The United States Air Force of Mid-America’s
Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble
from Scott Air Force Base
The United States Scott Air Force’s Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble returns to Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park to perform their much-anticipated free concert Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 pm. These first-class musicians and vocalists are not to be missed, as this is their only stop in the south suburbs of Chicago. Audience members are invited to join in the fun spirit and wear their favorite shade of blue!
The concert will take place, no matter the weather. The concert is planned for the outdoor bandshell. Bring blankets and chairs for hill seating. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be brought indoors for everyone’s comfort and enjoyment, with theatre seating provided. Concessions will still be available in both cases.
Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble is an 18-piece band within Scott Air Force’s Band of Mid-America on tour of the Midwest. These talented service men and women will swing the audience back to the day of big bands, with the likes of Glen Miller and Count Basie, and through the decades to more modern jazz pieces, such as last year’s Santana number that had the audience on their feet. Some pieces may be heard for the first time, as this USAF jazz band is proud to showcase their very own accomplished arrangers and composers within the band. The evening will conclude with their special salute to audience members who have served in all the military branches.
Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble is under the leadership of Technical Sergeant Scott Sauer, who also commands an intense trumpet for three bands under the USAF Band of Mid-America, and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from Eastern Washington University.
Special to this Joliet tour, there will be two vocalists: Senior Airman Denver Murphy and Airman First Class Anneke Bentley.
Senior Airman Denver Murphy, of Marion, Illinois, holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration as well as a Minor in Music from Western Illinois University. He is an alumnus of the distinguished ECOEE program at WIU (2010) and is currently enrolled at Liberty University pursuing a Master of Arts degree. He is also a lead vocalist for Scott Airforce’s newest band Roots in Blues, an acoustic country/ folk ensemble.
Airman First Class Anneke Bentley, of Vermont, performs with the USAF Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band. She graduated in 2014 with Highest Honors from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Music. Already having worked with Broadway composers and lyricists, she plans on obtaining her Masters in Vocal Performance from Webster University.
As a group, they have entertained crowds for the Chicago White Sox, Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and New York’s Macy Independence fireworks. They have backed other great jazz entertainers and collaborated with actor Wilford Brimley on his acclaimed Major Glen Miller tribute. Their priority is performing and lifting the morale of their fellow troops at home and abroad. The band strongly supports music in the schools by teaching high school master classes, leading collegiate jazz clinics and voluntarily performing throughout the year. The golden rule for the SHADES OF BLUE is to “represent the excellence found every day throughout the United States Air Force.” The night’s concert is free, but to experience an evening with SHADES OF BLUE is priceless.
The free indoor concert is courtesy of Joliet Township Government, August entertainment sponsor for the 41st annual free “Concerts On the Hill.” Parking is free in and around the Park. Even with construction nearby, the main entrance off Jefferson Street is still accessible by using the left lane.
