Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) presents - Exquisitely for Ella: A Songbook Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald - Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 4pm - Thorne Auditorium - 375 E. Chicago Avenue
Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) Launches "30 Years and Still Swinging" in memory of co-founder, Steve Jensen to celebrate the Orchestra's 30th anniversary. Concerts will be staged in venues North, South, West and Downtown in the Chicagoland area.
On October 29, 1978, the Jazz Members Big Band played its first performance at Gaspar's at the corner of Belmont and Southport on Chicago's North Side. Thirty years later, on Sunday, October 19, 2008, Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra celebrates its run as Chicago's oldest professional jazz orchestra in continuous operation by presenting its blockbuster concert, Exquisitely for Ella: A Songbook Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, featuring three of Chicago's greatest singers: "Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz" Dee Alexander; CJO vocalist Frieda Lee; and cabaret singer Spider Saloff. This performance includes the greatest material from Ella's songbook albums. A string section will augment the band to accommodate the special arrangements recorded by Ella Fitzgerald.
The performance takes place at 4:00 p.m. at the Thorne Auditorium, 375 E. Chicago Avenue in downtown Chicago. Master of Ceremonies will be WVON radio personality, Cliff Kelley. There will be a special pre-concert, 30th Anniversary Benefit Buffet from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Thorne Auditorium. The Adrian Ruiz Trio will be the featured reception entertainment.
Pricing for the benefit buffet is as follows: $125 -buffet, entertainment and one priority seat for opening concert; $175 - buffet, entertainment and one priority seat for two season concerts; $225 - buffet, entertainment and one priority seat for all four season concerts. Reception patrons purchasing $175 and $225 tickets will be listed in the program. Concert only tickets are: $45/$35/$25/$15. For more information on ordering pre-concert reception tickets, or concert only tickets, please contact the CJO message line at 312-409-3947, or visit our website at www.chicagojazzorchestra.com.