Chicago Beach Jazz
One of my new favorite things is the Jazz Institute of Chicago and their website. They do so many cool things for people who love jazz. They have all kinds of scheduled performances and concerts and do what they can to keep jazz alive in this town.
You may not realize that Chicago has beaches. We do. Granted, you can really only use them about three or four months a year, but we do have beaches and they are right downtown and on Lake Michigan and they are just as sandy and wet as the beaches you are likely to find along either coastline. We even have a beach volleyball tournament here every year. Most people seem to think that polar bears wander Michigan Avenue all year round in the Windy City.
Well, the Jazz Institute of Chicago has teamed up with the Chicago Park District to have a jazz performance on one of these Chicago beaches. From their website, the event is described as:
“This summer the Jazz Institute of Chicago has teamed up with the Chicago Park District to start a new program employing and mentoring a group of young jazz musicians for the summer. During a six week intensive program, this select group of 10 young musicians will work with a roster of local jazz all-stars who will mentor them for one week each. At the end of each week the Jazz Ambassadors perform at a different park in the city with their guest artist as a conductor.
Tonight’s concert will feature Ernie Adams as guest conductor. Mr. Adams who has performed with some of the greatest names in jazz including Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry. He has served as a Teaching Artists in our Jazz Links Artist in Residence program and performed at many of our JazzCity concerts including with Dee Alexander’s Evolution Ensemble, Bebop Brass, Ken Chaney’s Xperience Reunion and many more. He has been the house drummer for our Jazz links Jam Sessions at the Chicago Cultural Center for the past two years. Ernie Adam’s versatility and sensitivity as a drummer have made him one of the most sought after drummers in Chicago.”
Date: Friday, July 25, 2008 – 6:00pm
Tickets: This is a Free event.
Venue: 63rd Street Beach
6300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL
So, while the weather is still nice and before the polar bears start prowling Bloomingdales downtown, get outside and check out this cool free jazz show. It’s tonight!
Comments Off