Faddis To Depart As CJE’s Artistic Director

The Chicago Jazz Ensemble will eliminate trumpeter Jon Faddis’ position as artistic director next season. Faddis, 56, has led the acclaimed repertoire big band based at Chicago’s Columbia College for the past six years, frequently commuting from New York for rehearsals and concerts.

Faddis joined the CJE in 2004, filling the void left by ensemble founder and leader William Russo, who died in 2003. “I think we made great strides musically from when I first joined the band,” said Faddis, whose contract with CJE concludes in August. “One of the things I will miss is working with young musicians in Chicago.”

“The college will always honor Jon’s extraordinary musicianship and celebrate the great strides the Chicago Jazz Ensemble made under his artistic leadership,” said Steven Kapelke, provost and senior vice president, Columbia College Chicago, in a prepared statement. “Jon has made a significant contribution to the CJE’s history, and we are hopeful that he will join the ensemble to conduct concerts in coming seasons.”

The CJE already has performances on the books for next season; Faddis indicated that it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to participate in those events.

Once his work with CJE is completed, Faddis said he looks forward to spending more time on small-group projects and fronting his Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York, a repertoire big band formerly known as the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. The Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra will perform a concert featuring vocalist Nnenna Freelon on New Year’s Eve at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
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