LZHS Jazz Ensemble to Perform with DePaul Jazz Ensemble

The Lake Zurich High School Jazz Ensembles perform in concert with the DePaul Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Bob Lark, Wednesday, Feb .27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lake Zurich High School Performing Arts Center. The public is invited to attend this concert, there is no charge.

The Jazz Lab Band will start the concert, playing Dave Brubeck’s “In Your Own Sweet Way” and Thad Jones’ “Us.” The Jazz Ensemble will follow with three classics by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, including Billy Strayhorn’s haunting "Bloodcount,” “Theme from the Asphalt Jungle,” as well as Maynard Fergusen’s “Cruisin’ for a Bluesin’.”

Bob Lark and the DePaul Jazz Ensemble will close the concert. “It’s extra motivational for our students to see what goes on at the next level. For them to come here and play at our concert helps legitimize all that we do here,” said LZHS Band Director Josh Thompson. 

The band is also slated to play on Sunday, March 17, at Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn as they open for the Jazz Community Big Band, led by Marianne May.

For more information about upcoming concerts, please contact Josh Thompson at 847-540-4204 or josh.thompson@lz95.org. 

Depaul Jazz Ensemble Bio
The Jazz Ensemble is one of thirteen student jazz groups at DePaul University, performing several times throughout the academic year both on and off campus. The band performs regularly at Chicago’s premier jazz club, Joe and Wayne Segal’s Jazz Showcase. Directed by Bob Lark the Jazz Ensemble has appeared at the Midwest Clinic, the International Association for Jazz Education Conference, the Duke Ellington International Conference, the National Association of Music Merchants Conference, the Jazz Party At Sea aboard the S.S. Norwegian Sun, twice aboard the Queen Elizabeth II ocean liner for their Annual Floating Jazz Festival, and a concert tour of Italy.

Bob Lark Bio

Bob Lark serves as the Director of Jazz Studies at DePaul, teaches jazz trumpet, as well as courses in jazz pedagogy and jazz style. Dr. Lark also directs DePaul Jazz Ensemble and the Phil Woods Ensemble. Under his direction, the DePaul Jazz Ensemble has produced several Outstanding Performance Awards from Down Beat magazine, and has recorded albums with legendary

An annual recording project by the Jazz Ensemble featuring student, faculty, and commissioned works occurs each spring. These recordings have produced a number of awards from the Jazz Educator’s Journal, DownBeat, and JazzTimes magazines. The Jazz Ensemble has recorded a number of CD’s with legendary jazz artists, including Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim McNeely, Tom Harrell, Louie Bellson, Frank Wess, Jeff Hamilton, Ira Sullivan, Mark Colby, and Bobby Shew, as well as Chicago Symphony Orchestra members Charles Vernon and John Bruce Yeh and Charles Vernon for reference recordings.. 

Dr. Lark is an active clinician, and guest conductor, and his trumpet playing and writing are featured on numerous CD recordings, including Live At The Jazz Showcase by the Bob Lark/Phil Woods Quintet and Suggestions, both on the Jazzed Media label. In addition, Bob is the past-president of the Illinois Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators, has chaired the International Trumpet Guild jazz improvisation competition, served as the host for the 1999 Carmine Caruso International Trumpet Solo Competition, and throughout the 1990's directed the Midwest Grammy High School Jazz Band. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in performance from the University of North Texas, having earlier earned a Master of Music Education degree from the school, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University.