilitating the appearance of this ensemble,” Collins added.

The Navy Band Great Lakes Jazz Ensemble performs a wide variety of music encompassing the big band era of the 1930s and Â’40s, as well as modern day compositions. Their versatile repertoire includes music by such masters as Hank Levy, Thad Jones, Don Menza, Glen Miller and Count Basie, as well as music written by the bandÂ’s own staff arrangers.

“The Al Sears Jazz Festival is just fantastic. I’m so excited that it has taken off the way it has, thanks to the hard work of many people here in our community,” said Macomb Mayor Mick Wisslead.

“The price is right, it’s free; and it’s great to bring in this kind of talent. We’re pleased we can use our facilities and resources to offer a variety of events to our community,” Wisslead added.

The Navy Band Great Lakes Jazz Ensemble is one of seven groups in the Navy Band Great Lakes, which is comprised of 46 professional Navy musicians, which provides musical support for military and public engagements. In addition to the Jazz Ensemble there is a Contemporary Music Ensemble, a full Wind Ensemble, a 22-piece Ceremonial Band, Parade Band, Woodwind Quintet, a Brass Quintet and a Jazz Combo. The Navy Band Great Lakes is led by bandmaster, Lt. Joseph Dolsak. ItÂ’s most famous bandmaster was John Philip Sousa.

Al Sears Jazz in the Park continues with:


  • 1 p.m. - Sondra Mosley, vocalist/pianist

  • 1:30 p.m. - Bethany Worrell with Stuart Mindeman

  • 2 p.m. - The Semenya McCord Quartet

  • 3 p.m. - The Hopper Jazztet

  • 4 p.m. - Patrick Hazell, blues artist

  • 5 p.m. - The Holly Holmes Quartet

  • 6 p.m - The WIU Alumni Reunion Trio: Steve Kummer, piano; Ben Willis, bass; Frank Parker, drums

  • 7 p.m. - WIU Jazz Studio Orchestra with guest guitarist Chris Collins, tenor sax

  • 8 p.m. - Jim Ferguson Trio: Ferguson, vocals and bass; Stefan Karlsson, piano; Jim White, drums

  • 9 p.m. - The New Reformation Band

  • 10 p.m. - Sally Weisenburg & Her Famous Sidemen

Al Sears Jazz Festival activities begin Wednesday, Sept. 13 with the 7:30 p.m. Hopper Jazztet concert in Western IllinoisÂ’ College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall. Admission is free.

From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis will headline a group of five guest musicians in the Al Sears Jazz Festival “Artists in Residence Day” on Western’s campus, with clinics, master classes, breakout sessions and rehearsals. Registration ($20) deadline is Friday, Sept. 8. Contact University Bands at 309/298-1505 or e-mail John Cooper at JB-Cooper@wiu.edu.

Marsalis is appearing in conjunction with the Sears Jazz Festival and kicking off WesternÂ’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs (BCA) 2006-07 season with his trio in a 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 concert in the COFAC Recital Hall Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors 62 and older and $12 for youth 17 and younger. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 5. Call the Browne Hall Hainline Theatre Box Office from noon-5 p.m. weekdays for tickets, telephone 309/298-2900.

Before the BCA show, relax with some Jazz in the Clubs from 5-7 p.m. (Sept. 15), featuring Ann Collins (piano) and Vicki Mayo (vocal) at ChandlerÂ’s, B-Flat Avenue at MagnoliaÂ’s and TheVishnu Springs Trio at Sullivan-Taylor Coffee House.

The festival will close with a noon Sunday, Sept. 17 Jazz Brunch at ChandlerÂ’s, with music by the WIU Alumni Reunion Jazz Trio. Cost of the brunch is $9.95 plus tax; reservations are recommended, call 309/833-3000.

The Al Sears Jazz Festival was created and named to honor the American Jazz contributions of Macomb native Albert Omega Sears, a mostly self-taught tenor saxophonist who is remembered for his recorded solos while in the Duke Ellington Band and working with Lionel Hampton and Johnny Hodges. Sears made significant contributions to the rhythm and blues genre in the 1950s and contributed to the emergence of rock and roll.

Festival sponsors include the City of Macomb and Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Corporation; and Western Illinois UniversityÂ’s College of Fine Arts and Communication, Bureau of Cultural Affairs and Tri-States Public Radio.

For more information, including the complete schedule of events, visit www.searsjazzfestival.com.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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