The Chicago Jazz Ensemble is bringing its big band brand of music to UW-Platteville. CJE will be performing at the Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. The 21-piece assembly, based at Columbia College in Chicago, is a combination of nationally-recognized musicians, university faculty and talented youngsters from the Chicago area.

The group is led by director Jon Faddis, who has been a part of the jazz and big band music scene for 30 years. Faddis has also served as the music director for the Grammy Award-winning Dizzy Gillespie’s
United Nations Orchestra. He also directed the 70th Birthday Big Band for Gillespie and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars Big Band after Gillespie passed away.

“This is a world class ensemble. It’s a major jazz orchestra,” John Hassig, UW-P director of performing and visual arts programs and facilities, said. “Jon Faddis is a legendary figure in jazz, and his mission to promote and preserve the music is exciting.”

The show is a combination of jazz standards. One of these is Happy 90th Birthday to Nat, Diz, Ella and Monk. The show is a tribute to the legendary singers Nat King Cole, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Thelonious Monk.

“This is different because it’s a big ensemble, a 21-piece band,” Hassig said. “We’ve had smaller groups, but this is the first big one. The show is unique with its 90th anniversary tribute to those artists who were born in 1917.”

“There’s nothing like the energy of live performance,” Hassig said. “The spark of energy is weird. Imagine that with 22 people playing some of the greatest songs ever. It’s a super high energy show, whether you like jazz or not.”

Tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for faculty and senior citizens, $12 for kids under the age of 18 and $16 for UW-P students with their student ID. Tickets can be obtained from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the University Box Office, located in the CFA, or by calling 608-342-1298.