1972/1973

During the 1972/1973 school year, John Garvey took a nine-month sabbatical "for the purpose of studying various ethnic musics of the world". According to the liner notes to the 1977 recording The Big, Wide World of Jazz, material encountered during this period influenced the selection of some of the material for that album.  (Additional details on this recording may be found in "The Albums" section.)

Before departing, it appears that Garvey led the band at a free "New Student Week" concert at in the Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, September 17.

On October 19, the band performed in the Festival Theater at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, under the direction of Howie Smith. Ron Dewar and Ken Ferrantino were also advertised to be participating.

On April 28, 1973, the band performed in the Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, sharing the program with guitarist Jim Hall and bassist Jay Leonhart. (Hall had performed the previous year in the Illini Spring Jazz Festival.)

Advertisement in the Daily Illini for the April 28, 1973 concert.