Drake Jazz Band heads to Europe

The Drake University Jazz Band is leaving today on a four-nation European tour. Drake’s director of jazz studies and band leader Andy Classen says his students are embarking on what he hopes will be a life-changing trip.The 18-piece band will play two shows at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Amsterdam, the world’s largest indoor jazz venue. The trip will also take them to France, Belgium and another jazz fest in England and a couple of London clubs. Classen says the band’s selections will range from swing to contemporary jazz. The band will return home in a little over two weeks. The band’s latest C-D called “Rush Hour” is available through “www.cdnow.com”.