Composed of Chicago’s top “It was Jeff Lindberg’s con- musicians, the Chicago ducting of the CJO that made Jazz Orchestra is Chicago’s this a solid interpretation oldest professional jazz (“Porgy and Bess”). The orchestra in continuous orchestra was commendable in operation and one of the performing the sudden jump oldest jazz repertory cuts and unorthodox arrangements that took (Miles) orchestras in the country. Davis and (Bill) Evans a few days to piece together. Quick Conductor and Artistic shifts from (Roy) Hargrove, to a Director Jeff Lindberg is one woodwind section, and then of the foremost transcribers French horns, couldn’t be easy in jazz. As a result, the and here they were seamless.” Orchestra’s repertoire Aaron Cohen draws upon his vast library, Chicago Tribune which includes the works of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, “It takes pinpoint precision to Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, Oliver Nelson, Ray Charles, and many others. make such writing sing, and conductor Lindberg made it The CJO is recognized internationally, having been the resident orchestra for happen. When the band The Kennedy Center Honors for the past sixteen years. The orchestra has focused on a unison long note, toured Europe twice, including performances in Italy, Spain, Denmark, and the sound shot from the stage Sweden. The CJO's 2006 performances included a sold-out Spoleto Festival like a laser. This is what USA performance with singer Kurt Elling, an electrifying "Tribute to Artie Shaw" repertory jazz should be: not a at the Ravinia Festival, and a blockbuster "Battle of the Bands" with the Count tepid re-creation of work, but a Basie Orchestra at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Chicago. chance to hear how skillfully blended instrumental voices can set a room humming.” The CJO’s recent compact disc Clark Terry and Jeff Lindberg’s Chicago Jazz Kevin Whitehead Orchestra: George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Americana Music) has Chicago Sun-Times received widespread critical acclaim, including a rare “FIVE-STAR” rating from Downbeat magazine, and a nomination as “Jazz Album of The Year” by the “Jeff Lindberg presided over the Jazz Journalists’ Association. Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the ensemble turning in tonally Jeff Lindberg represents a new breed of American conductors who are equally sumptuous, steeped-in-blue adept with the literatures of the American jazz orchestra and the European performances. The band’s plush reed work in “Red Top” symphony orchestra. As well as holding the position of Artistic Director of the and stunning range of Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Mr Lindberg is Music Director of the Wooster th orchestral color in Charles Symphony Orchestra, now in its 90 season. Mr. Lindberg has received Mingus’ “Mingus Fingers” were numerous commissions from the Smithsonian Institution for transcriptions of a credit to Lindberg’s leadership original jazz recordings. His transcriptions have been performed by such and his players’ stylistic artists as Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Gunther Schuller, David Baker, and by authenticity.” such orchestras as the Count Basie Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Howard Reich Masterworks Orchestra, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Carnegie Hall Chicago Tribune Jazz Band. Honorary board members are Ramsey Lewis, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Harold Jones, Studs Terkel and Clark Terry. Agency - Jim Wadsworth Productions Steve Frumkin 330.405.9075 [email protected] Jim Wadsworth 216.721.5624 [email protected].