The 46th annual Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival is taking place this week through Saturday, May 9, bringing together Knox College musicians, local student performers and nationally recognized jazz artists for performances across Galesburg and the surrounding area.
The festival includes performances at community venues, educational outreach programs in area schools and a featured Saturday night concert at the Orpheum Theatre.
The festival’s main event is Big Band Night at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Orpheum Theatre. The concert will feature The Baga Big Band, directed by Knox alumnus Justin Haynes ’04, along with the Rootabaga High School All-Star Band and the Knox Jazz Ensemble.
“I’ve been waiting to do this for a while,” Andy Crawford ’00, managing director of Knox College’s music performance program, said in a news release. “Justin is a great composer and arranger, and I really want to showcase what he does because he is such a big part of what we do here.”
Featured guest artists this year include trumpeter Victor Garcia, saxophonist Greg Ward and Doug Stone, associate professor of jazz studies at Louisiana State University.
Vocalist Alyssa Allgood — named a “Rising Star Female Vocalist” by DownBeat magazine and a Chicago Reader poll winner — will headline several performances during the festival.
Her sextet, featuring Garcia and Ward, will perform at Smokin’ Willies BBQ on Friday with sets at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Allgood also will perform Saturday with The Baga Big Band at the Orpheum.
Friday’s performances at Smokin’ Willies also will include Galesburg High School bands beginning at 6 p.m. and the Cherry Street Combo featuring Stone at 8 p.m.
The festival’s educational outreach component returned this week for its 11th year with the Jazz School Tour. The Doug Stone Quartet — featuring Stone, Crawford, Jason Brannon and Whitney Ashe — is visiting area schools for performances and educational sessions.
The quartet also performed a joint concert Tuesday evening with the United High School bands in Monmouth.
On Wednesday evening, the festival will spotlight local student musicians and regional performers during a 6-10 p.m. event at Smokin’ Willies. Participating groups include Galesburg Junior High, Canton Senior High and ROWVA Senior High bands, along with The Jammers Big Band and the Knox student-based Cherry Street Combo.
The Knox Faculty and Friends Jam Session returns Thursday night at Smokin’ Willies, continuing a festival tradition that dates to 1995. The session features Knox faculty members and regional jazz musicians from across western Illinois.
Additional festival details and a full performance schedule are available through Knox College.
