Jazz on the Square facts for kids
Jazz on the Square (JOTS) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which organizes jazz performance and jazz education events. It was founded in 2007 and incorporated in 2009 and is based in Woodstock, Illinois (not to be confused with Woodstock in New York) .
The goal of JOTS is to provide jazz education clinics/workshops and learning experiences to McHenry County, Illinois, promoting jazz education and jazz performance.
The styles of music are as varied as the performers who participate, and include jazz standards, bebop, latin jazz, cool jazz, hard bop and swing; sometimes events take on a more experimental feel featuring funk, fusion and blues interpretations of jazz standards.
Biweekly evening jazz jam sessions
The organization provided a venue for live jazz in McHenry County by hosting weekly jazz jams at Pirro's Restaurante in Woodstock from September 2007 to June 2008. The jams featured the John Weber Trio as the house band. In September 2008, JOTS began hosting the Monthly Jazz Jam Series at Stage Left Cafe in Woodstock. The house band featured Billy Denk, Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo and David Reilly. In January 2009, the jazz jams were scheduled for the first and third Friday each month with Billy Denk as host. Several area musicians sit in as house band members.
In addition to the performance opportunities, JOTS's approach is to make the jazz jams an opportunity for all levels of musicians to learn the art of jazz and express themselves musically. Student musicians are encouraged to sit in early in the evening. Seasoned professionals join in as the evening progresses. These Jazz jams are currently scheduled for the first and third Friday. JOTS also offers workshops as part of the annual festival.
The Latin Side of JOTS is an educational and interactive exploration of Latin jazz in which elements of Brazilian, Cuban and other Latin jazz traditions are performed, demonstrated, and discussed.
Annual summer festival
To support the Woodstock Jazz Festival and its educational programming, the organization holds a fundraiser each June at Stage Left Cafe. JOTS also hosts an annual holiday show each December; past performances have included the Typhanie Monique Quartet and the Glazz Ensemble.
Organizational structure
JOTS was founded in 2007 by jazz enthusiasts Robert Honesty, Judith Honesty, Randy Robinson, Jim Hecht, Erin Denk and Billy Denk. The group was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, achieving 501(c)(3) status in 2009 to better match its mission to provide educational opportunities to the community. Board members have included Erin Denk, Billy Denk, Robert Honesty, Nicole Honesty, Dr. Thomas Takayama, Bryan Kyrouac and John Nelson.
