Jazz & Blues Lounge

As I mentioned in an earlier post today, there is a jazz festival in the Chicago are. This is known as the JVC Jazz Festival and they apparently do festivals all over the country. I also appears to be performances at a whole variety of very cool Chicago jazz clubs.
From their website (linked above) the line up is:
Friday, July 18, 2008
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
House of Blues
329 N. Dearborn Street
(312) 923-2000
Doors open at 7:30pm
Show at 9pm
Tickets: Standing only: $45.50
Age: 17+
The Corey Wilkes Quartet featuring Greg Osby
Andy’s Jazz Club
11 E. Hubbard Street
(312) 642-6805
8pm & 10:30pm
Tickets: $21.50 in …read more

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As I was posting the activites for the weekend yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice that the information about what was happening at The Velvet Lounge indicated that it was happening at its “new location.”  Now, I have known that the Velvet Lounge was moving because it was all over the website for the pre-eminent jazz club in Chicago.  So, I decided to do a little investigating.
First off, you can click HERE for the Velveg Lounge website.  Check it out.  It’s a great place. 
It turns out, the Velvet Lounge has been operating at its new location, at 67 E. Cermak …read more

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Well, you couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend as far as the weather is concerned for the 29th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival.  It took place over Labor Day Weekend, really starting last Thursday and running through Sunday.  The area that also hosts the Taste of Chicago was the location and it had three stages filled with music all day long on all days.  This was combined with an art show and sale and lots of great food.
It certainly seems to have been a resounding success.  The initial estimates are that some 315,000 people attended the official stage performances …read more

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Well, it is finally here.  The 29th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival is officially here.  Techincally, it kicked off last night, but really, the festival doesn’t get swinging until tonight.  There is plenty of music in Grant Park tonight and you can find my articles about the festival and schedule throughout this blog.  You can also find more information here and here.  
One thing you need to keep in mind, however, is that there are other shows going on around town.  You may want to keep an eye on the Velvet Lounge, for example.  It seems to have some of the most …read more

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The flute is not nearly appreciated enough, at least in my opinion, as a jazz instrument.  I know many people who have played the intstrument and most of them seem convinced the instrutment is meant to be played for classical music purposes only.  This is too bad because the flute can be a great jazz instrument just like a trumpet, sax or piano.
Chicago just happens to be the stomping ground of one of the finest jazz floutists and this weekend looks to be a busy weekend for her.  Nicole Mitchell is her name and she was even this week’s cover …read more

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