Jazz & Blues Lounge » summer

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

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

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge

Another Reminder about the Chicago Blues Festival

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:09:27 +0000

I have written about the Chicago Blues Festival several times here. Of course, this blog started well after the last one was over. So, I didn’t get much chance to cover the event or talk about it beforehand. At the same time, I have written about it this year, but then, with every new post, the previous ones move down one slot. Eventually they fall off the page, as you may have noticed. You can still find them, but it takes some effort and I am all about making things easier for you.

You can read about the festival by clicking HERE and reading some more. The Chicago festival season, I feel, is well balanced. It starts with the Blues Festival to officially kick off the season and then ends with the Jazz Festival. The Blues Festival is the bigger of the two, but every year that Jazz Festival grows and more and more people show up. I’d like to take credit for that.

Just so you can be reminded of the festival and you can make your travel plans appropriately, so here is some information from the website linked above:

“25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, June 5-8, 2008 in Grant Park

The Mayor’s Office of Special Events has completed announcing the headliners for this year’s festival:

Thursday, June 5: Guitarist and singer Johnny Winter will make his first appearance at the Chicago Blues Festival since the inaugural event in 1984. He’ll be part of the opening night celebration of Muddy Waters on Thursday, June 5th, sharing the spotlight with “Superharp” James Cotton and others.

Friday, June 6: The Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor (joined by her Blues Machine) headlines on Friday night, along with a set by Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater. There will also be a tribute to the past with a set featuring Ruby Andrews, Cicero Blake and Jackie Ross.

Saturday, June 7: Buckwheat Zydeco will headline on Saturday. The 60-year-old accordionist will bring one of the classic sounds of New Orleans to the stage. Also appearing that night will be Chicago favorite Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, the 2007 Band of the Year at the Blues Music Awards.

Sunday, June 8: Just announced to close the festival on Sunday June 8th will be the legendary B.B. King, making his first appearance at the festival in over 20 years. Other headliners on the final night include keyboardist Little Willie Littlefield, guitarist Bobby Parker and vocalist Karen Carroll, who performs with Charlie Love and Lurrie Bell.”

It’s a great time with lots of great people hanging out and watching some great music. I hope you show up and I hope you enjoy this fair city.

Post from: Jazz & Blues Lounge