Journey Through Jazz
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gram JAZZ PROMOTING AND NURTURING JAZZ IN CHICAGO FEBRUARY 2019 WWW.JAZZINCHICAGO.ORG JAZZCITY TRAVELS ON A “JOURNEY THROUGH JAZZ” TO CELEBRATE THE JAZZ INSTITUTE’S 50th ANNIVERSARY On March 16, 1969 the newly formed Jazz Institute Leftridge, trumpeter Constantine Alexander (heard last of Chicago (JIC) presented its first concert at the Field year with Chucho Valdes at JazzCity’s Latin Jazz Festival), Museum’s Simpson Auditorium. Remarkably, not only guitarist Jackson Shepard, bassist Kurt Shelby (an alumni was the 1,150 capacity theater sold out, but newspaper of the JIC’s Jazz Links education program), drummer accounts report that at least 2000 people were turned away Samuel Jewell and pianist Julius Tucker (featured at the from what was billed as a “Journey through Jazz”. The 2018 Chicago Jazz Festival’s Rooftop Jazz stage) will let concert featured JIC co-founders Franz Jackson, Art Hodes us know what the present generation has up their sleeves. and Richard Abrams along with Lil Hardin Armstrong, Bunky Green, Art Hoyle and bluesman J.B. Hutto. The 2019 JAZZ CITY FULL SEASON SCHEDULE program traced the origins of the music from field hollers Please Note: Artists and venues may be subject to change. All concerts begin to the fresh new experiments of the Association for the at 7pm and are family friendly and free unless otherwise noted! Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). As writer FEBRUARY 8: NEXTGENJAZZ SUMMIT @Theater on the Lake Larry Kart described it “Here were musicians of many 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive eras finding a common ground. And that is what The Jazz Under the direction of saxophonist and educator Jarrard Harris the season Institute is all about”. Fifty years later, that is still what the opens with the vibrant jazz future represented by a septet of the brightest Jazz Institute of Chicago is all about. new voices on the jazz scene today. Featuring Constantine Alexander on trumpet, Brent Griffin and Kenneth Leftridge on saxophones, Julius The 22nd season of the JazzCity free concert series, a Tucker on piano, Kurt Shelby on bass, and Samuel Jewell on drums. collaboration with the Chicago Park District that brings Dedicated to co-founders Dan Morgenstern and John Steiner bring music directly to Chicago’s neighborhoods and celebrates jazz’s deep connection to our city’s culture will MARCH 8: WOMEN OF CHICAGO JAZZ – A Tribute to Dorothy continue to reflect the big picture, as Jazz in Chicago Donegan, Lil Armstrong, and Earma Thompson @Garfield Park turns 100 years old (Joe King Oliver arrived from New Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave Orleans in 1919) and the Jazz Institute turns 50. Opening Pianists Alexis Lombre and Bethany Pickens explore the impact and influence of three of Chicago’s most prominent women pianists: Lil Hardin with the annual NextGenJazz showcase and closing with Armstrong, Dorothy Donegan, and Earma Thompson. With Kaliq Woods on a salute to the music’s early innovators, each concert will clarinet, Junius Paul on bass, Pharez Whitted on trumpet and Charles be dedicated to co-founders of the organization who came Heath on drums together to make sure there would always be a place for Dedicated JIC co-founders Harriet Choice and Penny Tyler jazz to be heard in this town. APRIL 5: THE BLUES BRANCH @Ellis Park, The first concert, scheduled for February 8, 2019 at 3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave 7pm at the Theater on the Lake located at 2401 N. Lake Billy Branch has been a mainstay in both the blues and jazz scenes in Shore Drive, is the third annual summit of rising stars in Chicago for decades – a link between the two that illustrates that the roots the Chicago scene. Under the direction of saxophonist and of jazz come from the mother tree of the blues. Branch explores this notion with 91 year old guitar wizard and his band, educator Jarrard Harris, the season opener will feature a George Freeman Sons of the Blues. handpicked septet who will focus on presenting their own Dedicated to JIC co-founder Bob Koester original music. Saxophonists Brent Griffin and Kenneth continued on page 2 JazzCity is a free concert series initiated in 1997 by the Jazz Institute in collaboration with the Chicago Park District, now in its 21st season of bringing people together from across the city to listen to Chicago’s top jazz musicians. JazzCity is sponsored by WDCB 90.9 FM and WHPK 88.5 FM Radio and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information visit www.Jazzinchicago.org or call 312-427-1676. JAZZ IN CHICAGO FEBRUARY 2019 2 JAZZ CITY FULL SEASON SCHEDULE continued from page 1 MAY 10: BIG BAND/BIG DANCE! @LaFollette Park, 1333 N. Laramie Ave The South Side Jazz Band under the direction of Tom Tom Washington mines the vast wealth of established and new talent on the south side of the city and has developed a repertoire that reflects the many streams of music that have shaped jazz , including swing, rhythm and blues, soul and funk. Dedicated to JIC co-founder Richard Wang and Don Demicheal BY COREY HALL JULY 12-14: CHICAGO LATIN JAZZ FESTIVAL @ Humboldt Park Boathouse 1301 N. Sacramento and Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave. Jane Bunnett and Maqueque highlight this year’s festival. A long-time jazz musician on the scene, Canadian Jane Bunnett began digging deep into the music of Cuba during a trip there in 1982. Her latest project, Maqueque is a a sextet which includes herself and five extraordinary young Cuban women. A tribute to trumpeter and conguero Jerry Gonzales by the Chicago Latin Jazz Collaborative will also be featured. SEPTEMBER 27: BEBOP BLAST! @Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake St Chicago has always been a big bebop town, thanks in no small part to impresario Joe Segal’s determination to spread the word. In the late 60s the scene’s young lions included multi-reedist Ira Sullivan and alto player Bunky Green along with pianist and vibist Stu Katz. The three octogenarians will reunite, representing a wide arc of history of the bebop form. With Dennis Carroll on bass and Kyle Swann on drums Dedicated to JIC co-founder Joe Segal NOVEMBER 1: PLAY IT FORWARD @Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St Keyboardist Justin Dillard’s approach to creating music comes from the melting pot of Chicago music. His improvisational and compositional roots are deep in jazz, world, old school R&B, country, Latin, blues, and groove based music, and include studying with AACM and JIC co-founder Muhal Richard Abrams. His ensemble, Compartmental Visions will carry forward Muhal’s vision of collective creativity with Edwin Daugherty on alto saxophone, Steve Berry on trombone, Junius Paul on bass and Vincent Davis on drums. Dedicated to JIC co-founders Muhal Richard Abrams, Terry Martin and Chuck Nessa DECEMBER 6: A TRADITION OF INNOVATION @ South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive 100 years ago when jazz traveled upriver from New Orleans it took on a distinctly urban shape, embodied by horn men Joe King Oliver, Louis Armstrong. Saxophonist Franz Jackson, pianists Art Hodes and others embraced what became known as Traditional jazz and deepened its musical roots. Known more for his blues and boogie chops, pianist Erwin Helfer connects to the trad roots of the music accompanied by saxophonist Eric Schneider, trombonist Russ Phillips, clarinetist Mwata Bowden, bassist Jeremiah Hunt and drummer Bob Rummage, with special guest vocalist Bobbi Wilsyn. Dedicated to JIC co-founders Franz Jackson and Art Hodes JAZZ IN CHICAGO FEBRUARY 2019 3 THE JIC TURNS 50 – YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION OF JAZZ JAZZ IS . HAPPENING With our 50-year history of nurturing and promoting jazz in all its forms through concerts, public events and educational programming, the JIC celebrates this golden anniversary throughout 2019 with a year-long celebration of jazz music. Our goal is to reach the minds and hearts and souls of as many as possible with special concerts, a jazz film festival, a jazz listening session series, family programming, art exhibitions, a house+jazz dance party, youth and education programming, and a weekend-long birthday bash at the Logan Center for the Arts that showcases the diversity of jazz and our community, our cultural partners and the foundations upon which the organization has grown. For more information on our programs, visitww.jazzinchicago.org.ground. And that is what The Jazz Institute is all about. n “DIGGING OUR ROOTS” LISTENING SESSIONS JIC’S BIRTHDAY BASH! Beginning in January - At The Chicago Cultural Center Sat., June 29 & Sunday, June 30, Logan Center for the Arts Interactive listening sessions featuring journalists and musicians 2-day indoor jazz fair reaches all ages and leverages partners discussing important jazz recordings – addressed to all age in the celebration of jazz music. All areas of the Logan Center audiences. will be lit up with concerts, panels, dance performances, art making activity and a midway of vendors and art organization THURSDAY JANUARY 24: Eric Schneider and Richard Steele on info tables. Louis Armstrong and Earl “Fatha” Hines THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21: Blues and boogie pianist Erwin JAZZ FILM FESTIVAL Helfer and writer and former downbeat Magazine editor John May – December at various locations including Music McDonough on pianist Jelly Roll Morton Box Theatre, Northeastern Illinois University, and Chicago Filmmakers THURSDAY MARCH 21: Pianist, composer, bandleader Robert “Baabe” Irving III and WBEZ/Vocolo DJ Ayana Contreras on The Chicago Film Society presents an eight program “Jazz- Chicago Jazz and Pop (Earth Wind and Fire, Minnie Ripperton, on-Film” series including many archival and restored prints. Curtis Mayfield) Titles include 'Round Midnight, Mo’ Better Blues, Jazz 34: Remembrances Of Kansas City, Blues In The Night, Reet, Petite, THURSDAY APRIL 25: Tenorwoman Juli Wood and jazz And Gone, Swing!, and Ornette: Made In America.