Founded by distinguished composer and conductor William Russo, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble (CJE) was established in 1965 as a professional jazz orchestra in residence at Columbia College Chicago. Under the leadership of Russo CJE quickly established a reputation for groundbreaking performances. Early in its history, CJE became the first ensemble, other than Duke Ellingtons own band, to perform an Ellington score, collaborating with the composer for a performance of his First Sacred Concert. CJE cemented its reputation through a number of significant local, national, and international performances, including a concert at Chicagos Orchestra Hall with the Dave Brubeck Quartet; an appearance at the Montreal Jazz Festival; and a tour of Italy, featuring a joint performance with the Art Ensemble of Chicago at Fanos noted Jazz-By-The-Sea Festival. In 1997, CJE world-premiered the first-ever live concert of the landmark Gil Evans/Miles Davis recording Sketches of Spainafter co-commissioning a reconstruction of Evans lost scoreand later reprised the concert with jazz trumpeter Orbert Davis for a 2002 documentary by the National Jazz Museum. In 2002, CJE and guest artist Buddy De Franco reenacted Benny Goodmans legendary 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert for a sold-out audience at the Teatro Manzoni in Milan, Italy. In 1999, with the support of a challenge grant from McCormick Tribune Foundation, CJE inaugurated its first subscription programming, the American Heritage Jazz Series, and established a regular, annual performance schedule. Drawing its core repertoire from Americas rich and unique jazz heritageencompassing well-known and rarely-performed works by such acknowledged masters as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Bix Beiderbecke Jelly Roll Morton, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Miles Davis, Gil Evans, and William Russothe American Heritage Jazz Series has included a rare performance of Ellingtons Black, Brown and Beige (200001), as well as collaborations with such noted guest artists as Lennie Niehaus, Bill Dobbins, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Clark Terry, Joe Lovano, Johnny Frigo, Franz Jackson, Corky Siegel, and Orbert Davis. CJE has also regularly highlighted works by living composers, and in 200304 presented the world premiere of Slide Hamptons Africa Suite. During Russos tenure, CJE also released two commercial recordings, Chicago Jazz Ensemble (1997) and Kenton ? la Russo (2000). With the passing of William Russo in 2003, CJE entered a new phase in its history, and in September 2004 appointed trumpet virtuoso, composer, and conductor Jon Faddis as its new Artistic Director. Under his leadership, CJE established a strong commitment to fostering new works, and has commissioned and world-premiered numerous compositions and new arrangements, from diverse composers including Slide Hampton, Bill Holman, Frank Foster, Michael Philip Mossman, Jim Gailloreto, T.S. Galloway, Tom Garling, Bob Ojeda, Thomas Gunther, and Edward Wilkerson. CJE also appeared by invitation in such notable events as the 2005 Chicago Jazz Festival, Made in Chicago: A Jazz Celebration at Millennium Park, the 2006 Jazz at Symphony Center Series, and the 2006 Ravinia Festival. In 2007 the CJE presented its Eighth American Heritage Jazz Series at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. The season featured among other things a special Jazz Ballet commission presented in coloration with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, a performance with vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, and a surprise performance with trumpeter Clark Terry. In addition to the Harris Theater series the CJE held a series at the Black Orchid Supper Club that featured saxophonist Jimmy Heath, a Women in Jazz program, and an evening of Big Band Jazz.

To connect people everywhere to the passion, creativity, joy and rhythms of Big Band Jazz through outreach, education and performance.

CJE accomplishes its mission through the following efforts: performance (the American Heritage Jazz Series which brings distinguished jazz artists from around the world to partner with ensemble members, as well as performing new commissions from a variety of composers); outreach (CJE's season also includes a number of reduced-price community concerts, as well as programming and performance collaborations with other local artists and organizations, such as the Chicago Jazz Institute, the Midwest Clinic, and the Louis Armstrong Foundation); education/mentoring ( Domestically, CJE members participate in a variety of educational initiatives in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools, including working in partnership with the Jazz Institute in mentoring students in the Jazz Links, the CJEs Jazz Mentors Program, and its Jazz Master Class). In addition the CJE participates in a number of international exchange programs with facilities all over the world. Currently there are mentorship exchange programs with The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, the Sant Anna Arresi Jazz Festvial in Sardinia, Italy and discussions are currently in the works for a program with the Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Rome, Italy for the Summer of 2008.