Jazz on the Square

Jazz on the Square (JOTS) is a non-profit organization based in Woodstock, Illinois. JOTS promotes live jazz in McHenry County and provides jazz education opportunities to the community. The organization works to ensure that jazz music remains vital in the region. JOTS provides a portion of its proceeds to local charitable organizations such as Home of the Sparrow, Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, McHenry County Community Foundation, McHenry County Habitat for Humanity and Woodstock Morning Rotary.

History

Jazz on the Square was founded in 2007 by Robert Honesty, Judith Honesty, Randy Robinson, Erin Denk and Billy Denk. The first annual Woodstock Jazz Festival was held August 22-24, 2008 (see below). On September 11, 2008, Jazz on the Square began hosting the Monthly Jazz Jam Series at Stage Left Café in Woodstock.

Events

Jazz on the Square sponsors jazz events hosted by various organizations and venues throughout the community including O'Leary's Pub, Courthouse Grill on the Square, La Petite Creperié, Mixteca Grill & Tequila Bar and Emerson Lofts.

Jazz Festival

From Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24, 2008 Woodstock was the center of jazz music in northern Illinois. The 2008 Woodstock Jazz on Festival featured jazz musicians playing on the Square during the day and in restaurant and club venues around the Square in the evening. The purpose of the Woodstock Jazz on the Square Festival was to promote appreciation and understanding of live performances of jazz music and to increase participation in the art of making jazz music.

Venues participating included Courthouse Grill, La Petite Creperie, Liquid Blues, Pirro's Restaurante and the Woodstock Public House as well as the Woodstock Farmer's Market. Musical acts included the BBJ Project, Doc Brown, Juliano Gypsy Jazz, Johnny Weber Trio, Jud & Judy Brown, Mike Louie Quartet, Music Mavericks, MCC Jazz Combo, the Billy Denk Trio, the New Fuse, SRV Trio, Summer Hallenstein, the Mike Louie Trio and Toots.

Monthly Jazz Jam

The Monthly Jazz Jam series began September 11, 2008 at Stage Left Café. The jam provides an opportunity for all levels of musicians to express themselves in the jazz idiom. As well as providing entertainment, the jams can be educational. A recent event saw recording artist Daniel Villarreal pay tribute to jazz pioneer Max Roach with special commentary and performance.

Music

Styles

The styles of music are as varied as the performers who participate at Jazz on the Square events including jazz standards, Bebop, Latin Jazz, Cool Jazz, Hard Bop and Swing are the predominant styles. Sometimes events take on a more experimental feel featuring funk, fusion and blues interpretations of jazz standards.

Musicians

Several local jazz performers have participated in Jazz on the Square shows including:

* John Weber (drums)
* Dave Childress (piano)
* Judith Honesty (vocals)
* Jim Hecht (saxophone)
* Jeremy Montoto (bass)
* Phil Ciancio (saxophone)
* Heather Moran (vocals)
* Gabe Hammer (drums)
* Billy Denk (guitar)
* Daniel Villarreal (drums)
* Dave Reilly (bass)
* Jud Brown (guitar)

Sources

[http://jazzonthesquare.net/ jazzonthesquare.net]
[http://myspace.com/jazzonthesquare/ myspace.com/jazzonthesquare]