“The weather was perfect last night and it seemed everyone enjoyed themselves,” said Pete Ellman after a night of performing his trumpet on the packed patio at Potter’s Place with his 20-member band, an event organized with the aim to raise awareness and some funds to benefit Little Friends.
The cooler-than-it’s-been evening attracted hundreds of jazz fans to listen to sets from 8-10PM under the bright night sky illuminated by the dog star.
The founder and name behind the Pete Ellman Big Band also said that the winner of the 50-50 raffle was Pam Albrecht, “and she donated her winnings to Little Friends.”
During the second set, an appreciative audience applauded the swing and jazz solos performed by Kevin Flanagan on the alto-saxophone, followed by Kevin Schoenbach on the trombone.
Next up, the Pete Ellman Big Band will play Thursdays, August 2 and August 16, at Mullen’s Bar & Grill, located at Naperville/Wheaton Road and Warrenville Road.
Since its inception about three years ago, the Pete Ellman Big Band has been performing regularly for many good causes, including scheduling times during the school year to play with jazz ensembles and bands from area middle schools and high schools. After the school year begins this month and students get settled in their music routines, Pete Ellman, who has a day job as co-owner and vice-president of Ellman’s Music Center, said those “gigs” when the student ensembles will open the evening will be put on the calendar again.
Also of note, when the Pete Ellman Big Band performs, money also is raised to benefit The Gil Ellman Memorial Fund, a fund created in the memory of Ellman’s father to help local students who cannot afford a musical instrument.
