Chicago Jazz Ensemble Artistic Director, Jon Faddis has been selected by the City of Chicago to perform the National Anthem for "Family Sports Night" during the 73rd Annual Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors. The annual conference is attended by more than 300 of the nation's Mayors and their families. Faddis will perform the Star Spangled Banner at U.S. Cellular Field during the White Sox/ Arizona Diamondbacks night game, Monday, June 13. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. and is open to the public.

Faddis, draws on over thirty years experience in performing with and conducting superb Jazz big bands such as Lionel Hampton's big band and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra). Faddis served as music director for Dizzy Gillespie's GrammyTM-award winning United Nation's Orchestra, for Dizzy Gillespie's 70th Birthday Big Band, and, after his mentor's passing, Faddis led the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars Big Band. Renowned for his leadership of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Faddis conducted over 40 concerts in ten years at Carnegie Hall, featuring over 135 musicians and 70 guest artists.

The Chicago Jazz Ensemble was founded in 1965 by the late jazz composer William Russo as a professional jazz orchestra in residence at Columbia College Chicago. The 20-piece orchestra is comprised of Chicago's jazz elite and its repertoire is derived from the early works of Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, King Oliver, and Jelly Roll Morton, as well as other jazz greats that forged the American jazz heritage.