The Chicago Jazz Festival officially opens with a ticketed performance at the Chicago Symphony Center on Thursday, August 31 at 7:30p.m. with a John Coltrane 80th Birthday Anniversary: Ballads and Brass. This fitting tribute to inspirational and sensational jazz musician Coltrane will feature The Joshua Redman Quartet and Kurt Elling with special guest Ari Brown. Tickets are available at the Chicago Symphony Center box office, (312) 294-3000 or on www.cso.org.
The festival then moves to Grant Park on Friday, September 1, for three days of FREE music on three stages. The event opens daily at 11 a.m., with music beginning at noon on the Jazz on Jackson stage and 12:30 p.m. at the Jazz and Heritage Family Stage. Then at 5 p.m., music lights up the night at the Petrillo Music Shell for three evenings of spectacular Jazz performances, tributes and entertainment for any fan of Jazz music to enjoy.
Continuing the Chicago Jazz Festival tradition of an Artist-in-Residence, Lee Konitz will perform with a variety of groups throughout the festival on all three stages. Konitz has played improvised music for more than six decades and is considered one of the most influential alto saxophonists in the early development of modern jazz. He partnered with Miles Davis in the nine-piece band that developed the Birth of the Cool material, and is generally regarded as one of the architects of 'cool' playing.
The festival will offer tributes to New Orleans from beginning to end, starting at the Petrillo Music Shell on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with Dr. Michael White's Original Liberty Jazz Band. Currently displaced from Hurricane Katrina and living in Texas, Chicago warmly welcomes them to kick-off the event. Sunday will continue the tribute as the Jazz on Jackson Stage showcases a mix of Chicagoans and New Orleans musicians. On Sunday evening The Donald Harrison Quintet will perform on the Petrillo Music Shell at 5:00 p.m. One of the most confident and convincing improvisers in jazz today, last year New Orleans native Donald Harrison truly embodied the spirit of the Crescent City when having lost everything, he still appeared on stage at the 2005 Chicago Jazz Festival.
On Friday, September 1, Malachi Thompson & Africa Brass takes command of the Petrillo Music Shell with a 13-piece brass ensemble. Trumpeter Malachi Thompson is universally recognized as one of Chicago's most innovative, insightful and colorful musicians. Joining him is special guest Billy Harper.
No jazz fan can deny the impact of Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool for launching a reaction to the prominent bebop form in modern jazz. Saxophonist Joe Lovano, known for his natural musical ability and affinity of paying homage to legendary musicians including Frank Sinatra and Enrico Caruso is a natural choice to recollect this milestone in Jazz history. Join the Joe Lovano Nonet as they celebrate the 80th Birthday Anniversary of Miles Davis by revisiting his Birth of the Cool on Saturday, September 2 at the Petrillo Music Shell.
The Petrillo Music Shell will come alive one more time on Sunday night to end the festival with a grand finale including Lee Konitz's Nonet, followed by the Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Ron Blake.
In addition to the music, the Chicago Jazz Festival features an art fair located in the rose garden just south of Jackson. The fair offers a variety of handmade crafts and artwork.
The Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park, September 1-3, opens each day at 11 a.m. Performance hours are:
Jazz on Jackson Stage 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Jazz & Heritage Family Stage 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Petrillo Music Shell 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
The city of Chicago celebrates Jazz all week-long, beginning Monday, August 28 with a free concert at Millennium Park's renowned Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a Jazz Institute of Chicago Gala concert on Tuesday, and the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Club tour on Wednesday. For one low price, visit some of Chicago's most renowned Jazz Clubs, with stops at the Green Mill on the north side and the Jazz Showcase and HotHouse in the South Loop. To contact the Jazz Institute of Chicago call 312-427-1676.
For more information on the Chicago Jazz Festival call the Mayor's Office of Special Events at (312) 744-3315, TTY (312) 744-2964 or visit the Mayor's Office of Special Events on the Internet at www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents. For great hotel rates or to book your vacation to Chicago to enjoy the Chicago Jazz Festival call 1 877 CHICAGO.
The Mayor's Office of Special Events encourages taking public transportation to all lakefront festivals. Call (312) 836-7000, TTY (312) 836-4949 for information on RTA, CTA, PACE and Metra. Lakefront parking is available at the Millennium Park Garage, East Monroe, Grant Park North and Grant Park South garages. Free Bike Valet is located on the northwest corner of Lake Shore Drive and Monroe.
The Chicago Jazz festival is presented by the City of Chicago and U.S. Cellular and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago. Other generous sponsors include American Airlines, AT&T Blue Room, Billy Goat Tavern & Grill, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Chicago Public Radio, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Tribune, CLTV-ChicagoLand's Television, Communications Direct, Connie's Pizza, Downbeat Magazine, Essex Inn, Heineken, Hinckley Springs, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, JazzTimes Magazine, LaGrou Distribution System, Los Dos Laredos Restaurant, National City Corporation, Pepsi-Cola, Robinson's #1 Ribs, Sheraton Chicago, Star of Siam, Starbucks, Westin River North, WGN-Television and WSSD Radio-FM 88.1.
Chicago Jazz Festival Schedule
Thursday, August 31
Chicago Symphony Center
220 S. Michigan Avenue
7:30 p.m. ticketed concert
“John Coltrane 80th Birthday Anniversary: Ballads and Brass", featuring Joshua Redman Quartet,
Kurt Elling with special guest Ari Brown
12:30-1:30 West Aurora High School Jazz Band
2:00-3:00 “Art of the Solo" with Nicole Mitchell and Edward Wilkerson Jr.
3:30-4:30 Jazz Links All-Stars with Ken Chaney
Petrillo Music Shell
5:00-5:50 Dr. Michael White's Original Liberty Jazz Band
6:00-6:55 Malachi Thompson & Africa Brass with Billy Harper
7:10-8:10 Nneena Freelon
8:30-9:30 Charlie Hunter Trio with Ray Anderson
Friday, September 1
Grant Park
Jazz on Jackson Stage
12-12:55 John Moulder Ensemble
1:10-2:05 Frieda Lee
2:20-3:15 Organissimo
3:30-4:30 Bobby Lewis Jazz Sextet
Jazz & Heritage Stage
6:00-6:55 Bik Bent Braam
7:10-8:10 Jason Moran and The Bandwagon with Bunky Green
8:30-9:30 Joe Lovano Nonet Revisits Miles Davis' “Birth of the Cool"
Saturday, September 2
Grant Park
Jazz on Jackson Stage
12-12:55 Chevere
1:10-2:40 Earma Thompson and John Whitfield
2:40-3:10 Ben Lewis
3:20-3:15 Lee Konitz Jazz Workshop
3:30-4:30 Dana Hall Quintet
Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30-1:30 Dos Claves Orquestra
2:00-3:00 “Percussion Discussion" with Paul Wertico
3:30-4:30 Muntu Dance Company
Petrillo Music Shell
5:00-5:50 Tribute To Oscar Brown Jr. with his daughters Maggie and Africa Brown
Sunday, September 3
Grant Park
Jazz on Jackson Stage
“A Salute to New Orleans"
12-12:55 Lucky 7s
1:10-3:15 Maurice Brown/Corey Wilkes “Crescent City/Windy City Jam"
3:30-4:30 Rebirth Jazz Band
Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30-1:30 Civic & Arts Jazz Ensemble
2:00-3:00 Hijazz
3:30-4:30 “A History of Jazz" with John Watson
Petrillo Music Shell
5:00-5:50 Donald Harrison Quintet
6:00-6:55 Willie Pickens' 75th Birthday Celebration
7:10-8:10 Lee Konitz's New Nonet directed by Ohad Talmor.
8:30-9:30 Joey DeFrancesco Trio with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Ron Blake
For more information contact All About Jazz.
