2005 Schedule
The 2005 Festival included three days of activities:
Friday, September 16, 2005 • Jazz in the Clubs • Several Macomb locations (Chandler's, Magnolias, Sullivan Taylor, The Secret Garden) will feature local jazz
performers with an All Star Jam Session at 8 p.m. at The Forum.
Saturday, September 17, 2005 • Jazz in the Park • In
the afternoon and evening, performances will be held in Chandler Park (see
below). Held in conjunction with the Gazebo Art Festival (9 am - 5 pm in Chandler
Park)
Sunday, September 18, 2005 •- Jazz on Campus • Activities on the WIU Campus (tickets required). Noon Brunch featuring the Boilermaker Jazz Band, sponsored by WIU's BCA. Contact the Hainline Theatre Box Office (309.298.2900, E-mail:
theatreboxoffice@wiu.edu) for information and to reserve tickets.
| Festival Dedicated to Dr. Dale F. Hopper (ca. 1941 - Sept. 16, 2005)
The 2005 Festival was especially poignant due to the unexpected passing of Dale Hopper during the festival weekend. Ann Collins, chair of the event, dedicated the event to Hopper on Saturday evening:
"It is altogether fitting that we dediate our foruth annual jazz festival to Dale. He gave strong support to the Al Sears Jazz Festival from its beginning. Just last Saturday he devoted most of his weekly radio show with Jeff Holtz (aired on WIUM/WIUW) to the music of Al Sears and to the promotion of the event....
Dale will be missed by us and by many others abroad, but with the spirit of New Orleans much on our minds recently (a reference to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina less than a month prior), we are also reminded of the fine old Crescent City tradition of celebrating a life. After a loved one passes, folks down there celebrate with jazz music. We want to do that here today. Although we are deeply saddened by the death of Dale Hopper, we are glad to celebrate a life very well lived with the kind of music he loved. This one's for you Dale."
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According to the Macomb Journal (Sept 18, 2005), services for Dale Hopper will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept 20, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb, Illinois, with visitation from 4-8 p.m. Monday at Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home in Macomb. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Dale Hopper Scholarship Fund at the WIU Foundation, or to the Chron and Colitis Foundation.
WIU News Release - JSO Concert May 1, 2002 (outlines Hopper's career)
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Saturday, September 17, 2005 in Chandler Park, Macomb, Illinois |
| 12:00 pm |
Announcement of Gazebo Art Festival Winners |
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| 12:15 pm |
Donnie Norton Jazz Quartet
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An MHS grad, Donnie now plays tenor sax in the NIU Jazz Ensemble and in the salsa bnad Banda Rika. He was joined by MHS Grad Stuart Mindemann on piano, John Tate on bass, and on drums |
| 1:10 pm |
Vishnu Springs Trio |
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Featuring Gayle Zahnle on bass and vocals, Ken Zahnle, trumpet, and Pete Hannen on sax and keyboards. Ken & Pete have appeared in past festivals as two of Sally Weisenburg's famous sidemen. |
| 1:50 pm |
The WIU Hopper Jazz Sextet |
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These six WIU faculty members include John Cooper, trumpet; John Vana, saxophone; Matthew Warnock, Karl Seigfried, bass; Michael Stryker, piano; and Kevin Nichols, percussion. The group is named after former WIU jazz leader Dale Hopper.
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| 2:30 pm |
Ann Collins
Trio with Vicki Mayo, Vocalist
Ann (piano) and Vicki (vocals) were joined by Jim Betts, bassist and Woody Brassil on drums. Ann was also the Chairperson for this year's festival.
 
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| 3:15 pm |
Beale Street Dixieland Band |
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Straight from Memphis, Tennessee this group sizzles through traditional jazz tunes with tunes from the 1920's, swing and jazz-tinged bluse of later eras. They play an encore to close out the festival. Two of their band members were unable to attend due to Hurricane Katrina and WIU's Kevin Nichols (percussion), and Michael Stryker (piano) gracially filled in for them.
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| 4:25 pm |
Alphonso Simpson, Vocalist |
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A professor of African American studies at WIU with emphasis in African American music, Alphonso was a big hit at past performances and directed last year's WIU Heritage Ensemble for the festival. |
| 5:10 pm |
JSO Alumni Reunion Band
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An especially touching tribute to Dale Hopper, director of the JSO for 23 years, approximately 20 members of former JSO bands returned to Macomb to perform. Scheduled to be directed by Hopper performing music he selected, members quickly adapted upon learning of Hopper's passing the night before the performance. Aptly led by JSO Alum Reggie Thomas, the JSO Alums were joined by vocalist Mardra Thomas. JSO Alum soloists including Pete Hannen and Ken Zahnle. |
| 6:05 pm |
Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project
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www.craigrusso.com |
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The best of both worlds when Latin meets jazz! The Craig
Russo Latin Jazz Project is a fresh mix of outstanding jazz soloists, rich,
Afro-Cuban inspired rhythms, and unique arrangements of jazz standards.
The group features the very best regional musicians, drawing heavily on
the rich music community in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois and the University
of Illinois.
Craig Russo & Jeff Magby- drums/congas
Jeff Helgesen- trumpet
Chip McNeill- tenor saxophone
Chip Stephens- piano
Josh Walden- bass |
| 7:30 pm |
Stefan Karlsson Trio Swedish Pianist and Jazz Sensation Stephan
Karlsson with Tom Warrington,
Bass and Ed Soph, Drums
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| 8:30 pm |
Jazz Studio Orchestra with Rick Simerly, trombone |
 www.ricksimerly.com
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Guest soloist Trombonist Extraordinaire Rick Simerly
with WIU's own Jazz Studio Orchestra. Simerly is described by David Baker
as "...one of
the most exciting and consistently creative trombonists in jazz today."
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| 9:40 pm |
The Beale Street Dixieland Band returns
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| 10:30 pm |
Post-fest Alumni Jam Session at Chandlers Bar |
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