ETHS Holds 16th Annual Jazz Festival

EVANSTON, IL — The 16th edition of the Evanston Township High School Jazz Festival will take place Saturday. The daylong event feature a noontime concert with the Lowdown Brass Band and an evening program kicking off with a performance from the ETHS Jazz Ensemble and concluding with concert from the Chicago State University Community Jazz Band.

The non-competitive "jazz immersion event" includes performances from 24 jazz ensembles from nine middle and high schools throughout the day.

After showcasing their talent, musicians will take part in 30-minute clinics. Students are also able to work with educators and professional musicians to improve skills and technique.

“For our 16th year hosting the festival, we are excited to showcase the depth of Chicago’s home-grown jazz talents,” said Matthew Bufis, director of bands at ETHS.

“Our festival provides middle and high school musicians a platform to challenge themselves, learn from distinguished professionals, and observe some of the best jazz artists proudly carrying on Chicago’s strong jazz tradition."

Schools participating in the 2019 ETHS Jazz Fest:

• Barrington High School
• Evanston Township High School
• Grayslake North High School
• Lyons Township High School
• Nichols Middle School
• Niles West High School
• New Trier Township High School
• Old Orchard Middle School
• William Howard Taft High School

The CSU Community Jazz Band was founded by Professor Roxanne Stevenson in 1992 and began with just five musicians. More than 400 musicians of all ages have since passed through the jazz and concert ensembles since then. The band has performed at graduations, galas, and basketball games has performed at Milt Trenier’s Lounge, the CSU Jazz Night Café and presented clinics and performances at the Illinois Music Education Association All-State Conference, Midwest Clinic, Jazz Education Network Conference, Hyde Park Courtyard Festival, Woodson Library Reopening Ceremony and Macy’s Black History Month Celebration.

The Lowdown Brass Band is a Chicago-based ensemble that combines on New Orleans musical tradition with contemporary hip-hop and funk. The group has performed with artists like Dumpstaphunk, The Stooges Brass Brand, Lake Street Dive and G Love and Special Sauce and offers educational presentations to local schools.

Tickets to the evening program are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. All proceeds from ticket sales go toward the expenses for the educational and cultural jazz festival.

2019 ETHS Jazz Fest clinicians and judges:

• Scott Burns (plus Sax Clinic)
• Pete Mills
• Pharez Whitted (plus Trumpet Clinic)
• Tom Tallman
• Tim Coffman (plus Trombone Clinic)
• Audrey Morrison
• Tom Garling
• Joel Spencer (plus Rhythm Section Clinic)
• Joan Hickey (plus Rhythm Section Clinic)
• Marlene Rosenberg (plus Rhythm Section Clinic)
• Brass Technique Clinic: Tim Coffman
• Saxophone Technique Clinic: Chip McNeill
• Rhythm Section Clinic: Joan Hickey, Marlene Rosenberg, Joel Spencer