Campus Connection

An afternoon and evening of jazz on the banks of the Mississippi River are planned at the Third Annual Riverside Jazz Party Sunday, July 25. The one-day free festival features vocalist Janet Planet and the Great River Big Band along with The Jim Piela Quartet, Al Townsend’s Wonderful World Jazz Band and The Janet Planet Quartet. Guest Artist Janet Planet was hailed by Jazziz Magazine as a "Voice of the New Jazz Culture...amazingly powerful with seemingly limitless expression.” In her career, Planet has performed with legends such as Jackie and Roy, George Benson, and her mentor Nancy King. She has shared the stage with many other accomplished jazz artists including Ellis Marsalis, John Harmon, Gene Bertoncini and Marian McPartland. She has performed at arts centers, opera houses, colleges, universities, jazz festivals and jazz clubs across the US and internationally with appearances in Europe and Japan. The Riverside Jazz Party takes place on the band shell in Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse. Admission is free.  Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic to enjoy a great day of music. In case of rain the event will be held in Valhalla in the UW-L Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. The schedule includes:

• 3 p.m. — The Jim Piela Quartet
• 4 p.m. —  The Janet Planet Quartet
• 5 p.m. —  Rev. Al Townsend and The Wonderful World Jazz Band
• 6 p.m. —  The Janet Planet Quartet
• 7:30 p.m. —  The Great River Big Band with Janet Planet

The Great River Big Band is directed by UW-L?Music Department Chair Greg Balfany. For more information visit: www.greatriverbigband.com.