A very grateful group of Jazz fans were blown away Saturday night at Swingers Grille by Glen Wilson and his jazz group. Glen is always World Class and brings the best musicians to Swingers. Saturday night he had the amazing Chip Stephens on piano. If you haven't heard Chip you must do so. He is just the best. Richard Drexler from Clearwater Florida, who was outstanding at Jazz on the ISU Quad (on piano) was equally as good Saturday on bass. To round out the quartet Glen brought in World Class drummer Joel Spenser from Chicago. Many of you may remember Joel from the John Campbell Concert at ISU put on by the Heartland Jazz Orchestra. Bloomington's most senior jazz star Ralph Clarke also sat in on flute.The food was great, the atmosphere terrific and the music was unbelievable.Glen Wilson is back at Swingers Grille on Sept 7th (Friday). Who knows who he will bring next time. (Performance from August 11,2007)

Saturday night at Swingers was not just prom night. Glen Wilson and his outstanding Jazzmaniacs were giving another sensational evening of jazz. Along about 8:30 who walks in but John Campbell. For those of you who do not know John Campbell, first of all Shame on you. Second , Bloomington native John Campbell spent many years as the personal pianist for Mel Torme. He has played with all the greats out of New York and California. Currently he plays at Herb Alpert's club outside of Las Angeles. John was in Chicago playing with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra. He came to Bloomington to see his parents. Glen asked John if he would be so kind as to sit in with his group. From there on it was goose bumps. What a talent!!!!! When you put a world class sax player and a world class pianist together in one room you have magic. That is what happened at Swingers. For the price of Chicken Cesar Salad you got some of the best jazz in the country. Glen will be back at Swingers on the 11th of May. Wonder who will sit it that night??????? (Performance from April 28,2007)

In over 40 years of watching jazz I thought I had seen it all until Saturday night at Swingers Grille.
Glen Wilson brought several friends from the Univ of Illinois that turned out to be just sensational jazz musicians.
I had never seen any of them before. It was a true Jazz Happening. He had Chip Stephens on piano. I understand he teaches piano at the university. He was incredible. Somehow he was on the exact wavelength the Glen was. It made for some very memorable music. His rhythm included Chris Nolte on bass who played very well and Josh Hunt a very fine drummer. There was a very good tenor sax player with the group who was not on Glen's note about the gig so I do not know his name. He told Robbi that he was from Miami and was taking lessons from Chip McNeill. I was able to sit next to Robbi at the bar directly in front of the band so the sound was outstanding. I was about to leave after the second set when over my sholder I saw Chip McNeill coming in with his sax case over his shoulder. That was too much to pass up so I had to stay. The final set was better then anything I have heard in New York or Chicago or anywhere for that matter. The person next to Robbi is a big jazz fan and he kept patting his heart as to how much he loved the music. The people who were there to listen to the group were very vocal and really got the band rocking. I will not soon forget that Saturday night. I just wish you were all there to hear it. The schedule says that Glen is playing at Swingers again on March 30. I do not know if it is the same group. All I can say is that if it is you all need to be there. Maybe Glen will let us all know who will be with him on the 30th.
Regards, Bruce Gold (Performance from March 10,2007)