Jazz Festival Features Hilario Duran

The 2008 Knox-Rootabaga Jazz festival will feature Cuban jazz legend Hilario Duran; a Chicago-based jazz-rock fusion group, The Renegades; and the Knox College Jazz Ensemble, in a series of concerts spanning March 13 through March 15.

Duran is an internationally renowned composer, arranger, producer and virtuoso pianist. A native of Cuba and a member of Arturo Sandoval?s band from 1981 to 1990, Duran has performed and recorded worldwide. In 1997, Duran emigrated from Cuba to Toronto, Canada, and his most recent recordings, "From the Heart," and "New Danzon" both won Juno Awards, Canada's top music prize.

The Hilario Duran Trio and the Knox College Jazz Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 15, in the Orpheum Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg, Galesburg. Tickets are $12 and $16 and are available at the door or in advance at the Orpheum Box Office, 250 E. Main, Galesburg.

The March 15 concert also is part of this year's activities with the Sandburg Days Festival-The Big Read. In honor of the 2008 Big Read selection, Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms," The Knox Jazz Ensemble will perform a selection typical of Hemingway's long-standing interest in jazz. A limited number of copies of the book will be given away free to the earliest patrons arriving at the Orpheum on March 15.

In addition to the Saturday night concert, Hilario Duran, jazz vocalist Semenya McCord and drummer Brian Zeglis will lead a series of master classes from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 15, in Jay Hall, Ford Center for the Fine Arts, at Knox College. The classes are open to the public for observation. Musicians interested in participating can contact Nicole Whittaker, instructor in music at Knox College, 309 341 7265.

The Knox Faculty Jazz Band will perform at 8 p.m., Thursday, March 13, in McGillacuddy's, 58. S. Cherry St., Galesburg. Tickets are $7 at the door. The band features Cassie Hart, Kevin Malley and Larry Harms, saxophone; Dave Hoffman, trumpet & piano; Semenya McCord, vocals; John Miller, guitar; Nikki Whittaker, vibraphone; Andy Crawford, guitar and bass; Jon Wegge, bass; Brian Zeglis and Kevin Hart, drums.

The Knox College Alumni Big Band and The Renegades will perform at 8 p.m., Friday, March 14, at McGillacuddy?s. Tickets are $10 at the door. The Renegades is a jazz-rock fusion band headquartered in Chicago. The group features pianist Paul Mutzabaugh, drummer Frank Alongi on drums, guitarists Jeremy Bieber and Chris Siebold, and bassist Jon Wegge, who also is a member of the adjunct music faculty at Knox.

Founded in 1980, the Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival has brought dozens of leading jazz artists to Galesburg, including Kurt Elling, Benny Green, Matt Wilson, Ben Allison, Frank Mantooth, Greg Osby, Curtis Fuller, Mose Allison, and the Hornheads.

The Big Read distributes copies of American novels and sponsor community-wide book discussion groups during March and April, while the Sandburg Days festival for the mind honors Galesburg native Carl Sandburg through a wide range of creative events, including performances and writing contests for students and the general public, during the last weekend in April.

Knox Rootabaga Jazz Festival
2008 Schedule of Events

Thursday, March 13
McGillacuddy's, 58 S. Cherry St., Galesburg
8:00 p.m.-12:00 midnight - Knox Faculty & Friends Jazz Combo
Admission: $7

Friday, March 14
McGillacuddy?s, 57 S. Cherry St., Galesburg     
8:00 p.m. - Knox College Alumni Big Band
9:30 p.m. - The Renegades
Admission: $10

Saturday, March 15
Master Classes in Jay Rehearsal Hall, Knox College

2:00-3:00 p.m. Master Class "Singin' with the Band," led by jazz vocalist Semenya McCord
3:00-4:00 p.m. Master Class "Drumming with the Melody in Mind," led by drummer Brian Zeglis
4:00-5:00 p.m. Master Class with The Hilario Duran Trio

The master classes are free for members of the public to observe. Students and other musicians who would like to participate in the classes must contact Nikki Whittaker in the Knox Music Department, at 309 341 7265.

Saturday, March 15
Orpheum Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg, Galesburg
7:30 p.m. Knox College Jazz Ensemble and the Hilario Duran Trio
Admission: $10 and $14, plus a $2 per ticket Orpheum Theatre Preservation Fee