Above / Wentz Concert Hall and Madden Theater are located in the Fine Arts Center at North Central College.
The 2nd Annual Naperville Big Band Jazz Festival is slated for Sat., April 23, 2016, at Wentz Concert Hall and Madden Theatre in the Fine Arts Center at North Central College.
According to Pete Ellman, producer of the event, Mark Colby will be featured as one of six clinicians, a saxophonist who “is arguably the top call sax player in Chicago.”
Colby began playing professionally at age 14.
On Miami Beach, he had the opportunity to play shows with popular acts, including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Gerry Mulligan, and Arturo Sandoval. He recorded with the likes of Dr. John, Wilson Pickett, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, and the Bee Gees.
After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies, he received a call from Maynard Ferguson inviting him to join his band in New York. After three albums and three years touring as featured soloist and musical director with Maynard, Bob James beckoned, and he became of member of the “James gang.”
Colby’s tours with Maynard and Bob found him playing jazz festivals and concert halls around the world.
In 1980, Colby moved to Chicago, with its very active music scene. He was immediately participating in a recording market that was exploding. Jingles, record dates, and jazz gigs were plentiful. In 1983, he was approached by DePaul University to assume a teaching position as jazz saxophone instructor (until 2014) and in 1998 joined the faculty at Elmhurst College as well.
He has played and toured with such varied luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Jaco Pastorius, Mose Allison, Joe Williams, and Charlie Haden. In 2001, he performed Duke Ellington’s version of “The Nutcracker Suite” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and in 2008 performed Leonard Bernstein’s “Prelude, Fugue and Riffs.” Colby appeared in a cameo with Diana Krall in the Johnny Depp movie “Public Enemies,” released in July 2009.
“Keep an eye out for Mark’s new album to be released this summer,” noted Ellman.
Tickets are available at the North Central College Box office 630-637-(SHOW)7469.
Getting to know Mark Colby with Pete Ellman
1) How did you get started as a saxophone player?
At the age of 8, my father brought home a clarinet for me. He was a professional musician [drums and vibes] so I heard a lot of music in our home at an early age. He listened to a lot of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw recordings. I started to imitate the sounds I was hearing.
2) Why did you choose jazz over some other idiom, say classical, or…do you play more than one style of music?
Jazz was always the music I was truly interested in. I’ve listened and played just about every style of music that there is since then.
3) Which jazz artist had the most influence on you and your playing?
Benny Goodman was my first real idol because I started on clarinet but after I started playing saxophone, Stan Getz became the person with whom I identified with because of his beautiful sound, technique time and feel.
4) Which non-jazz artist had the most influence on you and your playing?
I would say that Frank Sinatra as a pop singer had a huge influence on me as far as phrasing and feel.
5) If students come away from the Jazz Fest with one message or idea, what would you like it to be?
I’d like for the students to come away with new perspective and appreciation for America’s “classical” music…Jazz.
