Jazz & Blues Lounge » Festival

It’s Almost Here! The Chicago Jazz Festival

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:00:55 +0000

The month of August is nearly upon us. This means the summer, as far as schools and the cit of Chicago is concerned, is amost over. Chicago always has a festival season that starts with the Chicago Blues Festival and then it ends with the Chicago Jazz Festival. The Festival is nearly upon us, folks! As amazing as that seems, the fact remains, the dates are almost here and that means Fall will be shortly on its heels. So, you can start practicing your complaining about winter now, if you wish.

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!

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

Jazz in Chicago’s Humboldt Park

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00:18 +0000

Right in the heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community is a park called Humboldt Park. Within that park is an open-air boathouse. Within that area, every year, the organization known as Jazz in Chicago holds a Latin Jazz Festival. It is one day every summer and it is totally, and completely free.

This year the event is being held July 11, 2008. That would be today, in case you don’t have a calendar handy. In case you are not familiar with Jazz in Chicago, well, you should check out the link above. They are another all-volunteer, all-donation-based kind of organizatio that is around to put on great shows, festivals and promote jazz in this city and across the country. They do a lot of great work. So, I would encourage you to support them as much as possible.

Here, from their website, are the details about the Latin Jazz Festival 2008:

PERFORMERS:

The Afro-Cuban sounds of Richie Pillot’s Havana
The traditional Latin Jazz of Conjunto
Darwin Noguera’s Evolution Trio

COST:

Free

PHONE:

1 312-742-7549

LOCATION:

Humboldt Park Boathouse
1359 N. Sacramento Avenue
Chicago, IL, 60622

The weather is supposed to be typical Chicago July hot and humid. So, be prepared, stay hydrated and have a good time.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

Jazz in Old Webster Near St. Louis

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00:48 +0000

I went to Webster University which is located in Webster Groves, which is a suburb just west of St. Louis. It is a quaint little place, Webster Groves, with quiet tree-lined streets and lots of suburbanites. Of course, most of St. Louis is suburbanites, but this is a very picturesque kind of place. It has a section known as “Old Webster” which is the downtown area. This is the even-more quaint original part of the town. It has streets that actually are still cobblestone.

This is also the location of the “Old Webster Jazz Festival” and it’s one day, not far from Chicago and in a very cool place to hear some cool music.

OLD WEBSTER JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL

When? Saturday September 20, 2008
Start time? Noon
End time? 11:00 p.m.

Who is going to play?

According to the website “St. Louis Jazz Notes” (which is linked above):

“A total of ten bands will be featured on two outdoor stages, with headlining sets from singer Erin Bode (on the Allen Avenue stage) and the New Orleans-style funk/R&B/zydeco band Gumbohead and special guests the Funky Butt Brass Band (on the Gore Avenue stage).

The event also will include jazz performances from guitarist Todd Mosby (pictured), the Pfeffer Trio with Debby Lennon, Anita Rosamond, the Webster University Faculty Jazz Band and the Webster Groves High School Jazz Band, as well as blues from the Soulard Blues Band, the SteamRollers, and Marquise Knox.”

How much does it cost? Like most of your truly cool and hip jazz and blues festivals, this one is totally free to the public.

The Schedule, which you can find on the official Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival website is:

Gore Avenue Stage
12 noon – 2 pm: Todd Mosby
2 pm – 4 pm: Pfeffer Trio + Debby Lennon
4 pm – 6 pm: Marquise Knox Blues Band
6 pm – 8 pm: Webster University Faculty Jazz Band
8 pm – 11 pm: Gumbohead
with Special Guest Funky Butt Brass Band

Allen Avenue Stage
12 noon – 2 pm:: SteamRollers
2 pm – 4 pm: Souldard Blues Band
4 pm – 6 pm: Anita Rosamond
6 pm – 7 pm: Webster Groves High School Jazz Band
7:30 pm – 10 pm: Erin Bode

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This Weekend in Jazz in Chicago

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:25:59 +0000

It is, at last, the weekend. Most of the city of Chicago is caught up in the infamous “Crosstown Classic” which is when the Chicago White Sox baseball team and the Chicago Cubs bseball team face off in inter-league play. I am a White Sox fan, but this weekend the Sox are in Cubs territory at Wrigley Field. As such, this may be a really good weekend to visit Chicago and check out a great live jazz show without running into too many actual Chicagoans. They may be in bars or busy getting in fist-fights somewhere.

Once again, radio station WDCB is the resource I used for this information. For some reason, they had no blues shows listed for this weekend.

JAZZ

June 21, 2008
Moutin Reunion Quartet
Green Mill, Chicago

June 21, 2008
After Hours Jazz Party with Sabertooth
Green Mill, Chicago

June 21, 2008
Greg Duncan Quintet
Pete Miller’s – Evanston, Evanston

June 21, 2008
Vocalist Petra van Nuis with the Andy Brown Trio
Andy’s, Chicago

June 21, 2008
Curtis Robinson & The ChiTown Connection
Andy’s, Chicago

June 21, 2008
AACM Great Black Music Ensemble with Jeff Parker
Velvet Lounge (new location), Chicago

June 21, 2008
The Tony Smith Show
Chambers, Niles

June 21, 2008
Ron Perillo Trio
Pops for Champagne, Chicago

June 21, 2008
Sergio Pires
Pete Miller’s – Schaumburg, Schaumburg

June 21, 2008
Bobby Lewis R&B Band
Pete Miller’s – Wheeling, Wheeling

June 21, 2008
Spider Saloff with pianist Steve Ramsdell
Katerina’s, Chicago

June 22, 2008
WDCB Sunday Big Band Jazz Party at FitzGerald’s
Chicago Grandstand Big Band
FitzGerald’s, Berwyn

June 22, 2008
Scott Earl Holman @chicago chop house
Chicago Chop House, Chicago

June 22, 2008
Vocalist Petra van Nuis and pianist Larry Harris
Chambers, Niles

June 22, 2008
Isaiah Spencer’s Jazz Jam Session
Velvet Lounge (new location), Chicago

June 22, 2008
Alison Ruble Quartet
Andy’s, Chicago

June 22, 2008
Andy’s Jam Session
Andy’s, Chicago

June 22, 2008
Kimberly Gordon Organ Trio
Green Mill, Chicago

June 22, 2008
Mark Moultrup Trio
Andy’s, Chicago

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

Blues in Bloomington

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:00:48 +0000

The twin cities of Bloomington and Normal sit about two hours to the south of Chicago. They are maybe three hours north of St. Louis. Bloomington is the international headquarters for State Farm Insurance and is also a big college town. It is also the LONGEST part of the drive either to and from Chicago and St. Louis. If you are driving from Chicago to St. Louis, the longest part of the journey (at least perception-wise) is that stretch between Chicago and Bloomington. The same holds true when you are driving back.

Well, they are the home of a very cool Blues festival known as “Nothin’ but the Blues” and you can click on that link and see what I am about to tell you right here along with the very cool pictures.

NOTHIN’ BUT THE BLUES FESTIVAL

When? July 18 – 19

Where? Bloomington Tri-Lakes in Bloomington, IL

The schedule and who is playing? Well, thanks to the people who put together the website, it says:

JULY 18th

Gates Open at 5:00 PM

6:00 PM Cleveland Fats
7:00 PM Mike Wheeler Band
8:15 PM Teeny Tucker
9:30 PM Larry McCray

JULY 19th

Gates Open at 12:00 NOON

1:30 PM Steve “The Harp” Blues Band
3:00 PM Daryl Coutts
4:15 PM Alvin Jett and the Phat noiz band
5:30 PM Janiva Magness
6:45 PM Holmes Brothers
8:15 PM Thornetta Davis

FOR THE KIDS

Tethered Balloon Rides from OSF Available

1:00 – 4:00 PM Unique Twist
1:00 – 4:00 PM Zoo Lady

2:30 pm FREE Harmonica Workshop
With Harmonica Master Steve “The Harp”

Free Harmonica for Children 17 and under attending the workshop.
$5.00 for adults attending the workshop that want a BBS Harmonica.
Free if adults bring a Harmonica in the key of “C”

So, see, this is one you really are encouraged to bring the kids to. It’s another great event and it’s this summer, people. You can spend almost your entire summer based out of Chicago and see one blues and jazz festival after another. Not to mention all of the great jazz and blues here in Chicago that is here always.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

The Illinois Blues Festival

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00:09 +0000

Continuing the theme of festival week (or month or whatever) I thought you might want to know about the Illinois Blues Festival which is right downtown in beautiful (ahem) Peoria Illinois. Yes, the same Peoria people used to use when they would say, “Yeah, but will it play in Peoria?” The home of Catepillar tractors and construction equipment.

These days Peoria is experiencing a bit of a comeback. They have a casino now and they have begun to build up their riverfront which goes right through the heart of the downtown area. I hear it’s nice. The Illinois Blues festival is right on that riverfront, which is pretty cool.

OK, so, here are the details and everyone should get out their calendars and start making plans and/or hotel reservations:

Date: August 29 – 30, 2008

Place: Riverfront Park Peoria, IL

Three stages for you to choose from!

The performers? Well, they don’t have all of that information listed for your right now, but from the website itself it says:
“COMPLETE LINE-UP COMING SOON

BUT MEANWHILE

Can You Guess The Line-Up?

Win A Blues Festival Weekend”

So, think you have an idea of who will be performing on the riverfront in Peoria Illinois? Then click on the link at the top of this posting and look for the “Artists” section and take your best shot. You may not have to make those hotel reservations after all, you could end up with the weekend comped on behalf of the organizers.

See, Illinois is not just corn and flatness. Granted, driving through it, it sometimes seems that way, but it’s not. We have cool music and festivals all over the place around here. So, you east and west-coasters, get to the middle section you enjoy flying over so much. Check out some great music and some great people.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

The Next Blues Festival in the Chicago Area

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:25 +0000

Well, as I have mentioned before, this is festival season around here. I have had many a friend tell me, “Jeez, you have a lot of festivals in Chicago.” This is true, and there are even more when you factor in the suburbs. So, one week after the huge, momentous Chicago Blues Festival, there is another great, totally free blues festival in nearby suburban Aurora.

“Blues on the Fox” is located at Galena Boulevard and Stolp Avenues in downtown Aurora, which apparently is knowns as “Blues Alley” on June 13 and 14. Granted, this is a bit smaller than the Chicago Blues Festival, but it certainly does NOT lack in star power. From the website, here is the schedule of events for Blues on the Fox (the Fox is a river, by the way).

Friday, June 13

Time Performers
6:45 pm Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
8:30 pm Elvin Bishop

Saturday, June 14

Time Performers
3:00 pm Hix Bros Junior All-Stars
4:00 pm Corey Harris
5:30 pm Bettye LaVette
7:00 pm Marcia Ball
8:30 pm Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Yes, guitar phenom and a man who seems possessed by the spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd is going to close out the entire show. Not too shabby for Aurora, huh?

Again, from their website:

“For more information about the City of Aurora’s Blues on the Fox please contact the Mayor’s Office of Special Events at (630) 844-4731 or by email at info@bluesonthefoxaurora.com.

For more information about the Downtown Alive! Festival Series please visit www.downtownaliveaurora.com or by email at info@downtownaliveaurora.com.”

Once again, admission is totally free, but times and performances are subject to change as events warrant.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

The Suburban Concert Series

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:21:59 +0000

Chicago is an interesting town. It is a city that seems to be slowly expanding and expanding. I guess that is not particularly new. Most places call that “urban sprawl.” Considering the number of independent cities that have officialy become suburbs and, therefore, part of the “Chicago Metro Area” I call it “significant improvement.” Then again, I am biased. I grew up within the city limits.

What this means is that there is great music even out in the ‘burbs. When you visit Chicago, you are probably very tempted to stay downtown and just walk everywhere. This is a pretty good plan, for the most part, but you also miss out on some things. It pays to take some time and look around at the suburbs and see what kind of jazz and blues music is playing out in the ‘burbs. For example, a concert series known as the “Maple Street Concert Series” in Lombard, IL.

Special thanks, as always, goes to radio station WDCB for the information below:

Maple Street Chapel Concert Series

Description

All concerts on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., unless stated otherwise.

Tickets are available at the door for $12 unless stated otherwise. For more information call (630) 434-4423.

Proceeds support the preservation of Lombard’s treasure, The Maple Street Chapel.

2008 Schedule

Saturday, April 19, 2008 – TBA

Sunday, May 4, 2008 – David Francey

Tribute to George Brown

The Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, folk concert volunteers, and the wider folk community were saddened by loss of George Brown on July 17, 2007. George organized the concerts at the chapel for over fifteen years and was busy planning this season when he was taken from us.

The entire 2007-2008 season is dedicated to his memory.

A memorial concert will be held at a later date.

Venue Information

Venue: Maple Street Chapel
Address: Corner of Main & Maple Street
City: Lombard
State: IL
Zip Code: 60148

Telephone: (630) 629-2630

Presenting Organization

Name: Maple Street Chapel Concert Series
Telephone: (630) 434-4423

Those are just a couple of the shows. There will be more to follow as the year goes on as their season stretches over more than one year (for example, this is the end of the ‘07-’08 season).

This is also just one example maybe dozens of suburban festivals and concerts. They cover all genres of music. So, when you visit Chicago, make sure you don’t forget to rent a car and check out the ‘burbs.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

The Jazz Festival in New Orleans

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:16:31 +0000

I have had requests in the past to expand the sphere of coverage I do for this blog. That can be a tough thing. I am just one man, and Chicago is a big city and there is a lot of jazz and blues music going on here. Trying to include such bastions of jazz and blues such as New York and Kansas City and New Orleans can be tough. I don’t get free airline tickets or flown to concerts and events around the country by record labels and concert promoters (if you happen to be one, however, feel free to contact me).

Still, this month and into May one of the biggest jazz festivals in the country is going on in the city still trying to recover from a hurricane: New Orleans. It is known as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and if you click on that link you will find a detailed listing of the events.

The festival kicks off on Friday April 25 and goes through the 27th. But wait…there’s more. It then starts up again on Thursday May 1 and goes through May 4. Yes, it is a festival so big they have to break it up into chunks with a few days of rest in between.

This is an interesting festival. It has “jazz” in the title, but has performers like Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Jimmie Buffet. Of course, that just scratches the surface. The concerts also include enough jazz to satisfy you for the rest of the year and perhaps many years.

In fact, the list of performers is so huge, I cannot even attempt to give it here. I strongly suggest you click on the link above and take a look at the schedule. They have a schedule for you to look at for each day of the festival. Given the fact that the city of New Orleans is a place to party like you may never party again, actually having a scheduled, city-sponsored party is an event not to be missed.

I would love to attend, but I am not going to be able to make it. So, if you have plans and would like to report and send stories from the festival, please just let me know. I would be glad to publish the tales here and give credit where credit is due.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

One More St. Louis Article

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:19:07 +0000

I am back in Chicago now, but I had to write one more article about St. Louis. Like I said, St. Louis has a great musical tradition and it is certainly a major center for the music of jazz and blues. As such, you can also always find a cool jazz club and blues club and there is almost always a festival.

There was one this past weekend as well and it was in a great part of town where I went to school. You see, I attended Webstery University in the St. Louis area. It is in a very nice suburb of St. Louis known as Webster Groves.

This past weekend, on Saturday, was the Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival. There were two stages and the whole thing was a tribute to the late Lonnie Johnson. They blocked off the streets of Gore and Allen right in downtown Webster Groves, which is also known as “Old Webster.” At the end of each of those streets was a stage. The whole event kicked off at noon.

The Gore Avenue stage featured the following:

Noon: Joe Bozzi Band

2pm: Anita Rosamond

4pm: Gumbohead

6pm: Webster University Jazz Band

8:00pm: Johnnie Johnson Band Featuring Kim Massie, Brian Owens and Special Guests

Meanwhile, the Allen Avenue stage featured:

Noon: David’s Guitar Loft Jazz Fusion

2pm: SIUE Faculty Jazz Ensemble

4pm: Marquise Knox Blues Band

6pm: Webster Groves High School Jazz Band

7pm: Jim Manley’s Wild Cool & Swingin’

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge