The Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival is boosting the profile of jazz and live music in the community this year through a series of concerts for local students. A $10,000 Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts supported a seven-stop Jazz in the Schools Tour, featuring the Daniel Leahy Group.

"They're an all-star group of regional jazz artists who gave seven free concerts for students in Galesburg and Knoxville," said Nikki Malley, of the jazz program, associate professor of music at Knox College and the festival's musical director. "The kids were incredible audience members and the band did a beautiful job of bringing jazz to life for future jazz lovers."

Led by pianist, composer, and arranger Daniel Leahy, the group features David Hoffman, trumpet; David Graf, trombone; Andy Crawford, bass; and Manuel Lopez III, drums.

In advance of the 2015 Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival on April 9-11, The Daniel Leahy Group performed April 1-2 at Nielson, Silas Willard, Steele, Gale, and King elementary schools in Galesburg and Knoxville High School in Knoxville. The group performed and worked with the student jazz band at Churchill Junior High School, and gave a free, public concert at Knox College.

Above, the Daniel Leahy Group at Knox College and Churchill Junior High School.