Illiana Club of Traditional Jazz

All concerts at:THE GLENDORA 102nd and Harlem,Chicago Ridge, IL 2-5:00 pm Prices will vary according to the band. Students with ID - free INFORMATION: www.illianajazz.com To reserve tickets up to the day prior to concert, call Herta: 708 672-3561, email Debbie dmheer@gmail.com or write to P.O. Box 1459, Oak Park, IL 60504

Jack Meilahn

Born: Thu, Feb. 13, 1936 Died: Fri., Sep. 15, 2017

Armin John(Jack) Meilahn age 81 of Naperville, Illinois, passed away Friday September 15, 2017 at the Edward Hines Jr. Hospital Hospice Center. He was born in Oak Park Illinois on February 13, 1936.

Jack is survived by his sister Shirley Ann Koch of McHenry, Illinois, Ruth Louise Lafreniere(Robert) and Helen Carol Cox(Butch) both of Wild Rose Wisconsin, as well as many nieces, nephews and a large extended family. His brother Ronald Allen Meilahn, sister in law Marilyn Gail Meilahn (Cowell), brother in law Max N. Koch and his parents preceded him in death.

He is also survived by his former wives, Frances L. Anderson and Judith P Meier, and his loving friends, Amy Bywater and Shirley O’Daniell.

Jack attended Saint James School and was a 1959 graduate of Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. He earned a scholarship in wrestling and attended Purdue University.

Following his time in the US Army from 1959 until 1961, where he played French horn in the army band, he attended Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois and received a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. He worked as a therapist for over 50 years.

He had many hobbies during his life including go-kart and sport car racing, airplane flying, and repairing all kinds of cars. Jack was forever fixing things; sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn’t. His garage had a name: Von Rupp’s Garage. If anyone on his many friends entered that garage, they realized they were in a man’s garage with things scattered all over. Jack’s Motto was “boys and their toys”, and he had many.

However, his main love was music. Jack was very talented and could play the ukulele, violin, guitar, and French horn. But his favorite instrument was the banjo. He was a member of many bands during his life. These include: The Windy City Band, Samuel Dent Memorial Jazz Band, Red Rose Ragtime Band, Varsity Ramblers, Chicago Rhythm and the Hotel Edison Roof Orchestra. He was a charter member of Bill Bailey’s Banjos and he taught much area Chicago area banjo players. He was part owner of the Red Arrow, a popular jazz nightclub in Stickney, Illinois.

Jack will be laid to rest at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois during a private service.

Submitted by: Russ - A video of Jack playing solo on the Naperville Riverwalk last summer.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=15bMcpddR2k

November 5, 2017

2-5 pm

Red Rose Ragtime Band

Deceased members:2nd from left: Jack Meilahn and 3rd from right Wayne Jones)

replacing them are: Jim Barrett on banjo and Steve Torrico on drums

Joan Reynolds, piano/leader

Art Davis, trumpet

Tom Bartlett, trombone

Kim Cusack, clarinet/alto sax,

Jim Barrett, banjo,

Steve Ley, tuba,

Steve Torrico, drums,

Piano/Leader: Joan Reynolds.

Joan Reynolds’ 30-plus year tenure as leader of this group has made her a noteworthy figure among women in early jazz in Chicago. More important, her band plays classic ragtime and historic jazz fare with verve and scholarship. They consistently respect the conventions of music conceived nearly a century ago. Their repertoire includes many colorful and seldom heard tunes played in classic ragtime orchestral style, with perhaps a touch of Turk Murphy. The tempos chosen by Reynolds and company avoid the hurried pace that often characterizes modern versions of vintage ragtime. The generally leisurely pace allows every melodic strand and rhythmic detail to be heard and savored.

Art Davis Trumpet: A professor of Music in Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University and one of the most accomplished jazz trumpeters in Chicago.

Kim Cusack, clarinet and alto sax is a veteran player in demand all over the Chicago area. A member of the Salty Dogs J.B. since 1959, Kim has played all over the country with outstanding traditional jazz bands.

Steve Ley, Tuba,. He has played with many bands throughout the Midwest including the St. Louis Ragtimers, Waldo’s Gutbucket Syncopators, and Village Tavern Jazz Band.

Jim Barrett, banjo: Jim is a much in demand master of the banjo and jazz guitar, playing all over the Chicago area. He plays banjo and records with many trad bands, including Andy Schumm’s Flatland Gang, Ralph Norton’s Studebaker Champions and International Banjo events.

Tom Bartlett Trombone: Tom is a charter member of the Red Rose Ragtime Band, a longtime member of the Salty Dogs Jazz Band and has played and /or recorded with the Yerba Buena Stompers, Varsity Ramblers, South Frisco J.B., and Bob Schulz’s Frisco Jazz Band.

Steve Torrico: drums, originally from upstate New York, is known for providing solid reliable rhythm for several local bands as a drummer specializing in playing their traditional style of jazz.

www.redrosejazz.com

Tickets for above concert:

$18 in advance

$20 at the door

December 10

The Fat Babies at the Illiana Jazz Christmas Dinner Dance

$45