Jazz & Blues Lounge

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 …read more

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Chicago has a lot of cool places to see live music but, without a doubt, one of the coolest is Millenium Park, which is right downtown. I meant RIGHT downtown, with the buildings rising all around you, except for the part that points toward the lake, of course. You can sit on the lawn and above you is a metal laticework that has speakers, so you can see the stars and the buildings and still hear the music. Then there is the pavillion, colored red, each with a great view of the stage. Meanwhile, the stage …read more

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I am declaring this Mingus Monday. I have no idea why other than I was rooting around online for some cool jazz to listen to and came across some of Charles and his and from 1975 which you will see below. He was playing live at Montreux at the time and playing his classic “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.” I don’t even know what a Pork Pie Hat is, but I like the music.
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 …read more

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There is this very cool outdoor music theater and venue in north-suburban Chicago and it is known as Ravinia. For a long, long time it was a music venue strictly for classical music. The entire atmosphere is kind of geared for it. The lawn is actually flat, like a park, with trees and things in the middle of it. There is a pavilion, but it’s small. Basically, you are encouraged to bring a blanket, some of your own food and a bottle of wine, stretch out with you and loved one under the stars and …read more

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Please understand that I understand that there are more blues musicans out there besides Buddy Guy. Just like I do understand that there are other jazz musicians out there besides Miles Davis. I just get into these moods. Right now, I am in the Buddy Guy mode when it comes to my blues music. Since my friend gave me the album “Sweet Tea” I have been listening to him on a nearly daily basis.
So, I decided to look online, and at YouTube, and see if I could find another performance or tune or something. …read more

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The weekend is here and that means driving around a lot and listening to music in the car while running errands.  I love how attractive weekends look and I always think I am going to spend time relaxing and enjoying it.  Then, suddenly, I am running to the grocery store and doing laundry and other things.  Before I know it the weeked is over, I am still worn out from the week and I spent more time in my car than I did actually relaxing.
This is why I love my jazz collection.  Nothing helps keep me sane more than my …read more

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It was my original intent to hunt down some video somewhere of the Sad Salamanders performing live.  Apparently such an animal does not, as yet, exist.  Guys, you need to get on that.  Start posting to YouTube or something, wouldja?  I spent the whole weekend grooving to your awesome CD “Cigarettes and Fishnets” and wanted to spread a little more cheer around the the public, and couldn’t.
So, I found THIS instead.  What is it?  Why nothing more than Miles Davis and the great John Coltrane performing “So What.”  I love that tune and the look of Miles Davis in his …read more

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There are just some names in the world of Jazz that bring about feelings of awe and respect.  Some of them are probably names you know.  Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker Thelonius Monk and even Jelly Roll Morton may come to mind for you.  The name of Charles Mingus should also be there.
For an example of the sheer talent and power that Mingus had, track down a version of his “Haitian Fight Song” and I dare you not to be impressed.
Thankfully, there is now a brand new album out of recently-discovered performances and has now been released …read more

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