C-U Jazz Crusaders

C-U Jazz Crusaders is a jazz, blues, funk, and Latin jazz ensemble featuring musicians from Champaign/Urbana and Chicago. The band performs music from both "The Jazz Crusaders" and "The Crusaders", which is an important jazz, blues, and funk band from the 1960s to the present day that featured Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Stix Hooper, and Wayne Henderson.
Trombonist and bandleader DAVE DICKEY is a professional trombonist living in Urbana, IL. Dave performs and records frequently in the Chicago, Indianapolis, and the Champaign/Urbana area. He has performed with well-known jazz and Latin artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente and Tito Puente Jr., Nestor Torres, Louis Bellson, David Sanborn, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, Jim Pugh, John Fedchock, Vic Damone, Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Eddie Santiago, Rey Ruiz, Huey Dunbar (DLG), and many others. Dave has also performed with the Temptations, O/Jay’s, Roberta Flack, and Denise Williams. Dave has taught jazz classes and ensembles at The University of Illinois and Richland Community College. He also leads his own 17 piece big band called the “Dave Dickey Big Band”, a funk and fusion-jazz band called “Weapons of Mass DisFunktion”, and co-leads the “Jim Pugh/Dave Dickey Quintet”. Dave received his BM in music from The University of North Texas, his MM in music from Florida International University, and completed his classwork for his DMA in jazz at the University of Illinois.
Saxophonist PHIL DOYLE began his music career at the University of Miami, where he performed as a the lead tenor and featured soloist in the world-renowned Concert Jazz Band. His first year, under the direction of Whit Sidener, Phil performed on the UM "Romances" album with Maria Schneider which was nominated for a Grammy. While at Miami, he was featured alongside artists such as Dave Leibman, Vince Mendoza, James Moody, Jim McNeely, Carmen Lundy, Maria Schneider, and many more. Taking a break from school, he toured with the popular KC and The Sunshine Band, as a featured soloist for 2 years. While on tour, he also performed with The Trammps, Martha Wash, and Gloria Gaynor at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl in L.A. and the Sydney Entertainment Center in Australia. Phil has performed on the NBC Today Show, the Ellen Degeneres show, and has played all across Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Kauai and The Cayman Islands, as well as most of the United States. He is currently finishing his degree at the University of Illinois, under Chip McNeil. He works frequently in the Chicago land area as a freelance musician and AFM member on various projects throughout the city.
Guitarist SHAWN PURCELL began his musical career in Pittsburgh, PA, playing with some of the leading contemporary jazz/fusion bands in the area. For 8 years, he was the guitarist and featured soloist with the premier United States Air Force “Airmen of Note” Jazz Ensemble based in Washington D.C. After leaving “The Note,” Shawn moved to Nashville TN where he performed and recorded at some of the finest venues in Music City, to include The Ryman, The Jazz Factory, Nashville Jazz Workshop and Nashville Public Radio. Shawn has backed up many well-known artists, such as Chester Thompson, Carl Allen, Jim McNeely, Eddie Daniels, Herbie Hancock, Conrad Herwig, Peter Erskine, Kirk Whalum, Dave Liebman, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Peabo Bryson, The Temptations, BeBe Winans, Quincy Jones, Kenny Rankin, and many others. Festival/Convention performances include the Toronto Jazz Festival, Pensacola Jazz Festival, Audio Engineers Society National Convention, International Association of Jazz Educators, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Midwest Bandmasters Association, International Trumpet Guild, and the Mellon Jazz Festival. Shawn can be heard on 13 recordings and numerous jingles. In addition to performing, Shawn travels throughout the U.S. giving guitar clinics, both professional (National Guitar Workshop) and college level and has held Adjunct guitar positions at George Mason University and MTSU (Middle TN State University). Shawn has a BM in music from Duquesne University, an MM in arranging and composition from MTSU and has recently moved to the Chicago area to work on his DMA at the University of Illinois.
Pianist CHRIS REYMAN is one of the top pianists, composers, and arrangers in the area. He has composed and arranged music for both big band, jazz small group, rock, and Latin bands. Chris has taught music classes at both the University of Illinois and at Milikan University. Not only has he worked with many local jazz, rock, and Latin bands, but he was also part of the rhythm section for the well-known saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman.
CHRIS NOLTE has been a freelance bassist and educator in the Central Illinois area for seven years. He is adept at playing jazz, but is at home in many other styles. Currently working on his Master's degree at the University of Illinois, Chris has become a staple of the Champaign-Urbana music scene. Chris performs regularly with the esteemed faculty members at the U of I and has had the privileged to work with Willie Akins, the Woody Herman Band, Slide Hampton, David "Fathead" Newman, and Chuchito Valdez.
Drummer JOSH HUNT is one of the top drummers for both jazz, classical, and funk in the area. He performs regularly with the Peoria Symphony and the CU Symphony, including classical ensembles in the Chicago area. He also performs regularly with jazz groups in the area such as Chip McNeil, Jeff Helgesen, Glenn Wilson, Chip Stephens Trio, and was also in the rhythm section for the well-known David “Fathead” Newman.
Vocalist Darden Purcell graduated from Virginia Tech, with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Jazz Performance, where she studied under Lisanne Lyons and Chip McNeill and performed in the DownBeat award winning group, “The New Virginians.” Upon graduation, Darden was selected for the United States Air Force Band, based in Washington D.C. where she was a featured vocalist in the rock/pop group “High Flight” and the jazz big band “The Airmen of Note.” Darden deployed with “High Flight” and “The Airmen of Note” as part of troop moral shows to Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Kuwait and Bahrain. She performed back-up vocals for nationally renowned artists including R&B star, Chaka Kahn, Bryan White, Freda and Sherrie Payne, Melba Moore, Rita Coolidge, Lari White, and BeBe Winans. She also performed back-up vocals on “The Late Show with David Letterman” in his yearly tribute to the troops. Darden honorably separated after her first enlistment from the Air Force and moved to Nashville, TN. In Nashville, Darden performed on Nashville Public Radio and was the alto voice in the jazz vocal quartet, “Third Coast Vocals.” Darden currently resides in Champaign, IL where she is pursuing her Masters (and is a fellowship recipient) in Vocal Jazz Performance at the University of Illinois.
TESTIMONIALS
The C-U Jazz Crusaders stole the show at the opening of our Fabtech Int. and AWS Welding Show on November 11, 2007. As the largest welding and fabrication event in North America more than 30,000 people visit this conference, so we wanted the halls buzzing before we opened those doors. The event was held at the McCormick Place in Chicago. Well, thanks to the C-U Jazz Crusaders we got that and much more. We were thrilled with the band’s memorable sound and talented musicians. Each instrument stood out from the rest and radiated melodic energy throughout each and every hallway. Not only was the band’s suggested song choice excellent, luring hundreds of eager listeners directly to the band’s stage, it also sparked just the right mood and excitement at the start of our most important annual conference. Dave Dickey and his band are amongst the most pleasurable team with which to work. They made the logistical set-up a breeze, providing our operations managers with diagrams of their stage and specific power needs. Setting a band stage can be a little frightening when you are unaware of instrument and power lingo, but Dave made it simple and we are thankful that he could help to make the process smooth and care-free. Not only will I recommend this band to each of our partners and even personal friends, but we will undoubtedly call on them again when we are in need of musical talent. Thank you to C-U Jazz Crusaders for making this show opening one of the most memorable and electrifying in our 50-year history.
ADRIENNE ZALKIND, (Public Relations and Marketing Communications), A.W.S.
Hearing well-performed jazz music here in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois has been greatly responsible to Dave Dickey's efforts as a jazz trombonist and educator. I've heard him perform and lead several different groups in various venues with much pleasure. Dave's group, the C-U Jazz Crusaders, offers all the facets of jazz styles the Crusaders performed, and they give an evening of entertaining listening. The musicians are extremely talented, offering solos that leave a listener in awe. Their musical techniques add high quality listening to the C-U Crusaders, which makes the evening even more delightful.
JODY TRISLER, Jazz Promoter
View C-U Jazz Crusaders's EPK
PICTURES OF THE C-U JAZZ CRUSADERS

PICTURES OF THE ORIGINAL JAZZ CRUSADERS / THE CRUSADERS
THE CRUSADERS playing "Street Life" with special guest Randy Crawford on vocals. This song peaked 18 on the Billboard music charts in 1979.
The Crusaders featuring Joe Sample on "Carmel" (1986).