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• Boneyard Jazz Quintet's Profile »
• Chip McNeill's Profile »
• Desafinado's Profile »
• Jeff Helgesen's Profile »
• Jazz Sandwich's Profile »
• Dave Dickey Big Band's Profile »
• MRS Trio's Profile »

Related Venues

Iron Post »
Address: 120 S. Race St. Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 337-7678
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Luna »
Address: 116 E. Chestnut Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 344-1895
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From weekly gigs to album releases, these seven local acts have been keeping the jazz scene in CU alive and well. Read on to see what they have in store for the rest of 2009.

Boneyard Jazz Quintet

Check Them Out: April 16 at Cafe Luna

In 2008: “[2008 saw] many gigs and artistic growth. Among others venues, we performed at the Champaign Arts Festival, KCPA Afterglow, the Virginia Theatre, Urbana and Champaign Libraries Sunday Afternoon Concert, as well as regular gigs at the Iron Post and the Embassy Tavern.”

In 2009: “[In 2009, we will have] much of the same, but joining our group for this spring is Randy Salman, a fabulous jazz saxophonist who teaches at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., but is on sabbatical and living in Champaign this semester. On Thursday, April 16, we will be at Luna Cafe from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. celebrating the opening of the annual Boneyard Arts Festival, and on April 19, we will be performing at rhe Urbana Free Library from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.” — Morgan Powell

Chip McNeill

Check Out: “Tough Shuffle” at http://www.myspace.com/chipmcneillsax

In 2008: “The highlight [of 2008] was the release of my latest CD project, Four Steps 3, on Capri Records and some gigs with the band in Chicago.”

In 2009: “I will release a new CD in late summer and tour this summer.” — Chip McNeill

Desafinado

Check Out: “Aguas de Marco” at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/desafinado

In 2008: “[One of the highlights of 2008 was] playing in Millennium Park as part of the Great Performances Festival during the summer. Although the weather was spotty (OK, it actually poured rain while we played), our gear remained dry, and people danced! We also played at the Chicago World Music Festival on a stage that felt like it was only twice the size of a postage stamp. Our ex-guitar player, Tim Johnson, who left the band when he moved to Chicago, was able to play with us both times, so it felt great to be playing some of the old classics with him. He kept up with the new tunes really well, too!”

In 2009: “We have a new drummer, Matt Plaskota, who throws down a funky rhythm you would not believe and has really kicked things up a notch for us. Local jazz musicians collectively took a hit with the shuttering of the Embassy and Pages for All Ages, so we are hoping that other venues pick up the slack and provide bands with the space and support to continue to play. In the meantime, we have been writing new material and are hoping to record sometime in the fall.” — Greg Jahiel

Jeff Helgesen

Check Out: “Pensativa” at http://www.myspace.com/jeffhelgesen

In 2008: “The 2008 Nature’s Table reunion was a big highlight. [I] got to play with some folks I hadn’t seen in 20 years and hang out with friends from the old days. Simple pleasures ...”

In 2009: “I’m hoping to start planning a new CD project soon, and I’ve been contacted about doing some more commercial studio freelancing that I’m looking forward to.” — Jeff Helgesen

Jazz Sandwich

Check Out: “Price” at http://www.myspace.com/jazzsandwich

Dave Dickey Big Band

Check Out: “Nothing Personal” at http://www.myspace.com/davedickeybigband

MRS Trio

Check Them Out: April 6 at the Iron Post