Schaumburg Township District Library
Audiovisual Department Newsletter -- September, 2009

Jazzmin
Monday, September 21
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Audiovisual Theatre

Jazzmin
Sam DiCesare and Ron Koules

Jazzmin was born in the late 90s when three Chicago land musicians decided they needed a more avant-garde venue to play their improvisational music. Wide-open improv, an amazing synergy of performance and creative, interwoven melodic lines characterize their approach.

Ron Koules, an accomplished and soulful alto and tenor saxophone and bass clarinet player, began his studies in 5th grade but has made a lifelong study of music. Initially a player in school concert and marching bands, Ron played with the Knights of Soul during his college years and was a member of the Jazz Band at De Pauw University.

In the late 1980s and early 90s, Ron played with the Triton College Jazz Band, studying with Shelly Yolan as well as the FreeNotes, a Chicago area big band. During this period he also became a charter member of Seymour's Big Band, which presents an array of favorites from the 1920's through the Motown era. With Seymour's Big Band, Ron has played clubs, weddings, outdoor concerts, birthday, retirement and anniversary parties and proms as well as several recording sessions with the band. Ron is also the emcee for Seymour's Big Band, injecting his special brand of humor and love of music into the show. With his combo, Jazzmin, Ron is able to perform in a more intimate setting, focusing on his favorite jazz tunes. His interest in the jazz of Thelonius Monk, Dave Brubek, and Paul Desmond among others, has led him to study with Jamie Abersold in multiple jazz camps. While Ron has many interests, he is happiest when he has a saxophone mouthpiece clamped firmly in his mouth and an appreciative audience ready to be entertained.

Sam DiCesare enjoys playing jazz on the vibraphone. His greatest musical influences have been Gary Burton and Milt Jackson. He also plays drums semi-professionally in the Chicago area. Sam's day job is in computer engineering.

Arlene Cook

Arlene Cook has been playing the piano since age six, studying with several teachers including Herman Shapiro at DePaul University. For many years she has been a member of Seymour's Big Band which performs at the Oak Park Arms Retirement Community. Arlene also plays with two other big bands: The Moonlighters of west suburban DuPage Country for more than 25 years and the Larry Bemben Orchestra of Schaumburg, IL. She also performs in a trio setting with trumpeter Judy Bridges and Bassist Ron Hilger and occasionally with the Dick Elliot Orchestra as well as other small groups. Most of all, she enjoys entertaining people with her renditions of well-known standards and music from Broadway and movies.

Mike Maratea

Mike Maratea has been playing acoustic and electric bass in a variety of bands from duo to big band for 40 years. Performances include The House of Blues, Taste of Chicago, Summerdance, the Kentucky Derby and many other venues and events as well as performances in other major cities. In addition to free lance work with other Chicago area musicians and bands. Mike is a member of the Blue Zombies, a 5 piece band playing everything from 60's to now with all styles in the mix.

If you are interested in engaging Ron Koules for one of your functions, please contact Ron at (847) 356-2261 or by e-mail at koulesr@gmail.com.

Compact Disc Celebrates Its 27th Anniversary

On March, 1986, the Audiovisual Department added 456 new music CD's to its collection. Twenty-three years later, we now own well over 25,000 CD's on every genre imaginable.

Jointly developed by Holland's Royal Philips Electronics and Japan's Sony Corporation in the 70's, they eventually became the most popular album format by replacing the aging cassette and vinyl LP.

Now, the CD industry is noticing a decline in sales due to the growing number of options people have to consume music from the Internet. CD's won't disappear overnight, but its years may be numbered. Changes in technology have determined how long a standard will last. However, it was a solid, good standard and still is.

Come into the Audiovisual Department to browse our extensive collection or call the AV Information desk at (847) 923-3182 for assistance.

SUMMER PROGRAMS IN TOWN SQUARE

Once again, the library successfully completed the Town Square Outdoor Concert Series by presenting 11 events. This year marked our 11th anniversary, with June 1 as our kick-off day and August 10 as our conclusion.

These popular events will remain in our hearts and minds forever because we hired some of the best-of-the-best entertainers in the Chicagoland area. All the musicians were top-notch professionals, energetic and meticulously driven to perfection. The library wishes to thank all of the fine performers who so graciously agreed to play during one of Chicago's most picture-perfect summer seasons. Our heartfelt thanks go to:

New Colony Six
Special Consensus
Chicago Outskirts
Tenors 3
Limited Edition Big Band
Steve Anthony Orchestra
Yorkville Big Band
Teddy Lee Orchestra
Jay Witcher Orchestra
Steve Cooper Orchestra
Schaumburg Jazz Orchestra

And a special thank you to the following vocalists:
Carol Bennett
Richard Gersten
Oscar Menoyo
David Carmona
Paula Mrazek
Julie Ann Caselli
Carolyn Geraci
Bob Shipner
Peter Oprisko
Liz Goss
Henry Mitchell
Mary Kalfas
Melanie

Last but not least, I wish to thank all the patrons who took time out of their busy daily schedules to attend our concerts. The events would have never been a success without your support. It was truly an honor and a privilege to present these musical events to you. Our entertainers have expressed their love of coming to the Schaumburg Township District Library because of the wonderful reception they receive from the concert goers. It is because of each and every one of you that our programs have succeeded. Again, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you.

The concerts were presented in cooperation with the Village of Schaumburg and the Schaumburg Park District.

Joe Bongiorno and Louis Landon
Piano Concert
Sunday, October 4
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Audiovisual Theatre

Joe Bongiorno

Louis Landon

Solo pianist and composer, Louis Landon from Chestnut Ridge, New York, has dedicated his life to music. A well-rounded, magnetic personality combined with an obvious gift for performing a variety of musical styles opened the door for Louis Landon to tour extensively for three decades alongside some of the most recognized names in the entertainment industry.

Landon's musical range as a pianist has been highlighted over the years performing and touring with such mainstream names and international icons as Mikhail Baryshnikov, John Payne, Rupert Holmes, and John Hall. From classical repertoire to jazz, pop and rock, Landon has used his expressive gifts and talent to his full advantage for others.

Peacekeeper is the muse most recently peering over Landon's shoulder as he upholds a passionate belief that music is the most significant and likely medium to bring peace and harmony to a weary, and war-torn world. He realized a few years ago, stylistically it's his own music and the solo compositions that bring him so much joy and peace that resonates deeply with his audience.

Joe Bongiorno will be performing music from his new CD "Mesmerized" as well as classics from his other CDs. Arriving from Seattle, Washington after completing 21 concerts in 11 states, Joe plays straight from the heart, and his technique is absolutely stunning! In his capable hands the music never becomes tedious, as he utilizes the full range and nuances of the piano to paint a beautiful picture with an engaging sound. You are taken on a magical musical journey by Joe Bongiorno, and during that time your spirit will be allowed to explore that secret place which can be found Somewhere Within - the title of his newest album. This is music that is charming and inviting, and you will want to listen to it often!

Joe and Louis will improvise and create beautiful music on a grand piano provided by Piano Trends of Crystal Lake, IL.(More about Piano Trends on the lower right column). Albums will be made available for purchase by both artists before and after the performance.

If you are interested in engaging Louis Landon and Joe Bongiorno for one of your functions, please contact Louis Landon at (845) 356-4199 or by e-mail at louis@louislandon.com Visit his website at: www.louislandon.com Joe Bongiorno's email address is pianojoeb@yahoo.com. His website is: www.joebongiorno.com.

Big Band Bash for John Russell

Three bands will honor John Russell on Thursday, October 15 at the world famous Willowbrook Ballroom in appreciation for the dedication to the music of the Big Band era. With sincere gratitude from the many current local bands and musicians that he often features on his Midwest Ballroom program every Saturday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on 90.0 FM WDCB Public Radio, we ask you to join us as we the listening audience, the dancing public and the professionals of the musical world salute John Russell. Open dancing starts at 7 p.m. featuring the Weiss Brothers Orchestra, Steve Cooper Orchestra and the Jay Witcher Orchestra. This is a free event. Willowbrook is located at 8900 South Archer Avenue, Willow Springs, IL. (709) 839-1000. Website address is: www.willowbrookballroom.com.

Organ Concert with Bob Shipner
Harry Sackerson on Drums
Monday, October 19
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Audiovisual Theatre

Harry Sackerson and
Bob Shipner

This "High and the Mighty" musical duo originated many years ago, shortly after World War II. Bob Shipner, trumpet, organ and vocals and Harry Sackerson, drums and humor, began entertaining military veterans who were confined in the various hospitals in the Chicago area. These shows were sponsored and produced by the Red Cross. Eventually the duo branched out and began playing nightclubs and functions throughout the midwest. Their music runs the gamet from jazz to country with emphasis on the popular music of the 40s, 50s and beyond.

Bob Shipner worked with the Ralph Marterie Orchestra and recorded for Mercury Records as a vocalist. Bob was also an airline captain for Eastern Air Lines for thirty-five years. He is currently singing with the Yorkville Big Band, Vito Buffalo's Orchestra, the Skylarks and the Franz Benteler Royal Strings Orchestra.

Harry Sackerson played with a number of bands and groups throughout Chicago while also working as a banking executive in Chicago.

Bob and Harry will be doing salutes to various bands and bandleaders by playing their theme songs and some of their big hits. Bob will play Tommy Dorsey's theme song I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. You will hear Song of India, Marie, Sunny Side of the Street, and Errol Garner's Misty.

Bob and Harry will perform shorter salutes to Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Eddy Arnold, Ken Griffin's You Can't Be True Dear, and others. Thrown into this mix will be Latin music, a waltz or two and a couple of famous jazz tunes. We will also hear Bob sing a song or two.

Bob and Harry are dedicated to entertaining people of all ages and can guarantee an evening of good music, comedy and notalgia. You will not want to miss this entertaining and humorous program.

If you are interested in engaging Bob Shipner for one of your functions, please contact Bob at (847) 359-1331 or by e-mail at daordcaptain@aol.com.

FOLLOW AV ON TWITTER

Are you new to Twitter? Twitter (www.twitter.com) is a fast-growing, free messaging service for people.

Twitter lets people send and receive short messages (called Tweets) via the web or via SMS using a mobile phone. Messages on Twitter are limited to a maximum of 140 characters, including spaces and they are generally public. Because each message is just a sentence or two, a carefully crafted post can convey a good deal of information without taking a lot of time to read or write. Twitter is a great place to find and connect with our patrons. Twitter (www.twitter.com/STDLAV) will be our primarily information tool to announce our musical and movie events. Please consider signing up today.

If you wish to create your account, start at Twitter - www.twitter.com - and click on Get Started - Join! This next screen leads you to Join the Conversation. Fill in the form and click Create My Account. After setting up the account, you are left with a blank screen, so you need to come up with something to write. You may want to try a Search for the Schaumburg Library to see what people are tweeting about. When searching various departments, go to
www.twitter.com/STDLAV for the Schaumburg Audiovisual Department; www.twitter.com/stdlteen for the Schaumburg Teen Department; www.twitter.com/STDLReaders for the Readers Services Department.

Once you become familiar with the basics of Twitter, do some exploring on your own. Find your friends and make some new ones by using Twitter search, addressbook import, or URL look up; find people by name who currently use Twitter; find people using keywords, location, interests, and more; find people on other networks; familiarize yourself with the official Twitter text commands; and more. Join today, we would love to hear from you!

Piano Trends of Crystal Lake

For the October 4 piano concert, Piano Trends Music Company located in Crystal Lake, IL will provide a Baldwin grand piano. Co-owned by Tim and Bobbi Paul, Piano Trends is a unique full service store and Chicagoland's exclusive authorized piano dealership for Baldwin, Hamilton, Wurlitzer and Breitenbach Pianos. Take a look at their extensive Web site and the many celebrities they have helped over the years - www.pianotrends.com. It is quite impressive and very informative.

Shopping pianos at Piano Trends is a fun experience as they will show you their historic museum quality pianos and let the kids see a modern player piano demonstrate new features in technology. Stop in or call for a no obligation tour of their entire piano warehouse. Piano Trends just might start your interest to begin making music with their free lesson program that comes with each new piano. They are located at 35 Berkshire Drive, Crystal Lake, IL 60014-7700. Telephone them at
(815) 477-4266 for all music related equipment and music teachers.

MOVIES AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY

"Love is sharing your popcorn" - Charles Schultz

Don't let summer slip away without a proper send-off. The calendar tells us that the seasons change in mid-September, but we all know that the unofficial end to summer is Labor Day. So before the routines and formality of autumn set in, enjoy one last casual summer party to say farewell to the lazy days of summer by watching a great movie at your local library. With a little planning, you can call the Audiovisual Department (847) 923-3182 to find all the recently released movies we've planned to provide entertainment for the month of September, learning and perhaps even a little bonding during these cooler days. Watching movies indoors in a very family-friendly environment can be both therapeutic and invigorating. We not only provide comfortable seating but after the movie, you will receive a bag of microwave popcorn. Drinks can be brought into the department by stopping in the library’s own Cafenios Café. Get a 10% discount by selecting one of the special drinks advertised on the poster in the AV Theatre area. Sorry no food allowed. The best thing is - it's all free! Check out the times and dates for movies at the Central Library Audiovisual Department. Here is the listing of the variety of films we have chosen for September. The Audiovisual Department invites you to join us on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. to view a feature film rated G, PG, or PG-13.

Wednesdays at 7p.m.
September 2 - Jonas Brothers Concert Experience,, 2009, G, 76 minutes. Join the brothers for excerpts from the Burning Up Concert including behind teh scenes footage of off-the-wall segments.
September 9 - Escape to Witch Mountain,, 1975, G, 97 minutes. Two psychic orphans head to Witch Mountain to escape evil and discover their identities.
September 16 - Return From Witch Mountain, 1978, G, 94 minutes. The two human-looking teens return to Earth for a vacation.
September 23 - Race to Witch Mountain, 2009, PG, 99 minutes. A cab driver and two mysterious teens share an adventure in an area known for unexplained phenomena and strange sightings.
September 30 - Hannah Montana, the Movie, 2009, G, 102 minutes. When stardom threatens to take over Miley's life as a pop sensation, her father takes the entire family back home to the country.

Thursdays at 2p.m..
September 3 - Fast and Furious, 2009, PG-13, 107 minutes. Dom, a fugitive, must team up with one-time friend Brian, an FBI agent to find a loved one's killer.
September 10 - Valkyrie, 2008, PG-13, 120 minutes. Based on the true story of Claus von Staffenberg and his ingenious assassination plan targeting Hitler.
September 17 - Pink Panther 2, 2009, PG, 92 minutes. Clouseau joins a dream team to bring the master thief, who is stealing great treasures of the world, to justice.
September 24 - Duplicity, 2009, PG-13, 125 minutes. Two spies attempt to pull off one of the biggest heists ever and trying to remain one double-cross ahead of the rest.

Saturdays at 2p.m.
September 5 - Bring It On Again, 2003, PG-13, 92 minutes. Two girls take a ragtag bunch of misfits and turn them into a squad willing to take on the current squad for championship.
September 12 - Bring It On, All Or Nothing, 2006, PG-13, 99 minutes. Teen cheerleader is forced to move to a modest community. Can she get past the evil Camille and cheer again?
September 19 - Bring It On, In It To Win It, 2007, PG-13, 90 minutes. A high school senior falls for one of the rival cheerleaders while leading her team to victory.
September 26 - Bring It On, Fight To The Finish, 2009, PG-13, 95 minutes. With the stakes higher than ever, Lina hatches a scheme to take her team to the top and prove they are true champions.

Children age 8 and under need to be accompanied by an adult. No registration, no fee required. Please join us.
Reminder: The library will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2009.

-- Maureen Fencl

Midwest Ballroom with John Russell Ghrist 90.9 FM WDCB Public Radio

WDCB is a non-commercial, public radio station broadcasting continuously to northeastern Illinois. The station is known for its diverse music programming: jazz, folk, reggae, world, classical and "Midwest Ballroom." Now in its ninth year, "Midwest Ballroom" is hosted by John Russell Ghrist. It is heard Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. over 90.9 FM WDCB in digital HD and features Chicago area big bands and musicians. The station is owned by the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL and can be heard throughout Chicago and the suburbs, as well as on the Internet by going to www.WDCB.org. Listeners may contact John Russell Ghrist at P.O. Box 1073 Dundee, IL 60118 or via e-mail at midwestballroom@yahoo.com. Additional information on upcoming music events and dances can be found at www.yorkvillebigband.com.

Midwest Ballroom Schedule for September, 2009

Sept. 5 - NEW RELEASES - Every first show of the month, we play tunes from the latest new CD's that we have received. These are fresh new versions of the standards performed by local, territory and national big bands and singers.

Sept. 12 - MEDLEYS I - Two hours of big band dance music played by local and well-known orchestras. Many of the selections are performed in medley style, perfect for dancing or for listening.

Sept. 19 - HOT WAX WEEKEND - The best new versions of songs from the 50/60's, performed by local and national big bands and singers. Listeners are sure to enjoy these updated versions of tunes from this great era of music.

Sept. 26 - MEDLEYS II - Two more hours of great dance music played and performed by local and national big bands and singers.

Midwest Ballroom is Chicagoland's only big band and easy listening music show and is hosted by John "Radio" Russell Ghrist. The program airs on Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. on Public Radio from College of DuPage 90.9 FM WDCB in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The show is also heard worldwide on the Internet at wdcb.org. Midwest Ballroom has been on WDCB for the past nine years.

On October 15, 2009 John will be honored for his big band radio show during a special free dance at the famous Willowbrook Ballroom in Willow Springs, IL. The Weiss Brothers Orchestra, Steve Cooper Orchestra and Jay Witcher Orchestra will play for an hour each during the evening which starts at 7 p.m. Barbara Marik, AV Information Coordinator/Music Programmer for the Schaumburg Township District Library, will make a special presentation. Midwest Ballroom listeners and those who enjoy ballroom dancing are invited to attend the event.

Upcoming shows on Midwest Ballroom will also include highlights of these recent events...Dick Gulbrandsen's Limited Edition Big Band playing at the National Night Out Concert at the Addison Gazebo....The Steve Cooper Orchestra's Big Band Broadcast and Your Hit Parade Show at the LaGrange Park Band Shell...Chuck Schaden's Lifetime Achievement Award reception at this year's Radiofest sponsored by the Antique Radio Club of Illinois, the Association of Professional Orchestra Leader's annual dance and banquet with Ted Hogarth with the Gerry Mulligan Mosaic Big Band and an interview with Bill Morris of the Windy City Harmonicats.

Musically Yours,

Barbara R. Marik