Jazz on the Square facts for kids
Jazz on the Square (JOTS) is a special group that loves jazz music! It's a non-profit organization, which means it's not trying to make money. Instead, JOTS organizes fun jazz concerts and helps people learn about jazz. It started in 2007 and is based in Woodstock, Illinois.
JOTS wants to teach people in McHenry County, Illinois all about jazz. They offer workshops and learning experiences. They also create chances for jazz musicians to perform. You can hear many kinds of jazz music at their events. This includes classic jazz songs, bebop, Latin jazz, cool jazz, hard bop, and swing. Sometimes, they even play more experimental styles like funk, fusion, and blues versions of jazz tunes.
Contents
Regular Jazz Jam Sessions
JOTS has always provided places for live jazz music. From 2007 to 2008, they held weekly jazz jams at Pirro's Restaurante in Woodstock. Later, they started the Monthly Jazz Jam Series at Stage Left Cafe. These jams are now held on the first and third Friday of each month.
These jazz jams are great for everyone who loves music. They are a chance for musicians of all skill levels to learn and express themselves. Young student musicians are encouraged to play early in the evening. More experienced professional musicians join in later. JOTS also offers special workshops during their yearly festival. They even have "The Latin Side of JOTS," which explores Brazilian, Cuban, and other Latin jazz styles.
Yearly Summer Jazz Festival
JOTS holds a fundraiser every June to support the Woodstock Jazz Festival and its educational programs. They also host an annual holiday show in December.
2008 Festival Highlights
The 2008 festival happened from August 22-24. Musicians played on the Woodstock City Square during the day. In the evenings, they performed in restaurants and clubs around the Square. The festival aimed to help people enjoy and understand live jazz. It also encouraged more people to play jazz music. Many local places like Courthouse Grill and Liquid Blues took part.
2009 Festival Highlights
The 2009 festival was on August 21-22. Like the year before, many local venues and restaurants joined in. These included La Petite Creperie and Stage Left Cafe. The festival also started offering workshops. Musicians Rick Brabeck and Rick Embach taught a clinic on jazz drumming techniques.
2010 Festival Highlights
The 2010 festival took place on August 27-28. This event was held mainly at Stage Left Cafe and the Woodstock City Square. It featured talented musicians from the Chicago jazz scene. Local musicians also performed. The event was supported by WDCB radio (90.9 FM). As part of the festival, music teachers Thomas Takayama and Bryan Kyrouac gave a presentation about Duke Ellington. They explored his music and life.
2011 Festival Highlights
The 2011 festival was held on August 26-27 at Stage Left Cafe and on the Woodstock Square. Many great bands played, including Marbin and the Chris Greene Quartet. For the 2011 festival, Takayama and Kyrouac gave another presentation. They talked about famous jazz recordings that changed music forever.
2012 Festival Highlights
The 2012 festival happened from August 23-25. It was also at Stage Left Cafe and on the Woodstock Square. The lineup included groups like the Chris Greene Quartet and the Paul Abella Trio. Takayama and Kyrouac again provided an educational talk about jazz music.
2013 Festival Highlights
The 2013 festival took place from August 22-24. Performers included Brent Kimbrough & Company and the Frank Russell Group. The MCC Jazz Combo also played. Bryan Kyrouac led a workshop during this festival.
How JOTS is Organized
JOTS was started in 2007 by jazz fans Robert Honesty, Judith Honesty, Randy Robinson, Jim Hecht, Erin Denk, and Billy Denk. They made it a non-profit group in 2009. This helped them better achieve their goal of offering educational opportunities to the community. Many people have served on the board, helping to guide JOTS.
See also
- Woodstock Jazz Festival, a different event from 1981 in New York.
