We are proud to have had 37 years of unbelieveable artists at our jazz festival...
2020
The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Matt Ulery's Loom
The University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band
Women in Jazz Dinner
2019
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra
with special guest Joey DeFrancesco
Sharel Cassity Quartet
Clinician's Pro Jam
Women in Jazz Dinner
2018
Delfeayo Marsalis presents the Uptown Jazz Orchestra
Marques Carroll's Trumpet Summit
University of Miami Frost Concert Jazz Band
Women in Jazz Dinner
2017
Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Kings of the Lobby featuring Chris Madsen
Clinician's Pro Jam
2016
Chris Potter Big Band
The John Wojciechowski Quartet
Northern Illinois University Jazz Orchestra
The Jazz Director's Big Band
2015
The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band
Luke Malewicz Quintet
Clinician's Pro Jam
The Jazz Director's Big Band
2014
Christian McBride Big Band
Caroline Davis Quartet
University of Illinois Jazz Ensemble (* did not appear due to weather - replaced by clinician's jazz session)
The Jazz Director's Big Band
2013
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra,
directed by Dennis Mackrel
Adam Kromelow Trio
The Eastman Jazz Ensemble
The Jazz Director’s Big Band
2012
The Chicago Jazz Ensemble directed by Dana
Hall
with special guest Nicholas Payton
Marquis Hill Black-tet
The Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra
The Jazz Director’s Big Band
2011
The Mingus Big Band
Herculaneum
The University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble
The Jazz Director’s Big Band
2010
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
The John Wojciechowski Quartet
The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble directed by Bob Lark
The Jazz Director’s Big Band
2009
The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Bill
Hughes
Special improvisation clinic by Jamey Aebersold
The Jazz Directors Big Fat Band
The Army Blues Jazz Ensemble from Washington,
D.C.
2008
The Chicago Jazz Ensemble directed by Jon
Faddis
The Indiana University Jazz Ensemble
with special guest, Steve Houghton, drums
The Spam All-Stars from Miami, Florida
The Jazz Directors Big Fat Band
2007
The Tito Puente All-Star Alumni Big Band with
Eddie Palmieri, piano
Darren Kramer and DKO Electric Quartet
The University. of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Jazz
Ensemble
The Jazz Directors Big Fat Band
2006
Sherri Maricle and the DIVA JAZZ ORCHESTRA
The Falconaires from Air Force Academy
Goran Ivanovic Group
The Jazz Directors Big Fat Band
2005
The Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band
The Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble
The Tito Carillo Jazz Quintet
The Jazz Directors Big Fat Band
2004
The Bob Mintzer Big Ban
The University of Illinois Jazz Ensemble
The Mark Colby Quartet
The Jazz Directors Big Band
2003
The Count Basie Orchestra
The Shades of Blue Air Force Jazz Ensemble
The Ryan Cohan Quartet
The Jazz Directors Big Band
2002
John Fedchock's New York Big Band
The Roosevelt University Jazz Ensemble
The Zach Brock Quartet
The Jazz Directors Big Band
2001
The Buddy Rich Big Band with Dave Weckl,
drums
and Steve Marcus, leader
The Elmhurst College Jazz Ensemble
2000
The Rob Parton ROPA Big Band
with guest artist Byron Stripling, trumpet;
The Senior Center Stompers Dixieland Band
1999
The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring
Lew Tabackin
Northwestern University Jazz Ensemble
DuSable High School Gospel Choir
1998
DIVA, No Man's Band with Sherrie Maricle and Ellen Rowe
DePaul University Jazz Ensemble
1997
The Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra
Kevin Mahogany and the Illinois Weslyan Jazz
Ensemble
1996
Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass with Steve Spiegl
Bob
Kase and the Ball
State University Jazz Ensemble
1995
The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Frank Foster with
Rob Parton and
Roy Leonard
1994
The Duke Ellington Orchestra directed by Mercer Ellington,
with Howard
Levy and Ken Nordine
1993
Maynard Ferguson with Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band and Ed
Palermo
1992
The Woody Herman Orchestra directed by Frank Tiberi
1991
The Artie Shaw Orchestra directed by Dick Johnson,
with Buddy DeFranco
1990
The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Frank Foster,
with Matt Harris
1989
Clark Terry and Louie Bellson with the N.I.U. Jazz Ensemble
1988
The Tonight Show "All-Stars"
with the Birch Creek Music Center "All
Star" Big Band
1987
Dizzy Gillespie with the Jazz Members Big Band
1986
The Woody Herman Orchestra directed by Woody Herman
1985
The Airmen of Note
(U.S. Air Force Jazz Ensemble), directed by
David Steinmeyer
1984
The Buddy Childers Big Band
and the New Trier High School Jazz Ensemble
with Jamey Aebersold