[jazzblues] advance notice, Springfield concert!

[Jeff Machota]

From: 	Craru at aol.com



I want to give all of you advance notice about a very special show we'll
be doing in Springfield. I HIGHLY recommend you purchase your tickets in
advance, as it's very likely this will sell-out.  I haven't started
print and radio advertising, so here's your chance to guarantee your
ticket for this event.




*                             Press Release:*

The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project CD Release Party

Hoogland Center for the Arts, Club Room

Saturday May 10^th , 8-11pm

Tickets: $10 at Hoogland box office or on-line http://www.scfta.org/



Wines by the glass by The Corkscrew Wine Emporium.



Latin Jazz from Central Illinois?  Yes!!  The Craig Russo Latin Jazz
Project is a fresh mix of outstanding jazz soloists, rich, Afro-Cuban
inspired rhythms, and unique arrangements of jazz standards. Their music
is sophisticated and multicultural, but easily accessible to a wide public.

Their show at Hoogland Center for the Arts is a CD release party,
celebrating the group’s most recent recording, */“In the Middle”. /*

A review from Latin Beat Magazine, March 2008 describes this latest CD:
*“(/In the Middle) /explore(s) unlimited creative possibilities that
fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms with modern jazz sensibilities and masterful
arrangements.” //*

                 The group is well-known and has played virtually every
regional festival and club   that features jazz.  They were the only
regional act to play the main stage at the St. Louis Jazz and Heritage
festival in 2006.  Drumset artist/percussionist Craig Russo formed the
group in 2000 as an outlet for his avid interest in Afro-Cuban music and
jazz.   The band’s style has attracted some of the finest musicians in
the region to the group, some with deep credentials from the jazz and
Latin jazz world.

Musicians include:

*Craig Russo*- Drum set artist and percussionist Craig Russo has a
special interest in Afro-Cuban music styles. He has traveled to Cuba
several times to study at the prestigious National School of Arts in
Havana.  Originally from Syracuse, NY, Craig has worked as a Latin
percussionist and drum set artist on the east coast and in the Midwest,
performing a wide variety of jazz, salsa, Latin jazz, and R&B.

*Chip McNeill*- Chip McNeill is an internationally known tenor
saxophonist, most notably through long associations with Arturo Sandoval
and Maynard Ferguson. He appeared on Arturo Sandoval’s grammy winning
recording, “Hot House”. Chip is also recognized as an outstanding
educator and currently serves as Chairman of Jazz Studies at The
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

*Jeff Helgesen*- Jeff is former featured trumpet player with the Ray
Charles Orchestra, and is one of the most respected and in-demand
musicians in the Central Illinois.  He now teaches and leads several
ensembles of his own, as well freelances as a studio musician and
clinician., and BJosh

*Chip Stephens- *Chip is an internationally recognized pianist with
strong roots in both Latin music and jazz.  He is a former member of
Arturo Sandoval’s group and played on the Arturo’s grammy winning CD,
“Hot House”.  Chip has also performed with Michael Brecker, Maynard
Ferguson, David Sanborn and a host of other world-class musicians. He
currently teaches at U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

*Josh Walden* Recently returned from several years in Los Angeles, Josh
Walden is one of the most versatile and respected bass players in the
region.  He works regularly on a wide variety of groups including Latin,
funk, and straight-ahead jazz.

*Jeff Magby*- Drum set artist and percussionist Jeff Magby is one of the
region’s most in-demand musicians.  After completing Bachelor and
Masters degrees in percussion performance, Jeff settled in Urbana, IL,
where he maintains a busy schedule teaching and performing a wide
variety of music styles.






The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project www.craigrusso.com
<http://www.craigrusso.com/>

Our new CD, "In the Middle" is now available! Go to
http://cdbaby.com/cd/russojazzproj
Or go to itunes and enter The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project at "search"