The Jazz Consortium Returns Big Band to Durty Nellie's

This Sunday, June 12 The Jazz Consortium band reunites to perform once again at Palatine’s Durty Nellie’s. Discontinued more than 30 years ago, the band’s custom of playing weekly at the venue dates back to the original Durty Nellie’s of 1975. The show begins at 7 p.m.

The band features a combination of 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 5 saxophones and a rhythm section.  

Roy Vombrack, alto/soprano saxophonist and band leader said although traditional Big Bands date back to the 1930s, Sunday’s show will not be an old-fashioned swing-dance event.  

“We will be playing the best of all eras, from Glenn Miller's ‘In the Mood’ to Chick Corea's ‘Spain,’ as well as exceptional compositions from band-members, from Swing to Jazz-Rock to Ballads,” Vombrack said.

Jazz Consortium originally teamed up when Vombrack, bassist/high school friend Dave Shore and a few other musician friends formed a jazz quartet. The group would later ameliorate into a big band based in the Palatine area.  

“The group mostly consisted of [Illinois educated] musicians with a love of Big Band music,” Vombrack said.

The Jazz Consortium split up in the early 1980s, around the time it would discontinue its regular performances at Durty Nellie’s (which was located a few blocks east of its current building). Consortium members carried on as professional musicians and/or educators.  

After The Jazz Consortium’s founders detached from the band, Vombrack lead the band through various jazz clubs and concert performances in and around Chicago, including an appearance at the Chicago Jazz Festival.  

“Back then we were playing Swing and Jazz-Rock music from modern Big Bands such as Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, and Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, as well as original numbers by band-members,” Vombrack recalls.

“Today we continue that mix, and are adding classic songs by more traditional Big Bands like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Count Basie.”

So how did the band resurrect itself after such an extensive hiatus?

Some months ago, Vombrack’s violinist wife, Jennifer Silk performed at a local holiday party and was approached by local club member Mike Meyers about a reunion with Vombrack.

Through Facebook’s ever-trusted networking interface, Vombrack and Meyers contacted members of the original Consortium team to develop a 35th anniversary reunion concert in Lake in the Hills.

“[The show] was such a success that we decided to find a venue to go back to playing regularly,” Vombrack said.

Durty Nellie’s in Palatine proved a likely choice to reconnect the band.

“We thought it would be fun to return to where we first started out,” Vombrack said. “Depending on how well-received our return is, Durty Nellie’s and I hope to make this a monthly event.”

Tickets for The Jazz Consortium can be purchased at the Durty Nellie’s door, 180 N. Smith St. Visit Durty Nellie's to learn about the show. For more information on The Roy Vombrack Orchestra and events, visit www.vombrack.com.