Don’t miss this exciting celebration of Vocal Jazz at Niles North on April 16.
Saturday, April 16, will bring over 50 of Dan Gregerman’s former vocal jazz students from locations throughout the U.S. to return to their roots, as well as reconnect with former classmates. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium at 9800 Lawler, Skokie. Tickets are $10. Niles North vocal jazz groups Take One, Sound Check and Harmonic Motion will perform several numbers. There is also a free community performance at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 15.
The evening’s performances will include Take One, under the direction of Daniel Gregerman, singing “I’ve Got The World on a String,” arranged by Paul Langford, “”Teach Me Tonight,” arranged by Kelly Kunz, and “Mister One-Take,” by Gary Fry. Harmonic Motion, directed by Kathryn Lachey, will perform “Long Ago and Far Away,” arranged by Paris Rutherford and “Rather Be,” arranged by Mark Brymer. Sound Check, under the direction of Logan Farris, will sing “Song for My Father,” arranged by Raymond Roberts and “In My Life,” arranged by Steve Zegree.
The program was started in 1991 by Daniel Gregerman, and under his direction the program has grown and flourished. Although definitions of vocal jazz may differ, it can commonly be agreed to be a style of singing, either a cappella or accompanied by a rhythm section, that embellishes the melody with ornamentation or improvisation, with the ability to transform a song into something distinctive and personal. Since the vocal jazz program began, the program has gained recognition beyond Niles North’s borders, for instance, headlining the Puerta Vallarta Jazz Festival in Mexico. In 2014, Gregerman was the recipient of the John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year award, an accolade for an outstanding educator with a focus on jazz education.
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