I recently found a website entitled “Jazz Unites” and it is an organization that has a great heritage and a mission that I can truly get behind. I am borrowing their “mission statement” from their website below:

“To further the growth and appreciation of jazz, in addition to the establishment of a program that combines cultural goals with human, social, and economic development purposes. Thus, JUI seeks to expose jazz ( a uniquely American art form) to communities and people who otherwise would not have access to this form of artistic expression.”

That’s a mission I can get behind. As for their history, their website states:

“Upon the death of Duke Ellington, one of the world’s most prolific composers, jazz singer and arts producer, Geraldine de Haas had an idea: she wanted to have a tribute to “The Duke” which would serve to unite the communities of Chicago at the old Grant Park Band Shell. After an arduous effort, not only did this history-making concert musically integrate the downtown Chicago Parks, it also started a trend! Since that 1974 event, free music concerts and festivals for every kind of music have been presented in the city’s downtown parks, enhancing tourism for the city of Chicago.

Jazz Unites, Inc. (JUI) was officially founded in 1981, through the efforts of Mrs. de Haas and a group of professional, civic, and community people. Their purpose was to bring America’s classic and singular art form, jazz, as a cultural expression of personal, community, spiritual and economic importance. This group was keenly aware of the advantages of exposing jazz as a cultural expression, which has played, and still plays, a significant role in spiritual and intellectual development, particularly for young people, in addition to providing community enrichment and economic stimulation.

Since that time, Jazz Unites has continued to showcase musical talent, assist young aspiring musicians, hold workshops and produce affordable or free public concerts for its multi-cultural audiences. Probably the best-known event is the weekend-long jazz festival, known as the JazzFest Heritage Music Weekend, at the South Shore Cultural Center – this music festival traces its roots back to the first free Duke Ellington Tribute in Grant Park. ”

Again, not a bad heritage or history. They have a lot of concerts and events. In fact, they have too many to try to list here. So, I am going to suggest you visit their EVENTS section by clicking on that link and checking out some of the great shows they have planned. You can even buy tickets through the website.

I am particularly intrigued by their “Heritage Jazz Festival Music Weekend” which is August 2 – 3 and at the South Shore Cultural Center. There is no list of performers yet, but I will be sure to keep an eye on things and let you know what I find out.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

But anyway… since it is about haunted places in St. Louis, I had to come to St. Louis to try to promote the book.  I had a radio station appearance on a morning radio show scheduled along with a book signing at a local bookstore all set up.  I have to say, if you are a fan of the blues and jazz, and you live in Chicago or want to visit Chicago, that’s great.  However, if you want to expand your horizons, you absolultely cannot forget to visit St. Louis.

St. Louis is the birthplace of Miles Davis, for example.  There is Blueberry Hill, the club and restaurant in the area of University City known as The Loop.  It is just another city that you cannot swing a dead cat in without hitting a jazz or blues club.  In fact, I have to say that St. Louis is a great music town in general.  It always has been.

Chuck Berry is from St. Louis.  It’s a stop along the Mississippi River and you just know that it’s one of those places where traveling musicians often stopped and got off of riverboats with their guitars and instruments and played to make enough money to eat and then continue their trip down the river.  New Orleans may be thought of as a great place for jazz and blues, as is Chicago, but St. Louis certainly cannot be ignored.

I once went to a jazz club here, a small, tiny thing in the heart of the city, and met with a bunch of friends.  A jazz bland played in the room next to the one I was sitting in.  It was a guy on drums and the leader of the band was sitting there blowing into a long piece of PVC pipe like a diggery-doo (sorry, if I misspelled that to any aboriginal people or Australians).  Yes, it’s just that kind of town.

It’s all of 300 miles south, south-west of Chicago.  It is a great city loaded with lots and lots of history.  There is a walk-0f-fame in U-City.  There is music everywhere.  There are clubs all over town.  Really, you can’t go wrong no matter what you taste in music is here in St. Louis.

I don’t want you to think I am narrow-minded, you know.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

So, if you can’t make it this weekend, maybe you can make it to one of the older and more storied neighborhoods in the city, Hyde Park.  Granted, it’s just one day rather than three, but it’s 15 hours worth of jazz.  Of course, it is the “Hyde Park Jazz Festival” on September 29.   You can check out the website for this one.  However, I must say, this jazz festival has a better-arranged website than the big Chicago Jazz Festival.  Some festival people should take notice.

Here are some details and they come from that website above:

Morning
Young Musician Workshop with Orbert Davis

11:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. at the DuSable Museum
Orbert Davis Concert

Noon—1:00 p.m. at the DuSable Museum
with Ryan Cohan – piano, Stewart Miller – bass, Ari Brown – sax, and Ernie Adams – drums

Afternoon
Percussion with Charles “Rick” Heath, Tap Dancer Jumaane Taylor
1:30 p.m.—2:30 p.m. at Midway Stage 1
with Ryan Cohn – piano, Marlene Rosenberg – bass, and Greg Ward – sax

Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago

2:00 p.m.—2:30 p.m. at the Oriental Institute
Dee Alexander

2:30 p.m.—3:30 p.m. at the Quadrangle Club
with Tomeka Reid – cello, Ernie Adams – drums, James Sanders – violin, and Rashida Black – harp

Reginald T. McCants

3:00 p.m.—4: 00 p.m. at the Smart Museum
with Wally Hustin – bass and Malcom Banks – drums

Bill McFarland and the Chicago Horns

3:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m. at Midway Stage 2
with Kurt Schweitz – bass, Charles Heath – drums, Kirk Brown – piano, Kenny Anderson – trumpet, and Hank Ford – sax

Travis Jackson Workshop

3:30 p.m.—4:00 p.m. at the Quadrangle Club
Mwata Bowden & the Jazz X-tet featuring Saalik Ziyad

4:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m. at the Quadrangle Club
Tony “Toca” Carpenter with Ari Brown & Robert Irving, III

4:00 p.m.—5:30 p.m. at Midway Stage 1
with Frank Russell – bass, Herb Walker – guitar, Malcom Banks – drums, Ari Brown – sax, Robert Irving – piano, Kevin Strong – Djembe, and Olu Shakoor – jun jun

Two for Brazil
4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m. at the Robie House
with Greg Fishman- sax/flute and Paulinho Garcia-vocal/guitar

Evening
Fundraising Reception with Judy Roberts
6:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m. in the Kenwood Neighborhood.
Tickets for four guests are $500.00. Please call (773) 551-5333 for more information.
with Greg Fishman – sax
Chicago Sax In The City

6:00 p.m.—7:30 p.m. at the Midway Stage 2
with Ray Silkman – sax, Skinny Williams – sax, Audley Reid – sax, James Perkins – sax, Roger Weaver – piano, Ben Johnson – drums, Alan Burroughs – guitar, Will Howard – bass

Jazz Fête with Emcee Richard Steele

8:00 p.m.—11:45 p.m. at the Hyde Park Art Center

Jimmy Ellis, 8 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
with Miguel de la Cerna – piano and Jimmy Willis – bass

Maggie Brown, 9 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
with Miguel de la Cerna – piano, Frank Parker – drums, Mike Sterling – bass, and Duane Jones – guitar

Willie Pickens, 10 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.
with Rob Amster – bass and Robert Shy – drums

Corey Wilkes, 11 p.m. – 11:45 p.m.
with Robert Irving – piano, Junius Paul – bass, and Ernie Adams – drums

Late Night
Late Night Jam Session: Derek Henderson
Midnight—2 a.m. at the Checkerboard Lounge
with Derek Henderson – drums, Will Howard – bass, Johnny Talmidge-piano, Audley Reid – sax, and Robert Burkes – guitar

THE LOCATIONS

DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Place

Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th Street

Quadrangle Club, 1155 E. 57th Street

Smart Museum, 5550 S. Greenwood Avenue

Robie House, 5757 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Midway Plaisance Park (3 stages)

Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Avenue

Checkerboard Lounge, 5201 S. Harper Avenue

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge