Results for "Chicago"

Ugly Beauty: The Music and Mind of Ben Allison

by AAJ Staff
January 13, 2023

This interview was conducted by Paul F. Roberts and was first published at All About Jazz in September 2001. All of us have a story in our head-a myth of how a new jazz talent gets discovered. Here's how it goes: The young musician—let's call him “the Kid"-practices alone in his bedroom ...

David Bloom

One of Chicago's most innovative educators, David Bloom stimulates creativity in people across all disciplines. Founder of Bloom School of Jazz, and recognized as Jazz Educator of the Year by The Jazz Institute of Chicago in 2017, his spirit of imagination and pride has reached thousands of students over the past four decades. The School’s 38th Anniversary Cool Heat Concert aired on Chicago’s WTTW television and featured some of Bloom’s Grammy-winning students. Bloom, a guitarist and flautist, has been featured in Chicago Tribune, Chicago Jazz Magazine and Guitar Player Magazine, as well as WGN Channel 9 and CBS Channel 2. He judges his validity by his ability to successfully impact others and is fascinated by how people act, think and what motivates them.

2022: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 29, 2022

Current events impacted the jazz world in significant ways throughout 2022. In its third year, the coronavirus pandemic continued to lurk in some settings, while others recovered in robust fashion. Russia's war on Ukraine was felt by musicians and triggered an outpouring of support for its victims. Initiatives to ensure greater equity in jazz advanced. The ...

Joe Lovano: Cleveland's Ultimate Jazz Titan

by Matthew Alec
December 20, 2022

Friday, June 24th, 2022, saxophonist Joe Lovano's group Sound Prints (alongside trumpeter and co-leader Dave Douglas) delivered a tour de force performance to spellbound audience members at the historic Mimi Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square as a part of Cleveland's annual Tri-C JazzFest. Seasoned group interplay between drummer Rudy Royston, bassist Matt Penman, and pianist Leo ...

Chicago Trumpeter & Composer Markus Rutz announces new album 'Storybook'

December 16, 2022

JMARQ Records is pleased to announce the February 17, 2023 release of Storybook, celebrated trumpeter and composer Markus Rutz’ sixth studio release as a bandleader. Fresh off the heels of the release of his critically acclaimed albums Blueprints – Figure One, Blueprints – Figure Two, and One Saturday in September, Rutz’ new innovative work takes listeners on a musical journey from past to present, ...

Andy Brown

Andy Brown is a guitarist based in Chicago. Born in New York in 1975, he has played professionally for over twenty five years. He has had a varied performing career that has included stints in Cincinnati and New York City.

Since coming to Chicago in 2003, Andy has been fortunate to work at many of the area's finest jazz venues with his own bands, as well as playing his unique brand of solo jazz guitar. He has backed visiting jazz names at places including The Jazz Showcase and Ravinia. Currently he plays solo guitar every Thursday at The Green Mill, leads his quartet twice a month at Andy's Jazz Club and performs with his trio bi-weekly at Winter’s Jazz Club.

Tracye Eileen: You Hit The Spot

by Richard J Salvucci
December 3, 2022

The death of the Great American Songbook as a vehicle for aspiring singers is sometimes announced. Someone should tell the singers. Because this season alone has seen a crop of good recordings, most of them reviewed in AAJ, and very favorably so in the main. Tracye Eileen, a Chicago vocalist with roots in the jazz community, ...

Christopher Lucas Wilson

Christopher Lucas Wilson is a hard-swingin’ jazz pianist, originally hailing from metropolitan Detroit. His musical journey brought him to Los Angeles for a decade before he eventually settled in Chicago, where he continues to perform, record, and hone his craft.

Christopher was first introduced to music on a Grinnell Brothers piano in his parents’ living room as a young child. It was the enlightening and liberating sound of swing that first drew Christopher to jazz. That feeling sparked an exploration of Detroit’s rich musical history, a city long known for its legacy of musical legends. He first studied with the late greats Bess Bonnier and Marcus Belgrave and would proceed to join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Jazz Program, where he met esteemed bassist and educator Rodney Whitaker. By the time he graduated high school, Christopher was entrenched in swing and bebop and went on to further his studies in the jazz program at Michigan State University.

Chicago-Based Trumpeter & Composer Markus Rutz Launches New Website

November 25, 2022

Just this autumn I've refined my website and am very happy about the newest version. It's easy to peruse the content within the pages and some more features have been added. One feature available is a share button. For any tune or album that you may enjoy, the option to send a link directly to any ...

Christopher Lucas Wilson Trio

Christopher Lucas Wilson is a hard swingin' pianist originally from metropolitan Detroit, later transplanted to Los Angeles, and recently relocated to Chicago. As a child, Christopher was first introduced to music on a Grinnell Brothers piano in his parents’ living room by a now unknown piano teacher. Although this teacher’s name remains a mystery, Christopher remains indebted for his role in instilling a lifelong passion for music. 

The enlightening and freeing sound of swing is what first attracted Christopher to jazz. His interest in this feeling is what led him to begin exploring Detroit’s rich musical history which was and is replete with musical legends. He first studied with the late greats Bess Bonnier and Marcus Belgrave. Later, he would join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Jazz Program where he first met esteemed bassist and educator Rodney Whitaker. By the time Christopher graduated from high school, he was entrenched in swing and bebop and would go on to further his studies within the jazz program at Michigan State University. While at Michigan State, he had the pleasure of studying and performing with Rodney Whitaker, Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Derrick Gardner, Vincent Chandler, Randy Gilespie, Diego Rivera, and Rick Roe. After graduating Christopher immediately began performing with his trio in Detroit, including a weekly jam session at the heralded Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. A short year later, Christopher relocated to sunny swingin’ Los Angeles where he fell in love with Southern California and spent nearly a decade there as a result. During that time he played regularly with his trio and released two albums, "Feelin' Better" and “Leaving Los Angeles." Christopher moved to Chicago shortly after and is honored and excited to be part of another incredible city rich with musical history.