Chicago Musicians Salute Boogie Woogie Pianist

By I Aug. 17, 2007

The “Albert Ammons Centennial Concert” will celebrate the 100th birthday anniversary of the late jazz and boogie woogie pianist Sept. 22 at Chicago’s historic First United Methodist Church. Ammons is credited with helping popularize boogie woogie music during the ‘30s, and he played with such jazz luminaries as Count Basie and Benny Goodman

The performance brings together several of the finest boogie woogie musicians in the world. Saxophonist Franz Jackson, 94, played his first professional gig with Ammons at age 16 in 1929. Five pianists include Axel Zwingenberger of Hamburg, Germany; Erwin Helfer of Chicago; Carl “Sonny” Leyland of Los Angeles; Bob Seeley of Detroit; and Butch Thompson of St. Paul, Minn. Also appearing will be his granddaughter, jazz vocalist Lila Ammons, of Minneapolis, and his son, Bishop Edsel Albert Ammons, of Evanston, Ill.

The musical program will be divided into three parts:

“The Early Years” (1907-1920s)

“The Boogie Years” (1930s-1940s)

“Beyond Albert” (1950s to Today)

Tickets are $25 at the door, online at albert-ammons.com or by check payable to the Albert Ammons Concert and mailed to the church at 77 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL, 60602. Proceeds will go to the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Links Program, an educational program providing training and opportunities for students in public schools in Chicago.