Mark Colby - In memoriam

Join us in listening to Mark:

• Over the Rainbow
  (from his album Reflections)

• Video of Mark performing with YJED (Jazz Showcase, December 2015)

The YJED family mourns the recent loss of a dear friend, Mark Colby. Mark had the quintessential tenor sound and what a glorious sound it was. Mark was not only one of the top tenor players in the country but a tremendously giving person. His influence on young saxophonists is heard throughout the United States. 

Mr. Colby was an original YJED board member, a position he held for five seasons. He shared his love and music and caring personality with everyone he met and of course was a huge inspiration to all of us in YJED. Mark was a guest artist multiple times and was featured on 10 different YJED albums over the years.

I personally owe a great deal to Mark for guiding my jazz hand and sharing his knowledge of music and life. Thank you Mark for being you and giving back to the profession you loved so dearly. I know that someday, we will meet again over the rainbow.

In sorrow and love, 

Robert

2019-20 Recording - Support through GoFundMe

At the end of each season, the band produces a recording with the best of their season's songs.  Your donations help fund studio time, sound mixing and mastering, and production.  With limited funds available as a not-for-profit organization, your funds can make a big difference.   Any amount is appreciated.

Click on the yellow "Donate via GoFundMe" button for more details and to make a donation electronically.  

If you prefer to donate by check, make the check payable to “Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage” and mail it to the YJED Treasurer at Judi Jenz, 305 S. Naperville Rd., Wheaton IL 60187. (Make sure your name and address is on the check to receive a tax deduction receipt).  Thanks!

See what we've done this year...so far!

We try to capture video and pictures from our concerts on our website here.  Of course it's no substitute for actually being there (hint, hint...scroll up to see where we will be playing next), but you can hear how we progress through the year.

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Our photo and video pages feature two performances so far

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The first was an opening set for the great Chicago Skyliners Big Band led by Bill O'Connell...in November at Fitzgerald's...after only four rehearsals.

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Our second performance in January at our Winter Concert featured Guest Artist saxophonist Chris Madsen.  Chris is a composer, is on faculty at University of Illinois - Chicago, and has performed with Wynton Marsalis and many other top jazz musicians.

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So click on the tabs above and check them out!

Our 2018-19 recording album is still available!

Annually YJED records an album of our best and favorite charts over the past year, and invite our Featured Guest Artists to join us. So not only recording with the best Pro musicians, but also working in a Pro studio with Pro engineers.

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This year, to include all of our Featured Guest Artists and to celebrate our performance at the Illinois Music Educators conference before hundreds of music educators, we include a bonus...professionally recorded tracks from that day as well!

Learn more about the album here or go directly to BandCamp to hear it!

New Venue: Tentatively rescheduled to May 27 at the Fulton Street Collective

RESCHEDULED!

It's always exciting to play a new room, and the Fulton Street Collective is no ordinary room!  Check out the website link to see the types of visual, performing, and multi-media art that takes place here.  Located on the 3rd floor of the Hubbard Street Lofts, the address is 1821 W. Hubbard in Chicago. Google Maps link here)

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We have the privilege to open for the Joel Baer Big Band.  We play at 8:00pm, and you will definitely want to stay around to hear his band after that.  And in between sets, you can check out the art displayed in the room.

Spring Concert on April 26 featuring Victor Garcia

For over 20 years, YJED has invited prominent jazz performers, educators, and recording artists (often musicians who are all three) as Featured Guest Artists.  They rehearse,  perform, and record with us, so YJED musicians receive valuable learnings and connections throughout the year.

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Our Featured Guest Artist for the Spring Concert on April 26 will be trumpeter Victor Garcia.  He is also a composer, has held professorial positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola University, and University of Illinois - Chicago, and has also performed with Wynton Marsalis and many other top musicians.

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Performance will be at 4:00pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 300 S. Pathway Ct., Crystal Lake 60014. Google maps link here

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Our guest artists like Victor play with the best, so they bring their high standards when they work with us.  You can see why we look forward to playing with them!

Playing again on March 16 at the Jazz Showcase

We're already booked in March 2020 (March 16th, if you've got your calendar handy) to open for Bob Lark and his quintet at the world-famous Jazz Showcase. 

We got to know Bob and learn from him when he was our featured guest artist at our concert this past April, and at our recording session in June. A great educator and trumpet player, Bob seems to push us to take it up even another level.

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We've also gotten to know the Jazz Showcase as well over the years, most recently in January 2019 with Mark Colby.  It's always special knowing of the greats who have preceded us on the stage at the Showcase...and knowing what we have to live up to.