Festival History

Founded in 1980 by Mona Tourlentes, the Rootabaga Jazz Festival was first housed at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. Staffed and supported by the Tourlentes family, the Rootabaga Jammers, area musicians and jazz-lovers, and local businesses, the festival began as a one-day event featuring local musicians and featured guest artists. In 1992, Knox College Professor Scott Garlock took over direction of the festival and expanded the format to three days, expanding the number of guest artists and adding the non-competitive educational clinics to the schedule.

Today, under the direction of Nikki Whittaker, Director of Jazz Studies at Knox College, the Rootabaga Jazz Festival is a unique and thriving jazz festival. Thanks to the hard work of Knox College student-performers and the generous support of dozens of local businesses and individuals, the Rootabaga Jazz Festival brings world-class jazz to the college and community.

Past festival guest artists include:

• Terry Gibbs
• Frank Mantooth
• Curtis Fuller
• Bobby Shew
• Rob McConnell
• The Hornheads
• Zach Brock
• Tony Monaco
• Joey DeFrancesco
• Mose Allison
• Kurt Elling
• Benny Green
• Greg Osby
• Matt Wilson
• Youngblood Brass Band
• Eric Alexander
• Ben Allison

2008 Festival Schedule

Thursday, March 13:

Knox Faculty and Friends Combo
McGillacuddy’s Restaurant, 58 S. Cherry St.
8pm-Midnight

Always a favorite on the festival schedule, members of the Knox College Jazz
Faculty and friends perform four exciting sets.

Featuring:
Dave Hoffman, trumpet, piano
Kevin Malley, saxophone
Cassie Hart, saxophone
Larry Harms, saxophone
Scott Garlock, trombone
Kevin Kart, drums, vibraphone, piano
Nikki Whittaker, vibraphone
John Miller, guitar
Jon Wegge, bass
Semenya McCord, vocals
Tickets: $7

Friday, March 14:

Knox Alumni Big Band
McGillacuddy’s Restaurant (Game Room), 58 S. Cherry St.
8-9pm

Knox Jazz Ensemble Alumni perform their favorite big band charts under the direction of alumni director, Scott Garlock

Rootabaga Festival Guest Artists (TBA)
McGillacuddy’s Restaurant, 58 S. Cherry St.
9:30-Midnight
Featured festival artists take the main stage.
Tickets for all Friday performances: $10

Saturday, March 15:

High School Non-Competitive Clinics and Performances
Location TBA
8am-5pm

Over 300 area and regional high school and junior high performers perform for festival guest artists in a non-competitive day of clinics. Outstanding student musicians are awarded Knox College Music Scholarshipsand Western Illinois University Summer Jazz Camp Scholarships.
The day’s top performer is awardedthe Tourlentes Jazz Award, a cash prize named in honor of Mona Tourlentes, Rootabaga Festival founder.
Admission to High School Performances and Clinics: FREE

The Knox Jazz Ensemble with Rootabaga Guest Artist (TBA)
The Orpheum Theatre, 57 S. Kellogg Street
7:30pm

The award-winning Knox Jazz Ensemble performs on the stage of the historic Orpheum Theatre with featured Rootabaga Guest artists.
Tickets: $14-$16

Saturday tickets may also be purchased at the Orpheum Box Office or online at http://www.theorpheum.org/main.html

Festival Passes

Join us for all three days of Rootabaga Jazz and save money at the same time! Purchase your festival pass for admission to all festival events. For $30, your festival pass will offer you admission to all three days of music, including mezzanine seats for the Saturday concert at the Orpheum Theatre.

Festival passes can be purchased in advance through the Rootabaga Jazz Festival office.

Please call (309)341-7265 for more information or email
nwhittak@knox.edu to order your festival passes.