Jazz and Blues Lounge

Enjoy the Festival

by balaspa on August 31st, 2007

Well, it is finally here.  The 29th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival is officially here.  Techincally, it kicked off last night, but really, the festival doesn’t get swinging until tonight.  There is plenty of music in Grant Park tonight and you can find my articles about the festival and schedule throughout this blog.  You can also find more information here and here.  

One thing you need to keep in mind, however, is that there are other shows going on around town.  You may want to keep an eye on the Velvet Lounge, for example.  It seems to have some of the most active post-festival activities going on. 

Tonight, Friday,the Velvelt Lounge welcomes Eight Bold Souls with Fareed Hacque.  On both Saturday and Sunday, you can find performances of Kid Jordan.  On Saturday Kid Jordan will be joined by club owner and jazz legend Fred Anderson, Harrison Bankhead, and Hamid Drake.  Eight Bold Souls will also play on Sunday.

Elastic, another jazz performance area, also has lots of music throughout the weekend.  Dave Maraslek and the Chicago Junglebop Syndicate will play on Friday (tonight). 

Quite honestly, the list of clubs that have performances for these musicians after the fest goes on and on.  I put a link near the top of the page toward the Chicago Reader and their Jazz Fest Guide.  If you look to the right side of that page, they have an extensive listing of the various clubs.

My recommendation?  Check out the Festival in Grant Park during the day.   Then, you simply cannot go wrong with the Velvet Lounge, provided you can get into the place.  It’s still about the best place in the entire city to see jazz played the way you imagine jazz should be played.  It’s small and intimate.  You could find yourself talking to a jazz musician before the night is over.

Most of all, enjoy.  Jazz is meant to be enjoyed.  Close your eyes, move with the music, enjoy the gorgeous weather that is predicted for this weekend here and hang out in one of the coolest cities in the world.

Then write me and tell me about it.  ;-)

POSTED IN: Chicago, Festivals, jazz, jazz clubs