Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Pianist, Educator Hal Galper Dies at 87
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
The Chicago Jazz Fest (left) and Detroit Jazz Fest will take place over Labor Day Weekend. Admission to both festivals is free.
(Photo: Courtesy Chicago Jazz Festival/Detroit Jazz Festival)Jazz fans within earshot of Chicago and Detroit might want to pack up the car and head into town, as both cities play host to their free annual jazz festivals.
The 39th Chicago Jazz Festival is underway in the Windy City, with pianist Jason Moran set to take the stage Friday evening at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in downtown Millenium Park. His performance is one of many in this music-packed marathon of jazz concerts, which culminates Sunday, Sept. 3, with New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band. Additional headliners include the Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio, Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom, reedist Roscoe Mitchell and vocal icon Sheila Jordan.
The Chicago Jazz Festival will also feature tributes to Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk—all of whom celebrate their centennial anniversaries in 2017.
Celebrating its 38th year, the Detroit Jazz Festival runs from Friday through Monday, Sept. 4. Friday will see performances by bass phenom Miles Mosley at 8:30 p.m. and keyboard legend Herbie Hancock at 9 p.m.
The festival will also feature appearances by Donny McCaslin, the supergroup Hudson, pianist Billy Childs, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, tenor saxophonist Kamasi Washington, pianist Vijay Iyer and many more.
Special showcases include performances by the Mack Avenue All-Stars, a tribute to Michael Brecker, a performance by featured artist Karriem Riggins with rapper Common, and a finale concert with Detroit Jazz Festival Artist-in-Residence Wayne Shorter.
For a complete lineup of artists at the Chicago Jazz Festival, click here.
To view the full performance schedule for the Detroit Jazz Festival, click here. DB
Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.
Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
Jul 29, 2025 1:00 PM
Chuck Mangione, one of the most popular trumpeters in jazz history, passed away on July 24 at home in Rochester, New…
Jordan was a dyed-in-the-wool bebopper whose formative musical experiences were with Charlie Parker.
Aug 12, 2025 10:24 AM
Sheila Jordan, a vocalist who was celebrated for her scatting and lyric-improvising abilities, died Aug. 11 at her home…
“I don’t guess I’m going to excite you; I know I’m going to excite you,” Palmieri said in an August 1994 DownBeat feature.
Aug 12, 2025 10:33 AM
Famed Latin jazz composer, bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri passed away in his New Jersey home on Aug. 6. He was…
“What I got from Percy was the dignity of playing the bass,” Buster Williams said of Percy Heath.
Aug 26, 2025 1:53 PM
Buster Williams, who at the age of 83 has been on the scene for 65 years, had never done a Blindfold Test. The first…