Festival jazzes up downtown Naperville

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is playing the 2007 Jazz Fest in Naperville. Where: Naperville Community Concert Center at Central Park, 104 E. Benton Ave.

6 p.m. to 10 p.

m. on Friday "Jazz, Jump and Jive" featuring Ken Karlson, Brienn Perry Group, Hector Silveira and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 3 p.m.

to 10 p.m. on Saturday Why: Benefitting the Heritage YMCA Group's Strong Kids Campaign, Autism Speaks and Cure Autism Now The swing band, known for their hits "Go-Daddy-O" and "You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight," has the kind of panache and energy found in some rock bands, but their tune is just right for jazz.

"I think we've definitely grown over the years. We've got better. We still do a lot of the music we do when we began, but I definitely think we've matured and grown up a lot," said Glen Marhevka, who plays trumpet in the seven-man band that has been dubbed the "Kings of Swing.

" "I would say that you learn to play at an intensity and style for your audience. Even if you're a rock band in a small club, you play with a different intensity than at an outdoor concert in front of thousands. So no matter the style of music, you should play to the audience.

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Marhevka and the rest of the band will perform in Naperville as part of the Lexus of Naperville Jazz Festival that takes place this weekend. Friday's show will run from 6 p.m.

to 10 p.m. and feature the Naperville Big Band Ensemble followed by Ramsey Lewis and the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Saturday's show will run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.

m., featuring Ken Karlson, Brienn Perry Group, Hector Silveira, along with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Tickets are $36 for reserved seats and $19 for general seats, and can be purchased at www.

ticketmaster.com. Proceeds from the festival will go toward the YMCA'S Strong Kids Campaign to provide free assistance for families who need child care.

Funds will also go to help families with autistic children through the Cure Autism Now and Autism Speaks Organizations.
The event is expected to sell out, according to organizers.
Marhevka, who spoke to The Sun by phone while on tour, said he isn't surprised by jazz's popularity among younger listeners.

"I'm not sure how to answer that question because nothing really surprises me," he said. "It was sort of interesting because along the West Coast (California), we saw this sort of movement for swing music and jazz. So we kind of developed this little interest for a while and suddenly it started to become popular in California.

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It wasn't until 1996 that the band's popularity became national, then appearing in the popular movie, "Swingers," where they performed their hit song "Go Daddy-O." The movie, starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, helped put jazz and swing dancing back on the map, Marhevka said.
"The movie was a huge catapult for jazz," he said.

"It kind of led to our music being played more on the radio and, really, there was no turning back."
As the band's popularity grew, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy got more opportunities to perform among jazz legends such as Lewis.
"It's pretty amazing.

I think I get those moments where I just want to pinch myself," he said. "But the seven of us have been playing together for so long now, that you get exposed to so many people and pick up the great things they do. That's how we've got better.

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The jazz festival event is sponsored by WNUA 95.5, The Naperville Sun, Naperville Magazine, Oxford Bank and Belgio's Catering. Visit www.

napervillejazz.com or call 630-420-6270. Contact Mike Mitchell at or 630-416-5279.