gram PROMOTING AND NURTURING JAZZ IN CHICAGO JULY 2020 WWW.JAZZINCHICAGO.ORG STRAIGHT AHEAD JAZZ EXCHANGE JULY 20 - 24, 2020 AN ONLINE MUSIC CONFERENCE PRESENTED BY THE JAZZ INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO AND THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

Pivoting to an expansive online format, the prized annual event offers more than 20 hours of live and pre-recorded sessions featuring some of the top names in jazz!

Responding with creativity and care to the challenges posed by these difficult times, the 2020 Straight Ahead Jazz Exchange (SAJX) promises to the among the most exciting and rewarding stay-at-home experiences of the summer.

Presented by the Jazz Institute of Chicago in collaboration with the Music Department at Columbia College Chicago, the newly renamed weeklong event (formerly known as Straight Ahead Jazz Camp) will bring into registered participants' homes a glittery roster of jazz stars including saxophonist , trumpeter Sean Jones, drummer Dana Hall and esteemed educators including José Antonio Díaz.

Workshops and master classes, accessible via laptop, tablet or mobile phone, also will feature such notable players as saxophonists Jarrard Harris, Geof Bradfield and Sharel Cassity, trumpeters Pharez Whitted and Victor Garcia, keyboardist Robert Irving III and vocalist Bobbi Wilsyn.

In addition to the musical events, SAJX will offer presentations focusing on current and historical topics on the cultural rich legacy of jazz. Among the expected high points will be a talk on women in jazz by Tia Fuller; a lecture on the role of spiritual consciousness in the music by Sean Jones; a look at "Black Music And Social Justice: Songs And Sounds Of Protest And Struggle" by Dana Hall; a "demystification" of Latin rhythms by José Antonio Díaz; a look at jazz in film by Columbia College instructor Stan West, and a salute to jazz griots by percussionist Marvin Sparks, including a tribute to .

The Exchange will offer three paths to participation. For a registration fee of $125, performers (instrumentalists and vocalists) can enroll in a series of pre-recorded master classes, focused on individual and improvisational skills, led by accomplished pros.

For a registration fee of $150, enthusiasts can engage in a series of online presentations and discussions led by special guest artists and clinicians that are designed to improve awareness and engagement pertaining to various jazz topics, including jazz history and pedagogy. Little to no performing ability is required.

And for a fee of $200, participants can access all of the sessions designed for performers and enthusiasts. (CPDUs are available for Illinois school teachers who register for this option.) "We've set things up so that registrants can select options that best fit into their summer schedule," said Diane Chandler-Marshall, the Jazz Institute's Director of Education and Artist Development. "But we do hope they will join us for the total experience." JAZZ IN CHICAGO JULY 2020 2

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First presented in 2009, SAJX has in recent years taken steps to reach out to everyday jazz fans and weekend musicians as well as educators and established players looking to brush up on their technical skills.

"In renaming our program, we wanted to take a break from what has come before and create something a widely varied audience can enjoy and get something out of," said Heather Ireland Robinson, Executive Director of the Jazz Institute. "For example, you don't need to be a musician or an educator to enjoy listening to Stan West discuss jazz in film."

"We are so excited to offer the Straight Ahead Jazz Exchange as an online experience," said Chandler-Marshall. "As much as we're looking forward to going back to our in-person offerings, we're confident this summer's online program will be one to remember." n

Here's the complete schedule:

MONDAY, July 20:

Available at 9 AM: Improvisation Sessions led by saxophonist and educator Jarrard Harris 12:30 – 1 PM: SAJX Welcome 1 – 2 PM: Dana Hall, "Black Music And Social Justice: Songs And Sounds Of Protest And Struggle," a discussion by the drummer, bandleader and educator 2:30 – 3:30 PM: Stan West, "Jazz in Film," focusing on female soundtrack contributors and the d iel works of Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee Geof Bradf

TUESDAY, July 21:

Available at 9 AM: Instrumental Master Classes, led by Geof Bradfield (woodwinds); Victor Garcia (brass); Robert Irving III (rhythm section); Bobbi Wilsyn (voice) 12:45 – 2 PM: Sean Jones, "Jazz in Spirit" 2:30 – 3:30 PM: Critic/broadcaster Neil Tesser, “Short History of Chicago Jazz”

B o bb WEDNESDAY, July 22: i W ilsyn Available at 9 AM: Improvisation Sessions led by trumpeter Pharez Whitted 12:45 – 2 PM: Marvin Sparks, "Memoirs of the Griot and their Influences on Jazz: Past, Present and Future Featuring Jimmy Heath," presented by the percussionist and educator 2:30 – 3:30 PM: Donovan Mixon, Performance Ear Training, professional clinic by the jazz guitarist and former professor

THURSDAY, July 23:

s rk Available at 9 AM: Instrumental Master Classes, led by Geof Bradfield (woodwinds); Victor pa in S Garcia (brass); Robert Irving III (rhythm section); Bobbi Wilsyn (voice) Marv 12:45 – 2 PM: Tia Fuller, lecture/discussion, “History of Women in Jazz: From Early 1900’s to Beyoncé” 2:30 – 3:30 PM: Mary Jo Papich & Panel, "Rehearsal Tips From Top Jazz Educators” presented by the Jazz Education Network (JEN) co-founder

FRIDAY, July 24:

V Available at 9 AM: Improvisation Sessions led by saxophonist Sharel Cassity ic to r Ga 12:45 – 2 PM: José Antonio Díaz, "Latin Rhythms Demystified" rcia 2:30 – 3:30 PM: Ending Reception

Visit JAZZINCHICAGO.ORG TO REGISTER FOR SAJX TODAY! (Deadline: 7/16) Your registration comes with more benefits including: • JIC Members get 10% off any registration package with promo code sent via email. • 20 CPDUs are available for Illinois School Teachers who register for the “Total Exchange” package. • One-year JIC complimentary membership at the Individual level ($40 value) •One-year digital subscription to Downbeat Magazine ($30 value)

*All Straight Ahead Jazz Exchange content will be available to stream (exclusively from the official SAJX website) until Saturday, August 1st at 11:59 PM CDT.

JAZZ IN CHICAGO JULY 2020 3 “PIECES OF COLOR” ILLUMINATES BLACK PASSION, PURPOSE, PAIN CHICAGO-BORN DRUMMER DANIEL GAYDEN SPEAKS OUT ABOUT RACISM THROUGH PERCUSSION AND POETRY

BY COREY HALL

Your quest to express your SELF through music created by Black people has led you to Western Michigan University (WMU), located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Two years into your major, Jazz Studies, Drum Set performance, your uniqueness is noticed wherever you go: store clerks’ eyes eye you intensely; worried waiters wonder what else you want besides food, and your professors, while supportive, look nothing like the music’s pioneers…or you.

What do you do?

If you are Daniel Gayden, you quash the impulse to quit. Instead, you compose “Pieces of Color: Suite of the Lives of Black Males,” and present it at your recital, your reckoning, before the School of Music.

“I needed to speak out the loudest way I could, but not in a hostile way,” said Gayden, during a recent conversation with the JazzGram. (Gayden, who grew up in Roseland, previously studied with Charles Heath and Joel Spencer.) “I was uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to use that as an excuse to abandon my growth or evolution. Being uncomfortable was going to be a growing point.”

Seven months after he began composing “Pieces of Color,” Gayden and his septet – which included two saxophones, flugelhorn, piano, guitar and bass – presented it on November 17, 2019. Gayden compared the suite’s four movements – “King’s Bliss,” “Philla,” “Tish,” and “Completion,” -- to chapters in a novel. “I knew I wanted this to be about the Black male experience in America, and I wanted these movements to hit hard,” he said.

Each movement is represented by colors corresponding to the artist’s vision, and the first three feature his poetry. Blue is the color for “King’s Bliss,” which celebrates birth. A self- described visual learner, Gayden relies on images to prompt thoughts.

“I have lights in my room that change colors. When I’m writing, I turn the room’s lights to blue,” he said. “That’s the mood I was feeling. Colors evoke moods in me when evoking Black males’ emotions.”

“A Father’s Covenant,” the poem from movement one, gives thanks to God for the natural gifts one possesses to improve the world. Here is an excerpt: “Just as you promised Abraham, your servant, a son/You deliver the highest gift here today/Let our son become the father of several kings/In their bliss/As Isaac answered your calls, so will he/For generations after I’m gone.”

“Philla,” which Gayden described as the suite’s most pivotal narrative, is inspired by James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk. This movement, whose colors are black and white, reveal the thoughts Black men have once they see how everything is different for them.

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“This is something Black people have to go through in their development that, maybe, other ethnicities don’t,” Gayden said. “It is when your parents sit you down and tell you how to act when pulled over by the police.”

Gayden’s inspiration for “The Night of June 10th,” -- the title comes from the date he wrote it – came from Baldwin’s novel when Tish, the pregnant protagonist, is receiving motherly advice in a moment that reveals her vulnerability and boosts her strength. This moment culminates when the mother said, “You got that child beneath your heart and we’re all counting on you, Fonny’s (the father) counting on you, to bring that child here safe and well. You the only one who can do it.”

“I really wanted to express these feelings to show how Black men and women live parallel lives,” Gayden said. “I’ve been talking about Black men the whole time, but Black women are going through the same thing.” Daniel Gayden An excerpt from “…June 10th” reads: “When I fear – so do you/When I cry, your tears fall first/Coretta – Betty/You see, before I share my pair of eyes – we’re in parallel lives/When I cry, your tears fall first/Mother, "Danny Gayden’s “Pieces of Color” is a grandmothers, ancestors.” remarkable project and unlike anything Blue and purple, the colors for “Tish,” were conjured up by Gayden because they radiate darkness my students have ever produced. His and mystery. The moods the artist sought for this movement, which he described as musically minimal, compositions, poetry and performance are akin to walking into a jazz club…or listening to were unique, extremely personal, and . moved me to tears. It was fun to see “Human Being,” the poem included in this movement, addresses mortality, immortality, and asks this project begin with a seed of an idea what it is to be human. An excerpt reads: “I am a human/One with fingers, toes, and teeth/I am in my and grow into one of the most amazing most natural state of awareness/I can love/I do love…” student recitals I have ever witnessed." Gayden released “Tish” on iTunes last month. Jesse Lemons, the trumpeter on the recital and recording, shared his thoughts about Gayden on his Facebook page. - Keith Hall, Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies, Western Michigan University. “Daniel is a badass, a truly dedicated musician, a supportive brotha in the black community, a light amongst the bull**** in music school, and a wonderful composer,” he wrote. “I had the pleasure of recording this tune with him, and to this day, it still blows me away. Thank you for being you, brotha.”

Yellow and white, the colors for “Completion,” represent heaven in Gayden’s imagination. Here, the rain has ended and been replaced by the son/a son/a seed once planted now present.

“This life is more than you. It’s about what you are doing for the generations that come after you,” Gayden said. “I, as a Black man, am able to leave a legacy. That’s my end goal.” n

JAZZ IN CHICAGO JULY 2020 5 REMEMBERING ART HOYLE

BY AARON COHEN

For 70 years, trumpeter Art Hoyle’s fluid tone enhanced an abundance of jazz groups and recording sessions while he stayed tied to the Chicago area. That commitment continued until his death from Alzheimer’s on June 4 at 90. As part of his devotion to music in this city, he was also a longtime mentor to younger artists who reached out to him for guidance.

I had the pleasure of seeing Hoyle perform in numerous bands and had the privilege of speaking to him on a few occasions. His memory was always as sharp as his playing and Hoyle’s kind voice mirrored his onstage lyricism.

Hoyle’s life began in Mississippi, but he moved to Gary, Ind., as a teen and started playing at Roosevelt University’s jam sessions in the late 1940s. He served in the U.S. Air Force, lived in New York for a spell in the 1950s but by 1961 he was back in Chicago area to stay. Local peers and visiting jazz stars valued his impeccable technique. His feel for swing became especially valuable to Lionel Hampton and Hoyle’s strong performance with this orchestra can be seen on the DVD, Lionel Hampton: Live in ’58. But when I interviewed him in 2017, I was especially interested in his work with one prominent ensemble at that time: The Sun Ra Arkestra. His introduction to this band came from his air force friend, saxophonist John Gilmore. Sun Ra offered a different kind of test that Hoyle eagerly accepted.

“We worked a lot, rehearsed a lot in [saxophonist] Pat Patrick’s living room,” Hoyle said. “Sun Ra was well read and a very interesting person. He’d write things for that you usually don’t do: low to up, sideways. It was challenging but very worthwhile.”

When Hoyle toured Iran and North Africa as part of Hampton’s band, he found out how the fanbase for those Arkestra recordings had spread around the world (if not even farther). My primary reason for interviewing him three years ago was for research in Chess Records’ 1960s studio sessions; he played on myriad wonderful soul albums from Billy Stewart, Terry Callier and so many others. This was an active time for top jazz musicians like himself to find recording, broadcast and commercial work in Chicago.

“We were running from place to place at that time, all Art Hoyle (1929 - 2020) the various studios,” Hoyle said. “I lived in Gary, so I’d have something at 8 in the morning, 25, 30 minutes, run through it, I’d come home and then have something at 1 in the afternoon, drive back again and something else may be in one of the jazz clubs.”

While Hoyle worked on several advertising sessions, he also spoke about how proud he was to have narrated a documentary on Martin Luther King that the educational division of the Singer Corporation produced. He stayed busy playing concerts even after the jobs for live musicians in this city’s commercial and studio dates declined. But one of Hoyle’s crucial later recording dates was on Mike Reed’s People, Places And Things’ 2010 album, Stories & Negotiations. Alongside other veteran guests Ira Sullivan and Julian Priester, Hoyle participated in this group’s look at post-bop composition in Chicago. While he lamented the decline of music education in the public schools, he continued instructing wherever and as often as he could. Hoyle always knew that teaching, just like learning, is a commitment for life. n

JAZZ IN CHICAGO JULY 2020 6 JIC EVENTS

July 10 (6:30pm): Emerging Artists Project at Navy Pier's Fresh Fest Navy Pier, Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park | 600 E. Grand Ave | Free and open to the public! Click here to read more about Navy Pier's COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. July 20 - 24: Straight Ahead Jazz Exchange Virtual Conference | Visit jazzinchicago.org for more information.

*PLEASE NOTE: Not all venues have their schedules set by our deadlines VIRTUAL EVENTS CALENDAR or present jazz exclusively. Call ahead or check their websites.

EXPERIMENTAL SOUND STUDIO...... 5925 N. Ravenswood 773-998-1069/www.ess.org July 5 (12PM): TQC - Galactic Zoo and Singleman Affair Present: Million Tongues (Day 1) See full schedule at and livestream at https://ess.org/ esscalendar/million-tongues-day1 July 6 (8PM): Option: Nat Aldwin. Livestream at https://ess.org/esscalendar/option-nat-baldwin July 13 (8PM): Option: Joanna Mattrey. Livestream at https://ess.org/esscalendar/option-joannamattrey July 20 (8PM): Option: Tashi Dorji. Livestream at https://ess.org/esscalendar/option-tashidorji July 27 (8PM): Option: Mette Rasmussen. Livestream at https://ess.org/esscalendar/option-metterasmussen ELASTIC ARTS...... 2830 N. Milwaukee/elasticarts.org July 15 (8PM): An Improvised Music Exchange Between Mexico City and Chicago, March 13-15, 2020. July 28 (9PM): Mako Sica w/ guest Tatsu Aoki FULTON STREET COLLECTIVE/ JAZZ RECORD ART COLLECTIVE 1821 W. Hubbard/773-852-2481. fultonstreetcollective.com/ jazzrecordartcollective.com All Shows Will Be Live-Streamed via Facebook and Instagram live from FSC. There will be no on-site audience until further notice. July 8 (7PM): McCullough/Shultz Quartet perform Larry Young's 1965 release "Unity" LIVESTREAM ACCESS: https://www.facebook.com/events/198547778091473/ July 9 (7PM) Paul Mutzabaugh Trio July 15 (7PM): Lenard Simpson Trio July 16 (7PM): Mardra & Reggie Thomas perform Billie Holiday's 1958 release "Lady in Satin" LIVESTREAM ACCESS: https://www.facebook.com/events/744756266352900/ July 22 (8PM): Luke Malewicz Quartet perform "A Night of Thad Jones" July 23 (8PM): Geof Bradfield & Ryan Cohan perform selections from Stan Getz & Kenny Barron's 1992 release "People Time" LIVESTREAM ACCESS: https://www.facebook.com/events/895969534219236/ July 29 (8PM): Tim Seisser Sextet perform Weather Report's 1977 release "Heavy Weather" LIVESTREAM ACCESS: https://www.facebook.com/events/3072926379453465/ MCA'S TUESDAYS ON THE TERRACE - HOME EDITION All performances start at 5:30PM Jul 7: Thaddeus Tukes on the Vibes Jul 14: Julius Tucker Jul 21: Tatsu Aoki’s MIYUMI Project Jul 28: Dee Alexander WINTER’S JAZZ CLUB.....465 N. McClurg Court (on the promenade) 312.344.1270, www.wintersjazzclub.com, [email protected] All performances start at 7pm July 3: Don Vappie w/ special guest Victor Goines July 17: Andy Brown & Petra Van Nuis July 31: Jeremy Kahn Trio

JAZZGRAM

A monthly newsletter published by the Jazz Institute of Chicago for its members. The Jazzgram represents the views of the authors, and unless so designated, does not reflect official policy of the Jazz Institute. We welcome news and articles with differing opinions.

Managing Editor: Adriana Prieto Design: Letterform | Production: Adriana Prieto Correspondents: Aaron Cohen, Corey Hall, Howard Mandel Board of Directors: President: David Helverson Vice Presidents: Timuel Black, Warren Chapman, Roxana Espoz, Brian Myerholtz, William Norris, Keyonn Pope Secretary: Howard Mandel Treasurer: Darryl Wilson Emeritus Director: Joseph B. Glossberg Executive Director: Heather Ireland Robinson Board Members: David Bloomberg, Miguel de la Cerna, Dan Epstein, Matthew Goldfine, Rajiv Halim, Jarrard Harris, Bill King, Jason Koransky, Terry Martin, Ted Oppenheimer, Bethany Pickens, Mike Reed, Kent Richmond, Judith E. Stein, Conrad Terry, Neil Tesser

Founded in 1969, the Jazz Institute of Chicago, a not-for-profit corporation, promotes and nurtures jazz in Chicago by providing jazz education, developing and supporting musicians, building Chicago audiences and fostering a thriving jazz scene. 410 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago IL 60605 | 312-427-1676 • Fax: 312-427-1684 • JazzInChicago.org The Jazz Institute of Chicago is supported in part by The Alphawood Foundation | The Francis Beidler Foundation | The Chicago Community Trust | A CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events | Crown Family Philanthropies | The Philip Darling Foundation | The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation | The Illinois Arts Council Agency | Lloyd A. Fry Foundation | The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince | The National Endowment for the Arts | The Oppenheimer Family Foundation | The Polk Bros. Foundation | The Benjamin Rosenthal Foundation | Wells Fargo Foundation

JAZZ IN CHICAGO JULY 2020 7 EDUCATION CORNER

STRAIGHT AHEAD JAZZ EXCHANGE MONDAY, JULY 20 - FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020 PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO See pages 1 and 2 for more information. Register at jazzinchicago.org by July 16! NEXTGENJAZZ:EMERGING ARTISTS PROJECT AT NAVY PIER! Join us at Navy Pier to check out two of the best up-and-coming pianists Chicago has to offer! We are proud to feature Emerging Artists Project alumni Jahari Stampley and Devin Shaw at Navy Pier’s Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park on Friday, July 10th. All available precautions are being taken to insure a safe and enjoyable visit to Navy Pier. Appropriately spaced seating areas are outlined on the lawn and all visitors are asked to wear a mask and practice safe distancing guidelines. Click here to read more about Navy Pier's COVID-19 Safety Guidelines.

JAHARI STAMPLEY AND DEVIN SHAW FRIDAY, JULY 10TH 6:30-8:30PM LAKE STAGE AT POLK BROS PARK 600 E GRAND AVE FREE CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020! Congratulations to the graduating seniors from our Jazz Links Student Council! We’re thrilled to announce that all of our graduates will be attending college in the fall; many of them with scholarships to continue their education in music. We’re excited to see all that you accomplish!

FRANCIS BASSETT-DILLEY LEO BUCZKOWSKI MATEYKO JAZZWINSKI GARRETT MUNZ Indiana University DePaul University San Francisco DePaul University Jacobs School of Music Conservatory of Music (Oak Park and River Forest High School) (Oak Park and River Forest High School) (Chicago Academy for the Arts) (Mundelein High School)

RAHSAAN NANCE JESUS PALAFOX RUFUS PARENTI Oberlin College and Conservatory Malcom X City College of Chicago DePaul University (Latin School of Chicago) (Thomas Kelly of Chicago) (Oak Park and River Forest High School) DATED MATERIAL

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