Jazz & Blues Lounge » Jazz_Institute_of_Chicago

More Outside Jazz Thanks to the Jazz Institute of Chicago

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:00:35 +0000

I know that I mentioned these performances yesterday, but I discovered them so late, I feared that not enough people had time to plan to see the concert last night. Never fear, lovers of Jazz and lovers of Chicago, the Jazz Institute of Chicago has more than one of those scheduled for this summer.

So, if you missed last night’s performance on the beach, there are more concerts with the same Jazz Links Ambassadors and the Chicago Park District. In fact, there is one coming up this Tuesday, if you don’t have any plans.

From the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s website:

“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: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 – 6:00pm
Tickets: This is a Free event.
Contact Phone: 1 312-742-7511
Venue: Welles Park
2333 W Sunnyside Ave
Chicago, IL, 60625

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Chicago Beach Jazz

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:09:33 +0000

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 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:

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!

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The Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:01 +0000

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 itself is a Frank Gehry designed masterpiece of non-linear design.

For a while, it seemed only classical music was being played there. Then it was a few pop acts, which was very cool. They now have an impressive lineup of jazz musicians as well and one coming up at th eend of the this week is the Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble put together by the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

From the website linked above, put together by the Jazz Institute, the concert details are:

“Caribbean music and jazz have had close connections from the beginning of the last century. Composers and soloists from Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington to Chick Corea have been inspired by Juan Tizol, Chano Pozo and Mongo Santamaria. Gillespie widened the scope in the 90s with his United Nations Orchestra and in Chicago, the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble (CALJE) continues the multinational quest by incorporating Afro-Cuban Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Flamenco, Central American and Peruvian folkloric rhythms into their compositions while staying true to Latin Jazz traditions. Founded by Mexican born trumpeter/composer, Victor Garcia and Nicaraguan born pianist/composer, Darwin Alejandro Noguera tonight’s concert features Chicago’s finest Latin jazz performers, with guests Steve Turre (trombone, shells); Paoli Mejias (percussion); Howard Levy (piano/harmonica) and Brian Lynch (trumpet).

Date
Thursday, July 31, 2008 – 6:30pm
Tickets: This is a Free event.
Venue: Millenium Park
Michigan & Washington
Chicago, IL”

Yes, folks, it’s another free event in this great town. You kinda have to like all of the free concerts and events this city puts on. So, if you happen to be in Chicago this Thursday, you may want to stop by and check this one out. They are saying the weather will be perfect.

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