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Arts & Entertainment

Primo Jazz, Battlefield Ballads, '40s Cabaret Shape Southland Stages

Chicago Heights Jazz Fest, Battlefield Balladeers, and the '40s hit University Park.

Chicago Heights

It’s hot. Maybe it’s way cool. Definitely it’s phenomenal. The Prairie State College Annual Jazz Fest Concert returns this month for its 23rd year.

In addition to the superb PSC Jazz Band directed by Valerie Nicholson, this jazzapalooza brings five mega jazz stars to the intimate PSC auditorium.

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Chicago’s legendary Orbert Davis on trumpet, stand-up bass player extraordinaire Larry Gray (passionate about and with his double bass), PSC’s pianist-professor- jazz celebrity Nicholson, New Orleans sax star Ed Petersen and Chicagoland’s Joel Spencer on killer drums come together for this once-a-year performance on a stage so close you can almost touch it.

I’m not exaggerating, and only death would keep me away from this event.

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If you enjoy jazz, treat yourself to a most inexpensive ticket, then sit back and enjoy. If you do go, please let me know what you think.

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18
Where: , 202 S. Halsted St. West side parking provides easy access.
Cost: $12, $8 for students and seniors
Tickets and information: 708-709-3500 and at the door

University Park

A 1940s-style cabaret evening, right onstage, features sax artist Frank Catalano and his quartet with program of jazz and blues.

When: 8 p.m. Feb. 19
Where: Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park
Cost: $37
Tickets and information: 708-235-2222 and www.centertickets.net

Mokena

Battlefield Balladeers perform music from the Civil War, including songs written for the war, popular music of the time, Stephen Foster favorites and more in a most unusual concert/history event at the Mokena Public Library.

Veteran acoustic folk artist and Civil War re-enactor David Corbett of Battlefield Balladeers said, "We decided to combine twin passions of history and music to create a musical act that would fill a void for history-related events.

"We introduce each song with a historic quote or reason why the song was important and/or popular," Corbett said.

He said the balladeers want audiences to involve themselves in the program as they listen to and pay tribute to American music.

Corbett said he has a "core group" of co-artists but added, "I never know who might show up."

When: 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 19
Where: , 11327 W. 195th St.
Cost: Free
Tickets and information: 708-479-9684 and www.mokena.lib.il.us

Tinley Park

At some point in their lives, many people suddenly sense they are unfulfilled, and a local artist has tackled that discovery in her exhibit aptly titled Unfulfilled.

Chicago Heights-based Diane McGarel’s artist’s statement notes, “While working on the exhibition Journey to Fulfillment, I began to realize one can never be completely fulfilled.”

McGarel will talk about her exploration of the concept of fulfillment next week and how she has focused her gallery exhibit on the concept.

Her program originally was scheduled for earlier this month, but the blizzard got in the way. Weather should not be troublesome this weekend.

When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 20
Where: , 7851 Timber Drive (meeting rooms A and B)
Cost: Free, reservations suggested.
Tickets and information: 708-532-9160, ext. 3

Chicago (Beverly)

Billed as a “high energy show exploding with style and attitude,” the World Famous Afrodisiacs take over the Beverly Art Center stage this weekend with music, dance, humor and for sure, a tribute to the disco era.

When: 8 p.m. Feb. 19
Where: Beverly Art Center, 2407 W. 111th St.
Cost: $20
Tickets and information: 773-445-3838

Chicago (Beverly)

Beverly Theatre Guild presents Cadillac, a new play by Chicagoan Bill Jepson. The drama focuses on ethical struggles a car salesman faces on the last business, as in sales, day of the month.

When: 8 p.m. Feb. 18 and 19, 2 p.m. Feb. 20
Where: Morgan Park Academy Arts Center, 2153 W. 111th St.
Cost: $20
Tickets and information: 773-284-8497

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