Jazz in C-U, week of 4/27/2008

Much great jazz out there to be heard -- get out and support live music, and the venues that offer it!

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Monday, 4/28/2008
JAM SESSION with the MRS TRIO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Tuesday, 4/29/2008
KEN SMITH TRIO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
6-8pm, cover charged

Wednesday, 4/30/2008
PARKLAND JAZZ COMBO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
5:30-7:30pm, cover charged

Wednesday, 4/30/2008
DON HEITLER
at THE GREAT IMPASTA (114 W. Church St., Champaign)
6-9pm, no cover<

Wednesday, 4/30/2008
GLENN WILSON and the JAZZ MANIACS w/special guest JIM PUGH
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
8-11pm, cover charged

Thursday, 5/1/2008
KEVIN TURNER TRIO
at THE GREAT IMPASTA (114 W. Church St., Champaign)
6-9pm, no cover

Friday, 5/2/2008
FUNKY JONNY
at EMBASSY TAVERN (114 S Race St., Urbana)
5:30-7:30pm, free admission (donations encouraged)

Saturday, 5/3/2008
TIM DEAL and FRIENDS
at EMBASSY TAVERN (114 S Race St., Urbana)
5:30-7:30pm, free admission (donations encouraged)

Jazz in C-U, week of 4/20/2008

Good fun this week. Some heavies playing with me and Chip on Wednesday night for his CD release party, come check it out!

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Sunday, 4/20/2008
SHAWN and DARDEN PURCELL w/ JEFF HELGESEN
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Monday, 4/21/2008
JAM SESSION with the MRS TRIO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Wednesday, 4/23/2008
DON HEITLER
at THE GREAT IMPASTA (114 W. Church St., Champaign)
6-9pm, no cover

Wednesday, 4/23/2008
CHIP McNEILL - CD Release Party
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Thursday, 4/24/2008
KEVIN TURNER TRIO
at THE GREAT IMPASTA (114 W. Church St., Champaign)
6-9pm, no cover

Thursday, 4/24/2008
CARLOS VEGA
at ZORBA'S (627 E. Green St., Champaign)
9:30pm-12:30am, cover charged

Thursday, 4/24/2008
CREATIVE ARTS JAZZ COMBO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Jazz in C-U, week of 4/13/2008

Hope to see you out!

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Monday, 4/14/2008
JAM SESSION with the MRS TRIO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Wednesday, 4/16/2008
DON HEITLER
at THE GREAT IMPASTA (114 W. Church St., Champaign)
6-9pm, no cover

Wednesday, 4/16/2008
IN YOUR EAR BIG BAND
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
6-8pm, cover charged

Thursday, 4/17/2008
UI JAZZ COMBO (McNeill)
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Thursday, 4/17/2008
GEORGE TURNER
at ZORBA'S (627 E. Green St., Champaign)
9:30pm-12:30am, cover charged

Friday, 4/18/2008
JEFF HELGESEN/DAVE DICKEY JAZZ QUINTET
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
5-7pm, free admission

Jazz in C-U, week of 4/6/2008

Jump on that jazz bandwagon.

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Sunday, 4/6/2008
KELLY CORBIN JAZZ COMBO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Monday, 4/7/2008
JAM SESSION with the MRS TRIO
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Wednesday, 4/9/2008
DON HEITLER
at THE GREAT IMPASTA (114 W. Church St., Champaign)
6-9pm, no cover

Wednesday, 4/9/2008
JAZZ GUITAR NIGHT
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Thursday, 4/10/2008
KEVIN TURNER
at THE GREAT IMPASTA (114 W. Church St., Champaign)
6-9pm, no cover

Thursday, 4/10/2008
UI JAZZ COMBO (Gray)
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-10pm, cover charged

Thursday, 4/10/2008
MARK O'CONNOR QUINTET
at ZORBA'S (627 E. Green St., Champaign)
9:30pm-12:30am, cover charged

Friday, 4/11/2008
JEFF HELGESEN QUINTET
at THE IRON POST (120 S Race St., Urbana)
7-9pm, cover charged

Jazz Sandwich wins Best Jazz Award at 2008 LMAs

The Buzz/WPGU's Local Music Awards were held last night, and for the first time, they actually included a separate category for jazz (in previous years, the jazz had been bundled up with blues bands, with predictable results). This year's winner? Jazz Sandwich, of which (in full disclosure) I am a member. Hooray.

Here are pics and video from the event.

Apparently, there's been some controversy surrounding the LMAs over the past few years. Lindsey Markel, over at Smile Politely, has a nice rundown, including quotes from some of the musicians.

In the past, my objections to the awards have strictly been about how utterly difficult it is for small-audience jazz groups to compete with any/all the blues groups for an award. So I was glad to see them split it out.

Now, the other issue is how arbitrary the nominee selection appears to be for the jazz groups. And maybe that's unreasonable. I suppose that if the object is to increase public exposure of a number of groups to a larger audience, you can make a case for rotating bands and individuals in and out. But I'm at a loss to suggest an explanation for selecting a community college big band as a nominee (the In Your Ear Big Band) when you've got a comparatively titanic jazz program at the University of Illinois.

I suppose I should just stop grousing and be happy that they're including jazz at all.

Congrats to all the "victors."

Central HS Jazz Ensemble and Essentially Ellington

The Champaign Central Jazz Ensemble has been chosen as one of 15 schools nationally to participate in this year's Essentially Ellington festival, hosted by Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, to be held May 15-17 in New York City, in its 13th year.

Marissa Monson has a nice writeup on the event here.

Here's a podcast from the school including an interview with CCHS Band Director John Currey (the interview's at about 6:40 into the podcast).

The band will likely be trying to secure support funding for the trip and lodging, so consider making a donation to support their trip!

Cowboy Monkey Again Offering Live Music

I have my doubts that this will end up being jazz-related, but insofar as it applies to live music in Champaign, I think it bears some notice here.

The Daily Illini is reporting that live music has returned to Cowboy Monkey.

Matt Selinger, general manager for Cowboy Monkey, dispelled any rumors of the stage being taken out.

"That's just a waste of a good business opportunity," Selinger said.

Selinger confirmed that live music is back for good at the venue, although it may not be as often as it used to be.

He said the venue is trying to book bands that are consistent with its new look and feel. They are also trying to get soundchecks for shows done early. Loud soundchecks had a tendency to drive people outside between sets, he said.

Even if they don't book jazz, venues for live music are always a good thing, and should be supported. Perhaps if enough people ask about live jazz, they'll throw a bone to a local band now and again.