SummerDance
15th Annual Chicago SummerDance
July 7 to September 18, Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
601 S. Michigan Avenue (Between Harrison Street and Balbo Drive)
Chicago SummerDance Hotline: 312.742.4077
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Dance lessons: 6-7PM Live Music & Dancing 7-9:30PM
Sunday afternoon Dance lessons: 4-5 Live Music & Dancing 5-7PM
Weather permitting!!
Jul 7, 2011 Funkadesi (Bollywood, Bhangra, Reggae and Funk)
Jul 8, 2011 Lost Bayou Ramblers (Cajun Swamp Music)
Jul 9, 2011 Grupo Rebolú (Columbian)
Jul 10, 2011 New Millennium Swing Collective (Big Band Swing)
Jul 14, 2011 Megitza Quartet (Gypsy and Carpathian Folk Music)
Jul 15, 2011 Golden Horse Ranch Band (Country and Square Dance)
Jul 16, 2011 Angel Melendez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra (Mambo)
Jul 17, 2011 Teddy Lee Orchestra (Ballroom)
Jul 21, 2011 Orkestar Sloboda (Balkan Dance Music)
Jul 22, 2011 Paito Silgado (Columbian Folk Music)
Jul 23, 2011 The Platinum Band (Soul Train Dance Party)
Jul 24, 2011 Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra (Vintage Ballroom)
Jul 28, 2011 L’Orchestre Super Vitesse (West African Big Band)
Jul 29, 2011 The Boilermaker Jazz Band (Swing and Jazz)
Jul 30, 2011 Matuto (Northeastern Brazilian Dance Music)
Jul 31, 2011 Nancy Hays & The Robert Benson Orchestra (Ballroom)
Aug 4, 2011 Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble (Salsa, Merengue, Latin Jazz)
Aug 11, 2011 Raul Jaurena & Maria de Buenos Aires Tango Orchestra (Argentine Tango)
Aug 12, 2011 Samba Django (Senegalese Fulani Dance Music)
Aug 13, 2011 Debo Band with special guests Fendika (Ethio Funk)
Aug 14, 2011 John Burnett Orchestra (Big Band)
Aug 18, 2011 Lamajamal (Middle Eastern and Balkan Dance Music)
Aug 19, 2011 Bonne Chance (Cajun)
Aug 20, 2011 Charanga Tropical (Cuban Salsa)
Aug 21, 2011 Willy Torres (Salsa Dura)
Aug 25, 2011 Tangata (Golden Age Tango)
Aug 26, 2011 DJ Casper (stepping and Slide Music)
Aug 27, 2011 Hoyle Brothers (Honky Tonk Country)
Aug 28, 2011 Sam Burckhardt Nonet (Swing)
Sep 1, 2011 Sones de México Ensemble (Regional Mexican Folk Dance)
Sep 2, 2011 De La Buena (Latin Jazz and Afro-Carribean Dance Music)
Sep 3, 2011 The Flat Cats (Jump Blues-Swing)
Sep 4, 2011 Weiss Brothers Orchestra (Ballroom)
Sep 8, 2011 Grupa Legenda (Balkan Traditional Dance Party Music)
Sep 9, 2011 Locos Por Juana (Pan-Latin Cornucopia)
Sep 10, 2011 Outcast Jazz Band (Big Band Swing)
Sep 11, 2011 Steve Cooper Orchestra (Ballroom)
Sep 15, 2011 Occidental Brothers Dance Band International (African Soukous)
Sep 16, 2011 Joaquin Diaz (Dominican Dance Music)
Sep 17, 2011 Bulgarika with Nikolay Kolev (Bulgarian Folk)
Sep 18, 2011 Sergent Garcia (Salsa and Reggae)
Music Without Borders
SEVEN INTERNATIONAL CONCERTS FROM EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA AND NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA
Explore the world and discover music from cultures spanning the entire globe when Music Without Borders returns to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park for its sixth summer. Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.
Thursday, June 9 at 6:30pm
From Inner Mongolia, via Beijing, come six-piece Hanggai, bringing their unique sounds of Mongolian folk music to the stage. Adapted from local songs of the inner Mongolian grasslands, lead singer Ilchi uses the extraordinary art of growled overtone technique (throat singing) alongside traditional instrumentation, providing audiences with an evening of otherworldly music and Asian crossover music at its best.
With a sound as warm and unpretentious as his Honduran upbringing, Aurelio Martinez has spent almost his entire life transforming the sights, sounds, and smells of West Africa and the Caribbean into a carefully crafted sonic art form. The current pinnacle of the Garifuna music scene, Martinez is known for his innate ability to respectably honor the genre’s extensive lineage while subtly innovating it with every new song.
Thursday, June 16 at 6:30pm
Dandana: A Celebration of Muslim Voices featuring Hakim + Alim Qasimov Ensemble
Recognized worldwide as a leader of the movement to popularize music of the younger generation (jeel), Hakim is an innovator who has revolutionized the genre of sha’bi (indigenous Egyptian music). His songs fuse traditional melodies with urban dance beats, and his lyrics chronicle daily life through the rhythm of street slang. A major figure in the international music scene, Hakim has played to sell-out crowds throughout the world.
The evening opens with the six member Alim Qasimov Ensemble of Azerbaijan. One of the foremost mugham singers of classical Azerbaijan song, Qasimov is a recipient of the International Music Council—UNESCO Music Prize in 1999, one of the highest accolades for music worldwide. Accompanied by the daf (drums), balaban (woodwinds) and kamancha (strings), audiences will be transported by the sounds of his vocal technique along with his passion and devotion.
Dandana: A Celebration of Muslim Voices is presented in collaboration with Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) and the Aga Khan Music Initiative, a program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
Thursday, June 23 at 6:30pm
Standing for the initials of its founder Richard A. Morse, RAM champions the mizik rasin musical movement, an art form originating in Haiti in the late 1980s, combining Voodoo culture with rock and roll. Internationally renowned for their effortless intermingling of these two starkly different musical forms, RAM is also known for their outspoken, strong political stand found in their lyrics.
Afro-fusion can take many forms, and in the case of Sexteto Tabala, it materializes in the shape of an Afrobeat body with a Columbian soul. Merging strong Spanish influences with classic African undertones, Sexteto Tabala creates a distinctive, and truly intoxicating blended genre that is all their own.
Thursday, June 30 at 6:30p
Diogo Nogueira + Freshlyground
Millennium Park welcomes 30 year old Diogo Nogueira, one of Brazil’s rising stars of samba and a 2008 Latin Grammy Award-nominee for Best New Artist. A native of Rio de Janiero, Nogueira performs the samba-canção, a more melodic variation of the samba, full of romantic lyrics that wax poetic about love, music, soccer, and an endless infatuation with Rio.
www.diogonogueira.com.br/english
With band members hailing from South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, Freshlyground makes their Chicago debut in Millennium Park, seamlessly blending folk, jazz, blues, and indie-rock with traditional African beats. With four celebrated albums, an MTV Award and a collaboration with Shakira in the 2010 World Cup, Freshlyground has established their place on the international music map.
Thursday, July 7 at 6:30p
Paris-based Caravan Palace brings its own unique brand of electroswing—a mix of gypsy jazz, American swing and a high energy electronic beat—to Millennium Park. With influences ranging from Django Reinhardt to Daft Punk, the dancing sounds of Caravan Palace will be one not to miss.
A Belgian rapper of Congolese decent, Baloji comes to Millennium Park bringing a seamless blend of Afrobeat crossed with Hip Hop sounds. His two albums, Hotel Impala and last year’s stunning Kinshasa Succursale, show off Baloji’s diversity of styles and unique vocal sounds—a mix of Congolese dance music (soukous), 60s soul and the lyrical edge of Hip Hop’s pioneers.
Thursday, July 14 at 6:30pm
Sierra Maestra + Susheela Raman
Originally founded at the University of Havana in 1976, Sierra Maestra has spent the last 35 years revitalizing, reinventing, and preserving the Cuban son music tradition. They have played their infectious dance music around the world, redefining this style for new generations and reintroducing it into the Cuban mainstream.
British musician Susheela Raman exploded onto the music scene in 2001 with her debut album, Salt Rain, garnering meteoric success and earning the UK’s coveted Mercury Prize. She keeps her tamil heritage alive in her music—a mix of South Indian classical music crossed with jazz, folk and pop influences and makes her Chicago debut in Millennium Park this summer as part of “Eye on India.”
Thursday, July 21 at 6:30pm
Growing up in Israel to a Yemenite family, Ravid Kahalani quickly learned to appreciate the artistic undertones of his cultures’ traditional chants. Wanting to further that appreciation into a tangible art form, Kahalani created Yemen Blues, a hybrid musical experience that combines strong Yemenite melodies with the world of blues, jazz and funk. This event is supported by the Israeli Consulate of Chicago.
Niger’s Etran Finatawa’s hypnotic musical groove evokes the breathless heat and shimmering horizon of the Sahara. Literally meaning “stars of tradition,” the band of Wodaabe and Touareg nomads bring their laid back guitars, driving rhythms and compelling voices to the stage for a night of highly innovative sound and rich performances.
Interested in performing in this festival? See the How to Apply to Perform at the 2010 MOSE Music Festivals page at ExploreChicago.org.
Chicago Jazz Festival
The 2012 Chicago Jazz Festival will take place from August 30th to September 2nd in Grant Park and at the Cultural Center.
This Festival is scheduled and present by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Interested in performing in this festival? See the How to Apply to Perform at the 2010 MOSE Music Festivals page at ExploreChicago.org.
Taste of Chicago
The 2012 Taste of Chicago will take place in Grant Park from July 1th to the 15th this summer.
This Festival is scheduled and present by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events.
Interested in performing in this festival? See the How to Apply to Perform at the 2010 MOSE Music Festivals page at ExploreChicago.org.
The Grant Park Music Festival
Join the Grant Park Orchestra for a spectacular season of music at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park. All events free to the public!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Opening Night: Symphonie Fantastique
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Summer begins with two thrilling French musical explorations: Ravel’s encounter with American jazz performed by the great pianist Jean-Philippe Collard and Berlioz’s epic voyage into heartbreak and hallucination.
Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Jean-Philippe Collard, Piano
Friday, June 17, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, June 18, 2011, 7:30pm
Mendelssohn and Peace on Earth
Schoenberg: Friede auf Erden
Mendelssohn: Lobgesang
Felix Mendelssohn’s 1840 work for chorus and orchestra, the Lobgesang, is an ode to the power of books and human ingenuity. The program opens with Arnold Schoenberg’s unique early work Friede auf Erden (Peace on Earth) which showcases the chorus.
Grant Park Orchestra And Chorus
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Christopher Bell, Chorus Director
Tamara Wilson, Soprano
Maire O’Brien, Soprano
Brendan Tuohy, Tenor
Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Regina Carter Reverse Thread Project
Childs: Violin Concerto
Carter: Reverse Thread (without orchestra)
The great jazz violinist performs composer Billy Child’s Violin Concert, a moving lament for those lost in the Iraq war, followed by works from her latest CD, the Reverse Thread Project.
Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Regina Carter, Violin
Yacouba Sissoko, Kora
Will Holshouser, Accordion
Chris Lightcap, Bass
Alvester Garnett, Drums
Friday, June 24, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 7:30pm
Latin Works for Orchestra
Barilari: Canyengue
Carreno: Margaritena
Villa-Lobos: Uirapuru
Chavez: Suite de Caballos de Vapor (Horse Power Suite)
Ginastera: Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, Op.48
Carlos Kalmar leads a tour of his native continent with such works as a suite from Mexican Carlos Chavez’s futuristic ballet originally created with Diego Rivera, Brazilian Villa Lobos’ work inspired by an Amazonian bird, Chicago-based composer Elbio Barilari’s work exploring the Latin American dance form Canyengue and Argentinian composer Ginastera’s work paying tribute to cellist Pablo Casals.
The Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 6:30pm Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Thursday, June 30, 2011, 6:30pm
American A Cappella
Betinis: Toward Sunshine, Toward Freedom: Songs of Smaller Creatures
Kesselman: Buzzings: Three pieces for Mixed Chorus
Whitacre: When David Heard
Garrop: Sonnets of Desire, Longing, and Whimsy
Menotti: Regina Caeli
Del Tredici: Acrostic Song from Final Alice
Rorem: Seven Motets for the Church Year
Whitacre: Sleep
The Grant Park Chorus and Director Christopher Bell (celebrating his 10th season with the Festival) take a tour of eclectic new American works for chorus. This program is being recorded for what will become the chorus’ first-ever a cappella CD.
Grant Park Chorus
Christopher Bell, Conductor
Friday, July 1, 2011, 6:30pm Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Saturday, July 2, 2011, 7:30pm
Mahler: Song of the Earth
Lutosławski: Musique Funebre
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth)
One of Mahler’s final works, this series of songs based on Chinese classical poetry runs the gamut of human experiences with meditations on love, nature, drinking, solitude and the passing of time. The evening opens with Polish composer Lutosławski’s tribute to Bartók.
Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Alexandra Petersamer, Mezzo-Soprano
Christian Elsner, Tenor
Sunday, July 3, 2011, 1:00pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Independence Celebration
Key: Star Spangled Banner
Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Bagley: National Emblem March
Copland: Hoe-down from Rodeo
Sousa: Belle of Chicago
Arr. Lowden: Armed Forces Salute
Offenbach: Can Can from Orpheus in the Underworld
Wendel: St. Bailey’s Rag
Cohan: Star Spangled Spectacular
Arr. Dragon: America the Beautiful
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever
This musical celebration of the meaning of America features many beloved favorites as well as a few surprises. Please note: the venue and time for this program are tentative.
Grant Park Orchestra
Christopher Bell, Conductor
Wednesday, July 6, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
American and Russian Landscapes
Borodin: Prince Igor: Overture
Copland: The Tender Land: Suite
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 (Little Russian)
This program features a pair of works inspired by composers’ immersion in their native lands. Tchaikovsky’s symphony emerged from a vacation to Ukraine draws on local folk music while Aaron Copland’s suite is taken from an opera of the same name inspired by James Agee’s photographs of the Great Depression.
Grant Park Orchestra
Andrew Grams, Guest Conductor
Friday, July 8, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, July 9, 2011, 7:30pm
Spanish Guitar and Alondra de la Parra
Marquez: Leyenda de Miliano
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Dvorak: Symphony No. 7
One of the world’s rising young conductor’s makes her Grant Park debut with a masterpiece of Spanish classical guitar, featuring soloist David Russell, plus Dvorák’s renowned symphony.
Grant Park Orchestra
Alondra De La Parra, Guest Conductor
David Russell, Guitar
Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Broadway Rocks
Broadway blockbusters from some of the most electrifying shows ever to hit the Great White Way: The Wiz, Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mamma Mia, Tommy, Phantom of the Opera and more!
Grant Park Orchestra
Randall Craig Fleischer, Guest Conductor
Christianne Noll, Vocalist
Capathia Jenkins, Vocalist
Rob Evan, Vocalist
Doug LaBrecque, Vocalist
Friday, July 15, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, July 16, 2011, 7:30pm
Penderecki Conducts Penderecki
Penderecki: Concerto Grosso No. 1 for Three Cellos and Orchestra
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 (Eroica)
The great contemporary Polish composer, whose work has been a touchstone in his home country and beyond since the 1950s, comes to Millennium Park to conduct his own composition featuring three solo cellists as well as Beethoven’s heroic early symphony.
Grant Park Orchestra
Krzysztof Penderecki, Guest Conductor
Julie Albers, Cello
Kira Kraftzoff, Cello
Amit Peled, Cello
Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Kwame Ryan
Liebermann: Furioso
Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
Schumann: Symphony No. 2, Op.61
Schumann’s grand, romantic symphony shares the program with Ravel’s stirring suite written to commemorate friends killed during WWI and a recent work by Swiss composer Rolf Liebermann.
Grant Park Orchestra
Kwamé Ryan, Guest Conductor
Friday, July 22, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, July 23, 2011, 7:30pm
Choral Masterpieces: Bernstein and Faure
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Fauré: Requiem
Leonard Bernstein’s choral setting of the Psalms of David (which features musical material from early sketches for West Side Story) is followed by the magnificent late 19th century requiem by Fauré.
Grant Park Orchestra
Grant Park Chorus
Christopher Bell, Conductor
Ryan Belongie, Counter Tenor
Lindsay Metzger, Soprano
Kevin Keys, Baritone
Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Prokofiev Symphony No. 7
Shchedrin: Concerto for Orchestra No. 3 (Old Russian Circus Music)
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7
Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu begins his week-long residency with the Grant Park Music Festival with a program featuring Prokofiev’s final symphony paired with contemporary composer Shchedrin’s concerto for orchestra inspired by Russian traveling carnivals.
Grant Park Orchestra
Hannu Lintu, Guest Conductor
Friday, July 29, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, July 30, 2011, 7:30pm
Sibelius Epic Finland
Rachmaninoff: Vesna (Spring), Op. 20
Sibelius: Kullervo, Op. 7
A rare chance to hear Sibelius’ early work (revised at the end of his life), based on the great national Finnish epic, the Kalevala, the source of more than a dozen of his most important compositions. Rachmaninoff’s portrait of psychological angst set against the changing of the seasons completes the evening exploring northern landscapes.
Grant Park Orchestra
Grant Park Chorus
Hannu Lintu, Guest Conductor
Christopher Bell, Chorus Director
Johanna Rusanen, Soprano
Ville Rusanen, Baritone
Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Jennifer Koh Returns
Britten: Violin Concerto
Brahms: Symphony No. 1, Op. 68
Carlos Kalmar returns for the final two weeks of the Festival’s ten week season. He shares the stage with festival favorite, violinist Jennifer Koh, for a night of Britten and Brahms.
Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Jennifer Koh, Violin
Friday, August 5, 2011, 6:30pm Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Saturday, August 6, 2011, 7:30pm
Ryan Opera Center
Mozart: The Impresario
Donizetti: Don Pasquale: Act II
Rossini: Cenerentola: Act II
The gifted young singers of the Lyric Opera’s training program return for an evening of great operatic scenes.
Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Ensemble Members Of The Patrick G. And Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center
Jack Zimmerman, Narrator
Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Mozart and Strauss
Marches, Polkas, Waltzes from Austria
Carlos Kalmar leads a celebration of the music of his country of residence as part of a week-long celebration of Austrian music
Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Friday, August 12, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, August 13, 2011, 7:30pm
The Book with Seven Seals
This 20th century masterpiece (1937) for orchestra and chorus by Franz Schmidt vividly narrates the apocalypse.
Grant Park Orchestra
Grant Park Chorus
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
William Spaulding, Guest Chorus Director
Edith Lienbacher, Soprano
Christa Ratzenböck Mezzo-Soprano
Robert Künzli, Tenor
Alexander Kaimbacher, Tenor
Albert Pesendorfer, Bass
Wednesday, August 17, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Shostakovitch Symphony No. 10
Adams: The Chairman Dances (from the opera Nixon in China) Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10, Op.93
These works focus on two of the 20th century’s political giants in radically different ways. John Adams’ short orchestral work about Mao is drawn from his opera Nixon in China and Shostakovich’s cathartic symphony was written in the wake of Stalin’s death. This program is part of the Soviet Arts Experience festival.
Grant Park Orchestra
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
Friday, August 19, 2011, 6:30pm Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 7:30pm
Verdi Requiem
Millennium Park will be filled with the thunderous and soaring sounds of Verdi’s great Requiem Mass featuring four outstanding soloists and the world-class Grant Park Chorus as the 2011 season comes to a majestic close.
Grant Park Orchestra
Grant Park Chorus
Carlos Kalmar, Conductor
William Spaulding, Guest Chorus Director
Amber Wagner, Soprano
Michaela Martens, Mezzo-Soprano
Michael Fabiano, Tenor
Kyle Ketelsen, Bass
Chicago Blues Festival 2011
The 2012 Chicago Blues Festival is scheduled and presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
The festival will take place June 8th through the 10th in Grant Park.
Interested in performing in this festival? See the How to Apply to Perform at the 2010 MOSE Music Festivals page at ExploreChicago.org.
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This is where you can come for all the latest, up to date information on Music Festivals in Chicago! We’re changing our look and our ability to serve up the information to you. Keep watching as our site grows with each festival.
Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz
MADE IN CHICAGO: WORLD CLASS JAZZ
ACCLAIMED SERIES RETURNS TO MILLENNIUM PARK JULY 28—SEPT. 1, 2011
The celebrated Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz series returns to Millennium Park featuring Chicago’s leading jazz artists and concerts that explore jazz connections to Africa, Latin America and the rhythm and roots of the South Side of Chicago. The 2011 series includes tribute concerts and retrospectives, along with opening night of the 33rd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival. Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, and the Jazz Institute of Chicago.
Thursday, July 28 at 6:30 PM
Truth Be Told: Celebrating the Legacy of Von Freeman
Some say you can hear all of Chicago in Von Freeman’s playing—from skyscrapers to el trains to the deep waters of Lake Michigan. Freeman is a true jazz master who mentored a generation of equally inquisitive players, including Steve Coleman and an all star line-up of special guests who have been invited to arrange and perform Freeman’s original music under the artistic direction of drummer Michael Raynor and guitarist Michael Allemana.
Thursday, August 4 at 6:30 PM
Otis Clay: The Gospel of Jazz and Soul
In Otis Clay’s 50 years of singing he has crossed musical paths with musicians from Sam Cooke to Curtis Mayfield to Duke Ellington. Partnering with arranger/drummer Tom Tom Washington, Clay will be joined by tenor saxophone player Gene “Daddy G” Barge, trumpet player Burgess Gardner, baritone saxophone player Willie Henderson and vocalists Sue Conway and Willie Rogers (of the Soul Stirrers) to present a musical salute for Mahalia Jackson’s centennial and Sam Cooke’s 85th birthdays.
Thursday, August 11 at 6:30 PM
African Journeys featuring Ryan Cohan and Geof Bradfield
In 2008, pianist Ryan Cohan’s quartet was selected by the Rhythm Road program (co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center) to perform as cultural ambassadors in Africa. The experience profoundly affected all members of the band, and inspired Cohan and saxophonist Geof Bradfield to each compose music describing what they had experienced in their travels. Heard together for the first time on one stage, Cohan’s The River and Bradfield’s African Flowers share reflections on the universal joys and sadness of the human experience.
Thursday August 18 at 6:30 PM
Latin Inspiration: Howard Levy with Chevere, Trio Globo and Special Guests
Composer and virtuoso pianist (and harmonica player) Howard Levy’s imagination is inspired by many muses including the Blues, but closest to his heart is the amalgam of the rhythms of the Americas known as Latin Jazz. This evening includes the premiere of a new suite with his long-time comrades in Chévere, selections from Steering by the Stars, a new recording of his Trio Globo group, and feature several duets with the astounding guitarist Chris Siebold.
Thursday, August 25 at 6:30 PM
Kindred Spirits of the Horn: Corey Wilkes Celebrates Miles Davis and Roy Eldridge
Known for igniting the spark that became Bebop, Roy Eldridge and Miles Davis’ influences also loom large in the multi-directional work of trumpeter Corey Wilkes. Past meets future in a centennial tribute to the men who set the standard for the modern jazz trumpet. Wilkes will premiere a new work in collaboration with electronics artist and DJ Osunlade and his Chicago cohorts, Robert Irving III, De’Sean Jones, Fareed Haque, Junius Paul, Kahil El’Zabar and Makaya McCraven.
Thursday, September 1 at 6:30 PM OPENING NIGHT OF THE CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Spiritual Source: Randy Weston and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble featuring the arrangements of Melba Liston
Randy Weston collaborated with trombonist/composer/arranger Melba Liston to create a new music that explores cultures, connectedness and music of the African Diaspora. For this special occasion, Weston will partner with the Center for Black Music Research and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, both resident at Columbia College Chicago, to illuminate and perform works from his dynamic union with Melba Liston, and premier new compositions inspired by their music collaborations.
The 33rd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival will once again be free admission, produced by the City of Chicago and programmed with the Jazz Institute of Chicago. This year’s event will run from September 1-4 and will be held in three locations: the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Grant Park.
