Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
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Still from the Jazz Institute of Chicago video about its Straight Ahead Jazz Camp, to be held July 17–21
(Photo: Jazz Institute of Chicago)Enrollment is now open for the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Straight Ahead Jazz Camp, to take place July 17–21 at Columbia College Chicago. This year’s guest artists include composer, educator and bassist Rufus Reid; pianist, professor and author of David Baker: A Legacy in the Music Monika Herzig; pianist, composer and teacher Barry Harris; composer, educator and tenor saxophonist Ari Brown; and trumpeter, composer, educator and entrepreneur Dave Douglas.
Chicago clinicians at the camp include Greg Ward, Jarrard Harris, Pharez Whitted, Geof Bradfield, Victor Garcia, Willie Pickens, Bobbi Wilsyn, Reginald Robinson, Donovan Mixon and Roxanne Stevenson.
Straight Ahead Jazz Camp brings together educators, musicians and music lovers 18 and up for a fascinating week-long exploration of the inner workings of jazz. Held at Columbia College Chicago, each day of the camp features a special guest artist along with hands-on workshops, clinics, lectures and jam sessions by noted musicians and experts.
This year Rufus Reid is slated to teach on July 17, and the special guests on subsequent days are Monika Herzig (July 18), Barry Harris (July 19), Ari Brown (July 20) and Dave Douglas (July 21).
The institute describes the camp as “five days of innovative, hands-on sessions for adults led by professional jazz musicians and clinicians who educate, challenge and inspire you. Straight Ahead Jazz Camp: for educators, musicians and adult jazz enthusiasts of all levels.”
More information, including a video preview, is posted at the Jazz Institute of Chicago website. DB
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
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