Listen to the RJO
That Old Black Magic
Skylark (Vocal)
Samba del Gringo
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| A UNIQUE BIG BAND IN TOWN Metro Chicago loves jazz. Soloists, singers, avante garde guerillas, and traditionalist "happy feet" combos all find a ready audience here. Part of that scene is one kind of unit that never seems to go out of style, and has no equal in generating an impact on listeners -- the BIG BAND. There are a lot of them out there. Add up the pros, the wannabes, and the students, and you'll find hundreds -- but NOTHING quite like the RJO! WHAT KIND OF REUNION IS THIS ANYWAY? All members of the RJO share a unique background. Every member is a �son of Notre Dame� � either from Notre Dame High School in Niles, Illinois, from that other Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, or both. All share a connection to, and a special affection for, the founder of both schools� jazz bands, Rev. George Wiskirchen, C.S.C. Fr. Wiskirchen was recently acknowledged as one of the "four most influential jazz educators of the last century." His high school band, �The Melodons,� whose members form the core of the RJO, was one of the first, and in its day the most significant, high school jazz band in the U.S. Out of this creative environment have come many well-known musicians, such as, Jimmy Pankow of the group Chicago, Grammy-nominee composer and pianist Jim McNeely, Dick Sisto, and a long list of Chicago music scene stalwarts including Dan DeLorenzo, John Kornegay, Bob Sutter, Joe Sonnefeldt, Dave Creighton, Mark Madsen, and Larry Mikeska. | The RJO is made up of metro Chicago ND alumni, with graduates ranging from 1960 to 1994. In its ranks are doctors and architects, executives and entrepreneurs, and information technology professionals. The RJO has a unique library of over 800 arrangements, with access to many more, among which are manuscripts offered to the band by the orchestras of Count Basie, Woody Herman, and Stan Kenton, just to name three. The RJO has as authentic a swing as you'll find anywhere, but it also plays ballads, progressive, some Latin, and even a little rock music. RJO performances also showcase the vocal stylings of a great singer, Jennifer Connelly. The RJO has performed at Navy Pier, Cantigny Estate, Oak Street Beachstro, Collegiate Jazz Festival, Del Webb Sun City, Veterans Memorial Band Shell, Papa's Sports Bar, Beau Jolie and a variety of benefits, dinners, and parties. |
