Chicago Jazz Festival to Mark 40th Anniversary

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Vocalist Dianne Reeves is set to headline a Friday, Aug. 31 show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion as part of the 40th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival.

(Photo: Jerris Madison)

The Chicago Jazz Festival, which is set to run Aug. 29 through Sept. 2, is marking its 40th anniversary with a spate of concerts that include performances by international and local luminaries.

Celebrations of AACM and Muhal Richard Abrams are to be interspersed with sets from folks like Matthew Shipp, Kenny Barron, Dianne Reeves, Chris Speed, Nicole Mitchell, Kurt Elling, Greg Ward and dozens of others. The events, which all are centered around Millennium Park in Chicago’s downtown area, are free and open to the public.

For additional information about the events, visit the Chicago Jazz Festival homepage. DB

Wednesday, Aug. 29

Jay Pritzker Pavilion 6:30-9 p.m. - Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic: Legends and Lions

Thursday, Aug. 30

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater

11 a.m.–Noon - Mindeman/Hall/Sommers Trio, in collaboration with the Jazz Record Art Collective

12:15–1:15 p.m. - Great Black Music Ensemble, in collaboration with AACM

1:45–2:45 p.m. - Jazz Beat/The Intersection of Jazz and Hip Hop, in collaboration with Young Chicago Authors and the Jazz Institute of Chicago

3:15–4:15 p.m. - Miyumi Project Sextet, in collaboration with Asian Improv

Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall

11 a.m.-12 p.m. - What Is This Thing called Jazz? Ernie Adams: Insights on Improvisation

12:30–1:30 p.m. - Carmen Stokes Quartet, in collaboration with the South Side Jazz Coalition

2–3 p.m. - Paul Giallorenzo Trio, in collaboration with the Elastic Arts Foundation

3:30–4:30 p.m. - Chicago Cellar Boys, in collaboration with the Iliana Club of Traditional Jazz

Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion

5 p.m. - Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff featuring the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)

5:25–6:15 p.m. - Geof Bradfield Nonet

6:30–7:25 p.m. - Nicole Mitchell and Mandorla Awakening

7:45–9 p.m. - Kurt Elling featuring Marquis Hill and Jeff “Tain” Watts

Friday, Aug. 31

Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)

11:30 a.m.–12:25 p.m. - Junius Paul Quartet

12:40–1:35 p.m. - Quin Kirchner Group

1:50–2:45 p.m. - Chris Speed Trio

3–4 p.m. - Greg Ward and 10 Tongues

Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)

Noon–1 p.m. - Gayle Kolb Sextet

1:30–2:30 p.m. - Roy McGrath Remembranzas Quintet

3–4 p.m. - Million Brazilan Project featuring Sarah Marie Young and Guy King

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45 p.m. - Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff featuring the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)

4:15–5:05 p.m. - Tribute to Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams

5:25–6:15 p.m. - Sabertooth Organ Quartet 25th Anniversary

6:30–7:25 p.m. - Louis Hayes Quintet: “Seranade for Horace”

7:45–9 p.m. - Dianne Reeves

Saturday, Sept. 1

Young Jazz Lions (Harris Rooftop)

11–11:30 a.m. - ChiArts Jazz Combo

11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. - Morgan Park High School Jazz Combo

12:30–1 p.m. - CYSO Jazz Combo

1:15–1:55 p.m. - Eric Solorio High School Jazz Ensemble

2:10–2:50 p.m. - Whitney Young High School Jazz Ensemble

3:05–3:45 p.m. - Kenwood Academy Jazz Band

Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)

11:30 a.m.–12:25 p.m. - Black Diamond

12:40–1:35 p.m. - Dustin Laurenzi and Natural Language

1:50–2:45 p.m. - Matthew Shipp and Ivo Perelman

3–4 p.m. - Amina Claudine Myers Trio

Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)

Noon–1 p.m. - Bruce Henry

1:30–2:30 p.m. - The Chuck Webb Band featuring Margaret Murphy

3–4 p.m. - Nolatet

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45 p.m. - Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff featuring the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)

4:15–5:05 p.m. - Tribute to Willie Pickens

5:25–6:10 p.m. - Kenny Barron Quintet

6:25–7:25 p.m. - Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society

7:45–9 p.m. - Ramsey Lewis

Sunday, Sept. 2

NextGenJazz (Harris Rooftop)

11:15 a.m.-Noon - Derek Duleba Quartet

12:15-1 p.m. - Cesar Martinez’s Cuicatl

1:15-2 p.m. - Morgan Pirtle+5

2:15-3 p.m. - Greg Uhlmann’s Typical Sisters

3:15-4 p.m. - Jahari Stampley Ensemble

Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)

11:30 a.m.–12:25 p.m. - Tribute to John Wright

12:40–1:35 p.m. - Jaimie Branch’s Fly or Die

1:50–2:45 p.m. - Jason Stein Quartet

3–4 p.m. - Eric Revis Quartet featuring Ken Vandermark

Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)

Noon–1 p.m. - Quentin Coaxum Quintet

1:30–2:30 p.m. - Alejandro Urzagaste’s Flow featuring Bill Carrothers

3–4 p.m. - Fareed Haque and his Funk Brothers

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45 p.m. - Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff featuring the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)

4:15–5:05 p.m. - Matt Ulery’s Loom Large

5:25–6:10 p.m. - Arturo O’Farrill Sextet

6:25–7:25 p.m. - Charles McPherson-Barry Harris Quartet

7:45–9 p.m. - Maceo Parker



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