Jazz and Heritage Stage

Friday, August 29, 2008
12:30-1:30 – Kenwood Academy Jazz Band with Composer in Residency Nicole Mitchell
2:00-3:00 – “History of Jazz” with Ron Perillo
3:30-4:30 – “Jimmy’s Jam Session” featuring Curtis Black Quartet plus Ahmad Salaheldeen, Edward House, Zaid Krisberg

Saturday, August 30, 2008
12:30-1:30 – James Sanders’ Conjunto
2:00-3:00 – “Percussion Discussion” with Thurman Barker
3:30-4:30 – Walter Dyett: Remembering a Jazz Warrior

Sunday, August 31, 2008
12:30-1:30 Vijay Iyer: Composer Talk
2:00-3:00 “Art of the Solo” featuring Julian Priester
3:30-4:30 Karl Montzka Quartet

The website linked above also has a brief paragraph about some other Jazz Festival activities going on during the week of the festival. From the website:

“The city of Chicago celebrates Jazz all week-long, beginning Monday, August 25 with a Chicago Jazz Partnership free concert at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a Jazz Institute of Chicago Gala Fundraiser on Tuesday, August 26 and the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Club Tour on Wednesday, August 27.”

I will try to dig up some information about the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Club Tour because I hear that is a must-see and must-do kind of activity for the week of the festival. If you’ve ever wanted to visit the key jazz clubs in Chicago, this is the way to do it.

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So, continuing my breakdown of who is playing and at what stage, let’s take a look at the Jazz on Jackson Stage today.

Jazz on Jackson Stage

Friday through Sunday don’t miss the New Orleans All Star Brass Band performing at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Jackson Blvd. between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive

Friday, August 29, 2008
12:00-12:55 – Isotope 217
1:10-2:05 – Jazz Guitar Summit featuring Curtis Robinson, John Moulder, Jeff Parker, Buddy Fambro, Ernie Adams and Josh Abrams
2:20-3:15 – Alison Ruble Sextet
3:30-4:30 – “Jazz has the Blues” featuring George Freeman and Billy Branch, Ari Brown and Corey Wilkes

Saturday, August 30, 2008
12:00-12:55 – Jo Ann Daugherty Quartet
1:10-2:10 – Chicago Bass Masters featuring Larry Gray, Harrison Bankhead, Ari Brown, Avreeayl Ra, Art Hoyle and Edward Wilkerson
2:20-3:15 – John Wright Quartet
3:30-4:30 – Kenny Burrell with Larry Gray, Willie Pickens and Joel Spencer

Sunday, August 31, 2008
12:00-12:55 – Frank D’Rone Quartet
1:10-2:10 – “Chicago Keys” with – Bob Dogan and Jim Trompeter
2:20-3:15 – Josh Berman and His Gang
3:30-4:30 – Sean Jones Quintet

I will be getting you information this week about the new jazz albums and reissues, but the website I use for that was down and I wasn’t able to get to that. At the same time, come back here later this week as we break down all of the stages you will find at the Chicago Jazz Festival. There’s a lot more to go.

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So, this week, I am going to take a look at the performers and performances at the various stages during the Chicago Jazz Festival which starts the evening of August 28 and continues through Sunday August 31. It all happens right downtown, at the same place that the Blues Festival took place and I do hope to attend at least one day and report live like I did for the Blues Festival.

The Jay Pritzker Pavillion – Millenium Park

Thursday, August 28, 2008
Millennium Park – Pritzker Pavilion
6:30p.m. – Sonny Rollins

Petrillo Music Shell – Grant Park

Friday, August 29, 2008
5:00-5:50 – T.S. Galloway’s Tribute to Capt. Walter Dyett featuring Julian Priester, Mwata Bowden, and Edwin Daugherty
6:00-6:55 – AACM Tribute featuring Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Claudine Myers, Michael Logan and Thurman Barker
7:10-8:10 – Dee Dee Bridgewater Tribute to Betty Carter with Mulgrew Miller, Ira Coleman and Kenny Washington
8:30-9:30 – Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band

Saturday, August 30, 2008
4:30-4:45 – Remembering Franz Jackson: Eric Schneider, Art Hoyle, Tom Hope, Dan Delorenzo and Robert Cousins
5:00-5:50 – Pharez Whitted Sextet
6:00-6:55 – Vijay Iyer Quintet
7:10-8:10 – Dave Douglas’ Brass Ecstasy
8:30-9:30 – Gerald Wilson Orchestra w/ Special Guest Kenny Burrell

Sunday, August 31, 2008
5:00-5:50 – Ron Dewar Quintet
6:00-6:55 – From the Netherlands: Instant Composers Pool
7:10-8:10 – 8 Bold Souls with Special Guest Dee Alexander
8:30-9:30 – Ornette Coleman

There are many more venues and a lot more performances. I will bring those to you the rest of this week, but you can also check out the link above for yourself. Make your plans now!

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For information that you find below you should check ou the website HERE run by the Jazz Institute of Chicago. Thanks to that website I have the information below of which artists are playing at which stage and when.

30th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival – August 28 – 31, 2008

Thursday, August 28:

Millennium Park – Pritzker Pavilion
6:30 p.m. Sonny Rollins

Friday, August 29th:

Jazz on Jackson
12:00-12:55 Isotope 217
1:10-2:05 Jazz Guitar Summit featuring Curtis Robinson, John Moulder, Jeff Parker, Buddy Fambro, Ernie Adams and Josh Abrams
2:20-3:15 Alison Ruble Quartet
3:30-4:30 “Jazz has the Blues” featuring George Freeman and Billy Branch, Ari Brown and Corey Wilkes

Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30-1:30 Kenwood Academy Jazz Band – High School Big Band Composer Residency with Nicole Mitchell
2:00-3:00 Vijay Iyer: Composer Talk
3:30-4:30 “Jimmy’s Jam Session” featuring Curtis Black Quartet plus Ahmad Salaheldeen, Edward House and Zaid Krisberg

Petrillo
5:00-5:50 T.S. Galloway’s Tribute to Capt. Walter Dyett featuring Julian Priester, Ari Brown, Mwata Bowden, Ken Chaney, and Edwin Daugherty
6:00-6:55 AACM Tribute featuring Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Claudine Myers, Michael Logan and Thurman Barker
7:10-8:10 Dee Dee Bridgewater Tribute to Betty Carter with Mulgrew Miller, Ira Coleman and Kenny Washington
8:30-9:30 Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band

Saturday, August 30

Jazz on Jackson
12:00-12:55 Jo Ann Daugherty Quartet
1:10-2:10 Chicago Bass Masters featuring Larry Gray, Harrison Bankhead, Ari Brown, Avreeayl Ra, Art Hoyle and Edward Wilkerson
2:20–3:15 John Wright Quartet
3:30-4:30 Kenny Burrell with Larry Gray, Willie Pickens and Joel Spencer

Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30-1:30 James Sanders’ Conjunto
2:00-3:00 “Percussion Discussion” with Thurman Barker
3:30-4:30 “History of Jazz” with Ron Perillo

Petrillo
4:30-4:45 Remembering Franz Jackson: Eric Schneider, Art Hoyle, Tom Hope, Dan Delorenzo and Robert Cousins
5:00-5:50 Pharez Whitted Sextet
6:00-6:55 Vijay Iyer Quintet (commissioned piece debut)
7:10-8:10 Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy (commissioned piece debut)
8:30-9:30 Gerald Wilson Orchestra w/ Special Guest Kenny Burrell (commissioned piece debut)

Sunday, August 31

Jazz on Jackson
12:00-12:55 Frank D’Rone Quartet
1:10-2:10 “Chicago Keys” with – Bob Dogan and Jim Trompeter
2:20-3:15 Josh Berman Septet
3:30-4:30 Sean Jones Sextet

Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30-1:30 Walter Dyett: Remembering a Jazz Warrior
2:00-3:00 “Art of the Solo” featuring Julian Priester
3:30-4:30 Karl Montzka Quartet

Petrillo
5:00-5:50 Ron Dewar Quintet
6:00-6:55 From the Netherlands: Instant Composers Pool
7:10-8:10 Eight Bold Souls with Special Appearance by Dee Alexander
8:30-9:30 Ornette Coleman

*Friday through Sunday, don’t miss the New Orleans All-Star Brass Band performing at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Jackson Boulevard between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

It certainly seems to have been a resounding success.  The initial estimates are that some 315,000 people attended the official stage performances over the three days.  This is up from 310,000 in 2006 and 300,000 even for 2005.

I walked around the stages on Sunday.  It certainly seemed like everyone was having a good time and the organizers seemed very anxious to get one band on after another so that people did not have to sit around in the hot sun without music for too long.

Some of the performances are already being hailed as greats.  The one performance that keeps being mentioned again and again by fans and reporters was the performance on Saturday night by the Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra.  Charlie came out and defiantly mixed his political beliefs with an outstanding performance.

If there is one problem the festival has is that it has to use the very old and outdated Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park.  Not a stone’s throw away is the far-superior in design and sound quality Pritzker Pavillion which is part of Millenium Park.  Of course, in order to have three stages in close proximity, you need to shut down streets which are near Petrillo, which makes the use of that stage necessary. 

The problem?  Well, Petrillo, as I mentioned, it old.  The sound isn’t as good.  Even the sightlines and views of the stage are not as good as Pritzker.  Of course, Grant Park can also hold a lot more people whereas the Pritzker has a rather limited number that can sit comfortably.

I was not able to stick around for the close of the festival on Sunday.  It turns out this may have been the dumbest thing I did all weekend.  By all reports the final performance by Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra may have been about the best closing performance you could have wanted.

I already checked and it seems you can find some videos on YouTube from people who recorded performances at the Festival.  I would include some links, but there were so many of them, I couldn’t figure out which ones to link to.  I suggest you just type in “Chicago Jazz Festival” when you visit the YouTube site and see what pops up.

If you attended the festival, I would love to hear from you.  I’d love to know what parts you enjoyed and which things you think the festival people could do better next year.

Hope you all had a great holiday weekend and if you were at the festival, I hope you had a great time there too.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

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. 

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My brother told me over the weekend that some of the most fun you can have during Jazz Fest is to visit some of the local bars and clubs.  There are, evidently, even bus tours you can take during the Festival that will take you to the various jazz clubs.  He says that can be more fun than visiting the official stages.  So, we shall see about that and I will look into that more.

The final stage is the Jazz and Heritage Stage.  This is their schedule during the Festival:

Friday, August 31, 2007

12:30 – 1:30 pm  Chicago High School Jazz Band Competition Winners

2:00 – 3:00 pm  Justin Dillard Trio

3:30 – 4:30 pm  Charlie Haden with Jazz Institute of Chicago Jazz Links Students

Saturday, September 1, 2007

12:30 – 1:30 pm  Edwin Daugherty Quartet

2:00 – 3: 00 pm  “Percussion Discussion” with John Vidacovich

3:30 – 4:20 pm  Typhanie Monique

Sunday, September 2, 2007

12:30 – 1:30 pm  Erwin Helfer and Skinny Williams

2:00 – 3:00 pm  “Art of the Solo” with Janice Borla

3:30 – 4:30 pm  Matt Gharety Quintet

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I think there are going to be three stages in Grant Park.  One of the main stages is the Petrillo Music Shell which I talked about yesterday.  However, there is also something called “Jazz on Jackson” that will have performances as well.  I can find no further details on exactly where this is in relation to the main stage.  If you can find it, please let me know and post a comment.

Still, if we can figure this out, it will be worth it to see these performances.  Here is the schedule:

Friday, August 31

12 – 12:55 pm   Friends of Eldee Young

1:10 – 2:05 pm  Mark Colby Quartet

2:20 – 3:15 pm   Tammy McCann

3:30 – 4:30  pm  “A Salute to Jimmy Ellis”

Saturday, September 1

12 – 12:55 pm  Bill McFarland and the Chicago Horns

1:10 – 1:40 pm  Miguel de la Cerna

1:40 – 2:10 pm  Ken Chaney

2:20 – 3:15 pm  Keefe Jackson’s Fast Citizens

3:30 – 4:30 pm  The Mulligan Mosaics Big Band

Sunday, September 2

12 – 12:55 pm  Pete Benson Organ Trio

1:10 – 2:05 pm  Marc Courtney Johnson Quartet

2:20 – 3:15 pm  Astral Project

3:30 – 4:30 pm  “A Windy City Jam” featuring Charlie Haden

Hopefully we can all figure out how this is going to be set up and arranged and have a great time in the Windy City listening to some of the best jazz around.  These shows looks just as good as those at the Petrillo.

I’ll have more coming up…

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The thing is, this year, it is not just at the Petrillo Band shell in Grant Park.  For those of you who do not know, Grant Park is kind of like Central Park, I guess.  It’s right on the lake.  It is just south of the new Millenium Park and is also the place where they have Taste of Chicago every year.  This year, the Chicago Jazz Festival is also having shows at Jazz on Jackson, the Jazz & Heritage Stage and there is even one performance, by featured artist Herbie Hancock, at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra hall.

For now, I am going to focus on the performances at the Petrillo Bandshell.  This is probably the area that most people know and think of if they think of the Chicago Jazz Festival.  I will write subsequent articles about the other stages later this week and into next week.  So, first of all, check out the official Chicago Jazz Festival website and get your own copy of the schedule to carry with you.

Friday, August 31

5:00 – 5:50 pm   Robert Irving III: “The Works of Thelonius Monk”

6:00 – 6:55 pm   Michele Roswoman Septet

7:10 – 8:10 pm  The Lating All Stars:  “A Tribute to Hilton Ruiz”

8:30 – 9:30 pm   Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood

Saturday, September 1

5:00 – 5:50 pm  Dan Trudell’s B3 Bombers

6:00 – 6:55 pm  The Cookers

7:10 – 8:10 pm  Ernestine Anderson and Frank Wess

8:30 – 9:30 pm  Charlie Haden and the Liberation Music Orchestra

Sunday, September 2

5:00 – 5:50 pm  “Revisting the Apex Club” with Kim Cusack and John Otto

6:00 – 6:55 pm  Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra featuring Bill Dixon

7:10 – 8:10 pm  Horizon

8:30 – 9:30 pm  Mingus Big Band

Hope to see you out there!

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