This is a video clip of the Midsummer Night Swing when Illinois Jacquet gave his final performance on July 16 2004 at Lincoln Center in New York. He died 6 days later on July 22 at his home in Queens, N.Y., of a heart attack. He was 81.
omg, he should have been a lot more famous. I had never heard of him (just a passing jazz fan, I am) until I saw him (only once!) at either the Chicago Jazz Festival or Ravinia sometime in the 90s. I absolutely loved his sound. He seemed to be keeping the true jazz big band sound alive. A little like Basie, only a more professional, slicker, fuller orchestration. RIP Illinois Jacquet.
He and Willis Jackson are the two groovinest sax players ever in my book.
B0FF01 1 year ago
Right to the end. How wonderful.
B0FF01 1 year ago
Sounding big right to the end.
gcrav 1 year ago
@xxxomehgawdxxx
That's awesome!
B0FF01 1 year ago
r i p ...not a close relationship to my grandfather..but he did they damn thang with that sax.....love u
angel j.
914daddy 1 year ago
Does anyone remember him in Bridgeport CT.
at Racaski Hall?
scawaf45 1 year ago
omg, he should have been a lot more famous. I had never heard of him (just a passing jazz fan, I am) until I saw him (only once!) at either the Chicago Jazz Festival or Ravinia sometime in the 90s. I absolutely loved his sound. He seemed to be keeping the true jazz big band sound alive. A little like Basie, only a more professional, slicker, fuller orchestration. RIP Illinois Jacquet.
Baritone45 2 years ago
wow well you sure have missed out on a lot
TheRumster 2 years ago
belive it or not but this guy is my great uncle i had no idea he was this famous
xxxomehgawdxxx 2 years ago
Proud of you. I remember seeing Oscar Peterson performing alone on TV. He didn't need anyone to back him up, Tremendous!
panzerschnott 2 years ago