Jazz Festival
Featured Performers
Elmhurst College Jazz Festival
The 45th installment of the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival is shaping up to be one of our best yet! Read here about our featured performers.
Jeff Hamilton
Tamir Hendelman
Christoph Luty
The University of North Texas One O'clock Lab Band, directed by Steve Wiest
Mark Colby
Denis DiBlasio
Frank Greene
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Jeff Hamilton
Jeff Hamilton has received rave reviews for his dynamic drumming. He got his first big break playing with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. After that, he played with the Monty Alexander Trio, Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd. He has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Milt Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Streisand, Mel Tormé, John Pizzarelli, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, George Shearing, Dr. Johh, Clark Terry, Gene Harris, Toshiki Akioshi, Scott Hamilton, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Keely Smith, Bill Holman, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Mark Murphy.
Mr. Hamilton makes his debut appearance this year as guest artist/adjudicator. He performed at the Festival in 2008 with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
Tamir Hendelman
Award winning jazz pianist Tamir Hendelman has performed with the Jeff Hamilton Trio, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Harry Allen, Teddy Edwards, Warren Vache, Houston Person, Nick Brignola, Phil Upchurch, Rickey Woodard and Barbara Morrison. He also leads his own trio and his debut CD Playground features him in this trio setting. He joined the Jeff Hamilton Trio in 2000, and in 2001 he became a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. His travels have taken him from Alaska to New York and Thailand to Israel.
The Elmhurst College Jazz Festival welcomes Mr. Hendelman for the first time as guest artist/adjudicator.
Christoph Luty
Bassist Christoph Luty has received many accolades for his fat sound and lyrical solos. He has appeared nationally with artists such as Dena DeRose, Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Curtis Stigers, Bill Watrous, Anthony Wilson, Jeff Clayton, Bill Cunliffe, Howlett Smith and recorded with Milt Jackson, John Pizzarelli and Diana Krall.
This is Mr. Luty’s first appearance at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival as guest artist/adjudicator.
The University of North Texas One O'clock Lab Band, directed by Steve Wiest
The University of North Texas One O’clock Lab Band is under the direction of Steve Wiest. Established in 1946, the band has received 6 Grammy nominations and has over 60 recordings to its credit. The One O'clock Lab Band made a three week tour of Japan and spent a week in Hong Kong during the summer of 1996. They have performed at jazz festivals around the world in places such as Finland, France, Germany and Portugal. The band has also toured Russia, Mexico and Australia. In February 2004, the band toured Thailand.
This is the group’s third appearance at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, and the first under the direction of Mr. Wiest.
Mark Colby
Saxophonist Mark Colby is a popular jazz artist in Chicago. He was music director and featured soloist with Maynard Ferguson for several years and has appeared and recorded with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bob James, Jaco Pastorius, Arturo Sandoval, and Ramsey Lewis, to name a few. He can be heard on over 2000 commercials nationwide, and has performed as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony and the Miami Philharmonic. His recordings have garnered rave reviews, and his most recent release is Yesterday's Gardenias. Under the sponsorship of Selmer and Sugal Mouthpieces, he gives high school and college concerts and clinics throughout the U.S.
Mr. Colby is an adjunct faculty member at Elmhurst College, and this is his forth appearance as guest artist/adjudicator at the Festival.
Denis DiBlasio
Denis DiBlasio is known throughout the world as an accomplished baritone saxophone and flute artist. After touring with Maynard Ferguson as music director, he continues to travel widely both performing and teaching. He is currently director of the jazz program at Rowan University in New Jersey and clinician for the Yamaha Musical Corporation.
The Elmhurst College Jazz Festival welcomes Mr. DiBlasio back for his seventh featured performance.
Frank Greene
Trumpeter Frank Greene enjoys a widely varied musical career, playing Broadway shows, concerts, and recordings. He has played with the likes of Maynard Ferguson, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Orchestra, the Clark Terry Big Band, the Roy Hargrove Big Band, the McCoy Tyner Big Band, the Frank Foster Big Band, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, Lou Rawls, Dianne Reeves, John Williams, Natalie Cole, and the Dave Brubeck Band.
This is Mr. Greene’s first appearance as a feature performer at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. His previous performances at the Festival include appearances with the Vanguard Orchestra, Maria Schneider Orchestra, and Nicholas Payton, to name a few.
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
In 1985, Jeff Hamilton joined bassist John Clayton and saxophonist Jeff Clayton to form the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Together with an all-star lineup of Los Angeles-based musicians, the big band received an enthusiastic response from reviewers and fans. Its first recording, Groove Shop (Capri), was named by CD Review as one of the best recordings of 1990. It also earned a Grammy nomination. More recent releases include ABSOLUTELY! (1993, Lake Street Records), EXPLOSIVE! featuring Milt Jackson (1998, Qwest), and Shout Me Out (2000, Fable/Lightyear). From 1999-2001, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was named the in-residence ensemble for the Hollywood Bowl Jazz series. The group tours extensively nationally and internationally.
Elmhurst College is proud to welcome the CHJO back to the Festival for its second feature appearance.
