CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Jazz fans in the Champaign-Urbana area are accustomed to hearing University of Illinois musicians performing around town in small ensembles virtually every night of the week. It's rare, though, for audiences to hear all the top players perform together on the same stage.
Fans will get that chance April 30 (Saturday) when the U. of I. Concert Jazz Band presents its annual spring concert at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana.
Chip McNeill, chair of jazz studies, said the group will play compositions and arrangements written by the band's own members, including selections from the band's latest CD, "Freeplay." Several of these tunes have garnered awards from the Downbeat Student Awards, ASCAP and the Jazz Education Network.
The band also will perform original arrangements written for jazz vocal major Olivia Flanigan, who will be featured in the concert.
The Concert Jazz Band is the university's premiere jazz ensemble and features graduate and undergraduate students who are jazz majors in the jazz division of the School of Music.
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre of Krannert Center. For ticket information, go to www.krannertcenter.com or call 217-333-9714.