Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage
Released - Begin the Beguine - the 2022-23 YJED Album
We are excited to announce our 2022-23 YJED Album recorded this past May. We were honored to have both our featured guest artists, Roger Ingram and Matt Shevitz featured on two songs each along with some of our best and favorite charts over the past year. This continues our annual tradition of not only recording with the best Pro musicians, but also working in a Pro studio with Pro engineers
Learn more about the album or go directly to Bandcamp to hear it!
And - if you are considering auditioning next year and you want to hear what this band is about, the album is available for FREE! So check it out, and if you want to play in a group like this, click on the "About Auditions" tab to learn about how to audition for YJED next year!
Congratulations to our members selected for ILMEA
NEW NEWS
Each year, the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) auditions and selects a limited number the top high school musicians to perform in an All-State band at its annual Illinois Music Educators Conference.
This year, 22 of our YJED members were chosen to be part of this select group! And 6 of those were picked to be in the All-State Jazz Combo, which is the most elite group of Illinois high school jazz musicians. Join us in congratulating all these fine musicians!
2024 Winter Concert to feature Guest Artist Steve Wiest
NEW NEWS
Our Featured Guest Artist for our Winter Concert on January 21 will be the Grammy nominated trombonist and composer Steve Wiest!
As a performer, Steve has played with the bands of Maynard Ferguson and Doc Severinsen. As an educator he has helmed a number of jazz programs, most famously leading the University of North Texas One O'Clock Band. He continues to compose, arrange, and write books on the art of trombone.
We look forward to working with Steve in rehearsal, and performing with him!
2024 Spring Concert to feature Guest Artist John Wojciechowski
Our Featured Guest Artist for our Spring Concert on April 27 will be the saxophonist and educator John Wojciechowski!
As a performer, Steve has played with the Woody Herman Orchestra as well as many jazz greats. He has taught at both the university and high school level, which will be great for our high school musicians to work with him as they potentially think about playing at the university level. He currently is on the music faculty at St. Charles North HS.
We look forward to working with John in rehearsal, and performing with him!
So what is the story with YJED???
Well, we have a whole tab "About YJED" with a lot of details, and yeah you probably should go there and take a look at the details...but here's the short version:
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YJED members get to play with the best high school musicians in DuPage County and surrounding areas. 20+ high schools...but only 5 trumpets, 5 bones, 5 saxes and one rhythm section. You do the math.
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You get to play pro-level music. That's what you can do when you have a section full of 1st chair players selected from 20+ high schools.
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You get to play at cool places (hopefully). COVID makes it hard to make promises, but the last couple full seasons YJED had on the calendar The Jazz Showcase, Fitzgerald's, Fulton Street Collective, Plus ILMEA and downtown Chicago gigs. And, by the way, a couple of concerts.
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You get to play with great featured artists. Pros like Victor Garcia, Chris Madsen, and Roger Ingram who have played with the best in the world, and who will push you to step up your game...seriously.
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And you get to make a pro-level recording, in a pro-level studio, with a featured artist or two. Laying down the best charts of the year, engineered by industry guys who do this for a living. Many of our alumni say this is the most memorable part of YJED.
So, if you want details, go to the "About YJED" tab.
Enough with the words...what does YJED sound like?
You can click onto our "Video" tab to see and hear a number of performances. Or go to the "About YJED" tab, and click through to three of our recordings under "Selected Recent Discography"
But right here are links to a few videos of us (new window will open):
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Friday Night at the Cadillac Club (with guest artist Chris Madsen)
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How Sweet it Is (with guest artist Dave Katz)
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Just Friends (with guest artist Dave Katz)
YJED year-end recording - Support through GoFundMe
NEW NEWS
After our last concert, in May the band as it typically does trooped down to Transient Sound to lay down a recording with the best of their season's songs. GoFundMe donations help to fund studio time, plus the sound mixing and mastering, and production still in process.
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 YJED c/o Jenz Law Office, 124 S. County Farm Road, Suite C, Wheaton IL 60187. (Make sure your name and address is on the check to receive a tax deduction receipt). Thanks!
Our 2021-22 Album is available
Annually YJED records an album of our best and favorite charts over the past year, and invite 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.
Learn more about the album or go directly to BandCamp to hear it! (You get to "name your price", so the price is right whether you want to contribute to YJED music-making or if you are a high school student checking out the band for next year's auditions!