#97-02-28
For Release: Feb. 25, 1997
Contact: Peter Bailley

The 1997 Rootabaga Jamm Jazz Festival will feature famed jazz trombonist Curtis Fuller, along with top local jazz artists, high school jazz bands and the award-winning Knox College Jazz Ensemble.

The line-up of events for this year's festival is:

o Thursday, March 6, 8 p.m., Cherry Street Brewing Company. The Knox Faculty Jazz Septet, featuring Scott Garlock, trombone, Larry Harms, saxophone, Manny Lopez, trumpet, Earl Gately, bass, Kevin Hart, drums, and Danny Leahy, piano. Tickets are $4 at the door.

o Friday, March 7, Cherry Street Brewing Company. At 7 p.m., the Galesburg Area Big Band, Larry Harms director. At 8 p.m., the Kevin Hart Latin Jazz Quintet. At 8:30 p.m., Jam Session with this year's featured artists Curtis Fuller, trombone, Gene Parker, vibes, Mike Smith, saxophone, Brad Goode, trumpet, along with Earl Gately, bass and Manny Lopez, drums. Tickets covering all three performances are $10 at the door.

o Saturday, March 8, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre, Galesburg. Area high school and junior high jazz groups will perform. The featured guest artists will give pointers to each band. Tickets are $2 at the door.

o Saturday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre. The Knox College Jazz Ensemble with featured guest artists Curtis Fuller, Mike Smith, Brad Goode and Gene Parker. Tickets are $5 at the door or in advance at the Orpheum Box Office, 342-2299.

Curtis Fuller is one of the legendary artists in jazz trombone, recognized as one of the few musicians capable of achieving a lead voice on the instrument. He has recorded with his own band, "The Curtis Fuller Jazztet featuring Benny Golson," and since the 1950s has contributed to nearly 70 recordings with jazz greats including John Coltrane, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. He has recorded with the Freddie Hubbard Orchestra and has several duo recordings available, including performances with pianist Red Garland, trumpeter Art Farmer and trombonist Slide Hampton.

The annual Rootabaga Jamm Jazz Festival is co-sponsored by Knox College, The Register-Mail, G&M Distributing Co., and Grant Bullis Insurance Agency. Its name is inspired by the collection of children's stories Rootabaga Stories by famed Galesburg author Carl Sandburg.

Founded in 1837, Knox is an independent, four-year, liberal arts college, located in Galesburg, Illinois, with 1,100 students from 42 states and 33 nations. Knox's "Old Main," a National Historic Landmark, is the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.