Jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson will be performing on Saturday at the Evanston Township High School’s third annual Evanston Jazz Festival.

One of jazz’s greats, Ferguson has been performing since the 1950s and is famous for his impressive range on the trumpet. The 77-year-old has played in several big bands, including Jimmy Dorsey’s, before forming one of his own in 1957.

Since the late 1980s, Ferguson has been playing with his Big Bop Nouveau Band and going on tours worldwide.

Ferguson and his band will perform as part of the one-day festival’s evening concert at 7:30 p.m. in ETHS’s auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave. The concert will also feature ETHS’s jazz ensemble.

The opportunity arose by chance, said David Fodor, ETHS’s Director of Bands and the founder and director of the festival.

“I was sitting in my office and jokingly said, ‘Let’s get someone like Maynard,’ and several moments later, the phone rang,” Fodor said.

It was Ferguson’s agent, looking for a gig, and Fodor booked the trumpeter for the festival. Ferguson is currently touring the country giving performances at high schools and universities.

Ferguson also will conduct a master class for the high school students. The trumpeter drew many applicants to the festival, Fodor said. He said they were able to accommodate everyone.

At least 20 jazz ensembles from Illinois and Indiana, including ETHS’s three large jazz ensembles and several combos, will be at the performances and workshops, which are free and open to the public. Tickets to the concert are $25 and will be available at the door.

The festival begins at 8:30 a.m., with each ensemble performing a 45-minute set in front of an audience and judges. The panel of judges offers comments and constructive criticism but does not rank the groups.

“I want students who like to perform jazz to be able to do that in a non-competitive environment,” Fodor said.

At 4 p.m. Ferguson will conduct an hour-long rehearsal for the students. This is different from master classes at previous jazz festivals, which are run much like lectures, Fodor said.

“It will be an interactive rehearsal with Maynard at the helm,” Fodor said.

Members of one of ETHS’s jazz combos are looking forward to Saturday.

“It will be interesting to hear the other high school bands,” said alto saxophone player Alex Banzahaf, an ETHS senior.

The pressure of competition is not an issue, but this won’t affect the group’s performance, said drum set player Tim Fodor, who is the band director’s son.

“I don’t play differently, either way,” said Fodor, an ETHS senior .

Reach Anna Prior at [email protected].