Please note the following:
The Naperville Jazz Festival is not responsible for losses or damages to vehicles. Please lock your vehicle.
Handicap Accessibility at the Jazz Festival:
The primary parking for handicapped license plated vehicles is in the US Bank Parking Lot located on the corner of Washington and Jefferson. At the Jazz Festival, identify anyone with a radio/or a Jazz Festival Shirt to inquire about handicapped seating or additional assistance. Handicapped port-a-lets will be available at the festival.
This year's festival will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2011. The fest opens at 4 p.m., and we'll present live jazz from 4 to 10 p.m.
For our 2011 Naperville Jazz Festival sponsored by Calamos Investments, we are pleased to present:
4pm Lisle High School Jazz Combo
5pm Shawn Maxwell Quarter
6pm Agnieszka Iwanska
7pm Reginald T. McCants Quartet
8:30pm Sypro Gyra
Spyro Gyra- 8:30pm
Proceeds from the festival benefit Project H.E.L.P., the Naperville Jazz Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 18, 2011 at the Naperville Community Concert Center located in Central Park in downtown Naperville.
Spyro Gyra is the festival headliner for the 2011 Naperville Jazz Festival and this performance marks the groups first in the area in a number of years. A performance not to be missed.
For more than 30 years Spyro Gyra has remained at the forefront of modern jazz. Their music has been called jazz, funk, groovy, soulful, and smooth, and is often summed up into one word: fusion.
Reginald T. McCants Quartet - 7pm
Reginald T. McCants has been called one of the most
exciting keyboard players on the music scene today. He
brings so much energy to a performance his band members
have been known to say, "Don't get on the stage with him
unless you're ready to give 110%." He has a degree in Music
Business and Composition from the University of Memphis
and his band members also have degrees and are well
respected by their musical peers.
Reginald has performed at major venues throughout Chicago such as: The Arie Crown Theater, The House of Blues, The Chicago Theater, The Regal Theater, and The UIC Pavillion opening up for acts: Jeffery Osborne, Average White Band (AWB), The Ohio Players, Isaac Hayes and Roberta Flack, Stanley Clark and George Duke, Gerald Levert and Vesta. He's also has performed at major summer festivals in Chicago: The Hyde Park Jazz Festival, The Taste of Chicago, Ravinia's Lawndale Jazz Festival, Navy Pier, and many more.
Reginald composed the theme song and was the Musical Director for Cedric the Entertainer's " Urban Circus Comedy Special " that aired on the TBS Network with special guest Jerry Seinfeld. Reginald also was the music director and composed the theme song for Bernie Mac's HBO Specials, "Midnight Mac" where he provided the music for guests, "Brian McKnight, Chaka Khan, Roy Ayers, Sugar Blue, and Rachell Farrell." He was also Kim Fields' musical director for her spoken word Concerts in the Bahamas.
Check out the You Tube site for videos of Reginald T. McCants displaying some of his many talents. Reginald also has 2 Cd's available at cdbabay.com and is currently in the studio producing his third Cd.
Agnieszka Iwanska - 6pm
Agnieszka Iwanska is an accomplished and gifted jazz vocalist, composer and lyricist. Her sultry and sensitive singing style stands out as a fresh and exciting voice in contemporary jazz. As a vocalist, Agnieszka has been hailed as the “voice of promise” by noted jazz critic Howard Reich from the Chicago Tribune. Brad Walseth of jazzchicago.net praised her style and performance by nothing that “Like Basia, Iwanska is a Polish singer who has taken on the Brazilian sound pioneered by Astrud Gilberto. She sings her well-written songs showing considerable ability, and charms the crowd with her fresh and honest approach.” Agnieszka is a graduate of the Jazz Studies program at the University of Music in Katowice, Poland’s only accredited jazz program. After arriving in the US, she formed her own band; a quintet featuring some of Chicago’s talented jazz musicians.
She received a Polonus 2008 Award as an Artist of the Year. Working with keyboardist/composer Paul Scherer, Agnieszka completed her first full-length CD of original material. It's titled “All That I Am”. CD features songs in English and Polish, all written and arranged by Iwanska and Scherer. “All That I Am” got excellent reviews from jazz critics. It was on the playlist of 110 radio stations nationwide (including the biggest global platform Smoothjazz.com). It was number 38 on the Top 50 National Indie Chart for 15 weeks in a row. Agnieszka was the first Polish born vocalist to sing the National Anthems at the Wrigley Field in Chicago. More information can be found on: www.reverbnation.com/iwanska and www.myspace.com/agnieszkaiwanska.
Shawn Maxwell Quartet - 5pm
Shawn Maxwell is an accomplished woodwinds multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinet and flute) professional jazz performer. He is also an educator, composer, arranger, clinician and recording artist.
In late June of 2011 Shawn will be releasing his fourth CD, and second on the Chicago Sessions Jazz Label, “Urban Vigilante.” “Urban Vigilante,” will consist of twelve new original works by Shawn Maxwell. Showcasing a mixtures of styles including swing, free, fusion, bebop and more.
Shawn currently performs with The Shawn Maxwell Quartet as well as several other groups. In addition to his busy performance schedule Shawn maintains a private lesson studio of 40 students, ranging from beginner to college level, and continues to work as a clinician with young performers throughout the Chicago area.
Lisle High School Jazz Combo - 4pm
Featuring Naperville North High School Jazz talent in between sets near the VIP Courtyard. The Lisle High School Jazz Combo has been in existence since 1998. Its director, Scott Gumina, started this ensemble at Lisle High School so that interested students had an opportunity to develop the skill of jazz improvisation. They rehearse once a week after school and regularly perform at many school concerts, area festivals, and local restaurants. Several of its past members have gone on to become professional musicians and music educators. Also performing with the high school students today are several recent graduates of Lisle High School that have been a part of the jazz combo. Enjoy!
Van Dril Quintet (Naperville North Jazz Group featured in between sets near the VIP Courtyard)
The Van Dril Quintet has been performing together for one year as a self directed combo. Pianist Sean Van Dril, Bassist Adam Quetsch, and Drummer Grant Taylor make up the rhythm section. The horn section consists of Jenna Przybysz on Alto Saxophone, and Austin Simon on Trombone. Each musician is a member of Naperville North High School’s top Jazz Ensemble directed under Dan Moore. The Quintet has performed at North Shore Jazz Festival, and continues to pursue various other gigs.
