Western Courier

Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: News

The Jazz Studio Orchestra is just one of the many acts scheduled for this year's Al Sears Jazz Festival.

The sixth annual Al Sears Jazz Festival will swing into Chandler Park this Wednesday.

The festival, which is a five-day event, is held to commemorate a celebrated saxophonist from Macomb, Al Sears.

Sears is considered one of the most influential jazz figures in history. By the time he turned 18, he was a master of the tenor saxophone. After a series of low-key performances, he found himself playing with prominent jazz performers such as Chick Webb and Duke Ellington, according to the Al Sears Web site.

Sears went on to form his own orchestra that performed across the country. The Al Sears Jazz Festival was created to honor the contributions Sears made to jazz before his death in 1990.

Beginning Wednesday at 5 p.m., students can visit the Western Illinois University Art Gallery to view paintings by Joel Smith, Western art professor. The exhibition displays the similarities of art and jazz, such as modulation and improvisation, shown in Smith's paintings. The Western Student Jazz Ensemble will accompany the exhibit.

For the jazz enthusiasts who want to cut straight to the music, Thursday at 7:30 p.m., the Al' Star Jam Session will be presented at The Secret Garden, located at 2 W. Side Square. For those who want to wait until the weekend, there will also be a variety of performances taking place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday at 5:30 p.m., there will be appearances by Matt Warnock and Holly Holmes at Chandler's at 127 E. Carroll St. and a performance by B-Flat Avenue at Magnolia's, 130 North Lafayette. At 7:30 p.m., the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall will host a concert featuring Triple Play, a trio of accomplished musicians - Chris Brubeck, Peter "Madcat" Ruth and Joel Brown.

The main attraction of the festival is scheduled to begin Saturday at noon in Chandler Park. The event is a showcase of various jazz acts such as Reggie Thomas and the B-3 Organ Trio, The Hopper Jazztet, The Savoy Stompers Dixieland Band, Western's Jazz Studio Orchestra and Steel Band and many more. The showcase is scheduled to last until 11 p.m.

Sunday at 12 p.m., a Jazz Brunch will be held at Chandler's featuring Stuart Mindeman with Clear Conscience. Reservations for this event are suggested since it will be the last event of the festival.

Kathleen McGowan, freshman music major, said she is excited about this year's festival and cannot wait to take part.

"The Al Sears Jazz Festival is a great opportunity to experience many different kinds of jazz music, from the repertoires of big bands like Western's Jazz Studio Orchestra and Jazz Band to smaller combos and individual players," McGowan said.

Anyone wanting further information can visit the festival's Web site at www.searsjazzfestival.com or call the Macomb Chamber of Commerce at 309/837-4855.

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