Jazz Lab Band

The NIU Jazz Lab Band, under the direction of Rodrigo Villanueva, is the Laboratory Jazz Big Band at NIU. This group performs advanced and intermediate material covering a wide variety of jazz styles, including new works composed and/or arranged by NIU faculty and students.

The group has performed with several international artists, including Allen Vizzutti, Fareed Haque, Liam Teague, Art Davis, Tom Garling, and Wayne Bergeron.

The Jazz Lab Band regularly participates in jazz festivals and competitions, and performs at least six concerts per academic year.  In 2010 the Lab Band was featured at the Illinois Music Educators Association All-StateConference.  The group won first place in the College Jazz Big Band division at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Jazz Festival in 2010 and 2008.  It has received outstanding recognition at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival many times, most recently during the 2005 and 2006 editions of this renowned event.

In the Winter of 2008 the Lab Band went on tour to Mexico for the first time, participating at the first JazzUV International Jazz Festival and at the 14th San Miguel De Allende Jazz And Blues International Festival.

For concert schedule and updates visit: www.myspace.com/niujazzLABband