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!

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

For me, my all-time favorite Charles Mingus tune is called “Haitian Fight Song.” You will be hard-pressed to find a tune that builds in intensity quite like that one. By the end the music is blasting and the musicians are yelling and, well, you really are ready to go and fight someone, Haitian or otherwise.

Charles was an interesting guy. He was an intimidating looking man. On most of his album covers he never seems to be smiling and he was a very large man. His chosen instrument was the stand-up bass and that takes a bear of a man to play it the way he did.

Not only was he a great writer and player of music, he was a leader. He often put together legendary bands and he was a man with an eye for up and coming talent. Heck, there is still a Charles Mingus Big Band that shows up places like the Chicago Jazz Festival and blows the house down and Charles has been long gone for some time now. It is still a name that brings out the best in people and finds the young talent.

So, for your Monday, relax. Don’t worry so much about work right now or getting the kids off to school or whatever it is that is occupying your mind. Take ten minutes and watch the video below, or just sit back and listen. It’s mellow, and it’s jazz at its best and it’s a great way to start off your Monday…a Mingus Monday.

And just because I mentioned it, here is “Haitian Fight Song.” There’s no real video here, so just listen to it. This should get the blood pumping for you.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

I am sort of stealing this from another b5media blogger. By the way, please view that blogroll to the right. These guys are all passionate and dedicated and some of the coolest people you are likely to find. They love music and it shows. So, if you love music, check them out.

So, I did a random check in MySpace for some Chicago Blues musicians. The very first guys I ran across, the Chicago Blues Angels, just about blew me out of my chair.

http://www.myspace.com/chicagobluesangels is the spot.

Three guys from the Joliet area, which is a suburb just southwest of Chicago. The band is composed of Bradley Scott Ber, Herman Hines and Mondo Cortez. They say that they love to play Chicago blues and they last released an album back at the end of 2005.

Check out their page and then click on the songs they have posted there. The very first tune, “Crazy Woman Blues” just about knocked me out. That is down and dirty Chicago blues in it’s best form, right there. With great harp playing, nasty guitar and lyrics about a woman what done him wrong, well, what more can you ask.

They have a website at www.chicagobluesangels.com if you want more information. They are likely to be playing near you soon and they are someone to look out for during your next visit to Chicago.

Looks like they have a gig right in Joliet, at the City of Champions Sports Bar, this Friday. On the 22nd they will be in Steger Illinois for Stegerfest.

Check them out!

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge