All Your Jazz » chicago jazz

Two Great Jazz Pianists In Chicgo: Chuchito Valdes plays University of Chicago & Willie Pickens at the Green Mill

drumminfabe — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:10:17 +0000

Call it the weekend of colossal pianism: Two of the mightiest keyboardists in jazz will be holding forth on opposite ends of the city Friday, October 23rd, 2009. Chuchito Valdes will be playing at Mandel Hall at the University of Chicago at 7:30. Cover is $25, and you can inquire about details by calling (773) 702-8068. The Willie Pickins Quartet will be playing The Green Mill Jazz Club at 8:00 pm & 9:00 pm. Cover is $12, and you can book tickets by calling (773) 878-5552.

Original Post: chicagotribune.com

Chuchito Valdes

On the South Side, Cuban pianist Chuchito Valdes, son of the magnificent Chucho Valdes and grandson of the revered Bebo Valdes, will launch the new Jazz Series at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall. And though jazz is nothing new for this room, which has presented the music for decades, a formalized jazz season seems as welcome as it is overdue.

The prospect of hearing the two-fisted Valdes at Mandel Hall is enticing, since he’s a larger-than-life figure who tends to dwarf most any performance space. The comparative intimacy of Mandel Hall should render his work all the more imposing.

Yet previous performances suggest that Valdes sometimes crosses a line separating power from bombast, creativity from grandiosity. At his best, he evokes the brilliance of Chucho Valdes without quite matching his father’s demonic virtuosity and encyclopedic repertoire (few pianists do). In other instances, Valdes can rely on glib keyboard cliches. He’ll be leading his quartet. Here’s hoping the venerable setting will inspire his better instincts.

University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall
1131 E. 57th St.
(773) 702-8068

Willie Pickens

On the North Side, at the Green Mill Jazz Club in Uptown, Chicago pianist Willie Pickens will celebrate the forthcoming release of “Live at the Green Mill, Vol. 1: Willie Pickens Quintet” (Green Mill Recordings). If all had gone according to plan, the CD on the club’s new label would have been ready to go. But in jazz, as in life, things unfold unpredictably, with Green Mill owner Dave Jemilo hoping the disc will be available for the Christmas shopping season.

Green Mill Jazz Club
4802 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
(773) 878-5552
www.greenmilljazz.com

The Jazz Showcase In Chicago Will Host Eric Alexander Quartet

jazzman — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:28:33 +0000

Event:
Feb. 12th – 15th
(8:00 pm, 10:00) – matinee 4:00 on Sunday
The Jazz Showcase
Chicago, IL

The Jazz Showcase in Dearborn Station presents New York based tenor titan Eric Alexander on Thursday, February 12th through Sunday, February 15th, 2009. Alexander has a big, warm sound that is easy on the ears and a musical depth that allows him to continue exploring harmonies while remaining firmly in the jazz idiom. Chicago South Side residents may remember his early work with organ groups, including Hammond B3 master Charles Earland who recorded a couple albums with Alexander, which were Alexander’s debut recordings.

Alexander’s first CD under his own name, Straight Up, was recorded for Chicago’s Delmark records in 1992. Since leaving the Windy City, Alexander has established himself as one of the premier jazz tenors of our time.

Artist Information:

With 23 CD’s out under his own name and appearing as sideman on countless others, Eric Alexander has made his mark on the jazz world and documented his progress as a tenor master. He has a rich tone and an aggressive, driving style that grabs the listeners attention and doesn’t let go. One can hear the influence of Sonny Stitt, Jackie McLean and George Coleman in his playing. At William Paterson College in New Jersey Eric advanced his studies under the tutelage of Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and others.

During the 1990s, after placing second behind Joshua Redman in the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, Alexander threw himself into the whirlwind life of a professional jazz musician. He played with organ trios on the South Side of Chicago, made his recording debut in 1991 with Charles Earland, and cut his first album as leader in 1992. Seventeen recordings followed including his latest recording, a CD / DVD combo called Prime Time: In Concert.

In 2004, Eric signed an exclusive contract with the New York-based independent jazz label, HighNote Records where he has amassed a considerable discography of critically-acclaimed recordings. Most recent among them is “Temple of Olympic Zeus” (HCD 7172), “The Battle” with Vincent Herring and Mike LeDonne (HCD 7137) and “It’s all in the Game” (HCD 7148) with Harold Mabern.

Eric continues to tour the world over to capacity audiences. Using NYC as his home base he can regularly be seen in the NY clubs including ongoing appearances at Smoke.

For more information, see www.ericalexanderjazz.com.

Location:
The Jazz Showcase
Dearborn Station
806 S. Plymouth Court
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 360-0234
http://www.jazzshowcase.com

Sonny Fortune To Play The Jazz Showcase in Chicago

jazzman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:36:03 +0000

Sonny Fortune, the great post bop alto saxophonist, flutist and composer, appears at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago for four nights from Thursday, January 8th through Saturday, January 11th. Fortune is a riveting improvisor who can play inside or out with a logic and passion that never loses the listener. In his monthly Jazz Times article, Nat Hentoff stated that Sonny “ought to be a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master.” At 69 years old, Sonny is still blowing hard at the peak of his powers.

Over the years Sonny has also recorded with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Elvin Jones, Oliver Nelson, George Benson and Nat Adderly, to name a few. In June 1975 Sonny formed his own group, marking his debut as a leader with two critically-acclaimed LPs for A&M Horizon, Awakening and Waves of Dreams. He’s had many albums released since then including three Blue Note CD’s: Four In One, his album of the music of Thelonious Monk; A Better Understanding was released September of 1995; and From Now On, was released in September 1996.

In addition to leading his own quartet, the following 10 years saw Sonny playing with the Nat Adderly Quartet and as a featured soloist with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. In 1987-88 he was part of the Coltrane Legacy Band that also featured McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones and Reggie Workman. More than a legacy, Sonny is still here and blowing hard.

His latest album, You and the Night and the Music, was put out in August of 2007. Hailed by Jazz Times and Down Beat as some of his best stuff yet, this release reflects the fact that Fortune won’t be slowing down any time soon.

Andy’s Jazz Club In Chicago Hosts Joey DeFrancesco Trio On New Years Eve

jazzman — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:14:26 +0000

Ring in the new year with one of the greatest organists around as The Joey DeFrancesco Trio returns to the B3-loving Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago. Joey DeFrancesco is the undisputed king of the B3, the best jazz organist in the world. If you dig Joey, you’re not alone and you’re in pretty good company.

He wowed Jack McDuff as a child and Miles Davis dug him and took him on the road when he was only 17 years old. What a great artists to hear on New Year’s – anytime you have the opportunity to hear a virtuoso like this, you should take it. Joey is joined by another accomplished organist, Pat Bianci, vocalist Colleen McNabb and long time musical partner Byron Landham on drums. They Will perform at Andy’s on New Years Eve and on Friday, January 2nd and Saturday, January 3rd.

Joey DeFrancesco has come a long way from All of Me, his recording debut as a leader made in 1989 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old. From the get-go, the Philadelphia native established his credentials with virtuoso technique and an innate soulfulness that he brought to bear on the hulking Hammond B-3 organ which belied his young age but spoke of his deep Philly roots under the tutelage of his father, Papa John DeFrancesco, a B-3 burner in his own right.

Through the 1990s, Joey was widely recognized as spearheading a renewed interested in the Hammond organ, an instrument that had fallen out of favor among musicians and the public since its golden period during the 1960s and early 70s.

Joey’s latest recording, Joey D!, features Joey with Jack McDuff alumnus Jerry Weldon on tenor and long time trio member Byron Lanham on drums. On his previous Concord release, Live: The Authorized Bootleg, Joey features tenor titan George Colman on a burning live outing with his trio at Yoshi’s.

Location:
Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant
11 E. Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-642-6805
http://www.andysjazzclub.com

Fred Anderson Quartet To Release New Album At The Velvet Lounge In Chicago: Fans awaiting this 3rd volume

jazzman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:58:38 +0000

Info:
Fred Anderson Quartet
Release: The Fred Anderson Quartet Live at the Velvet Lounge Volume 3
Dec. 5th & 6th
(8:30 pm)
The Velvet Lounge
Chicago, IL

At 79 years old, AACM founder Fred Anderson continues his creative output as he celebrates the release of The Fred Anderson Quartet Live at the Velvet Lounge, Volume 3 at the Velvet Lounge in Chicago on Friday, December 5th and Saturday, December 6th.

This is the long awaited release in a series that began ten years ago with Volume 1. For this recording and this gig, Fred Anderson Quartet features Fred Anderson (tenor sax), Francis Wong (saxes/flutes from San FranciTatsu Aokiu Aoki shamisenamisen), Chad Taylor (drums/percussion from NYC).

In addition to his very successful career as a musician and artist, Anderson has also acted as mentor to young musicians who have gone on to prominent careers in music, either by featuring them in his groups or as performers at the Velvet Lounge. The list of musicians who he helped bring to public attention include Harrison Bankhead, David Boykin, Hamid Drake, Aaron Getsug, Josh Abrams, Fred Jackson, George Lewis, Karl E. H. Seigfried, Isaiah Sharkey, and Isaiah Spencer.

Get Your Copy:

The album is currently available for pre-order:
on CD at amazon.com.
(no doubt, they will sell out fast)

Our Opinion:

His first two volumes are rare to come by, as there are not many copies that are being sold. The first volume can be found in limited numbers, and the 2nd one has been discontinued by most vendors. If someone comes across a vendor or 3rd party that is selling these albums, please let us know.
In any event, they seem to be keepers, and we would not expect anything less from this upcoming release.

Location:
The Velvet Lounge
67 E. Cermak Road
Chicago, Illinois 60616
(312) 791-9050
http://www.velvetlounge.net/

Jazz At The Mecca Supper Club In Chicago

jazzman — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:42:17 +0000

Edison Park’s premiere restaurant, this great establishment is known first and foremost for their perfectly grilled steaks, fresh daily fish & seafood specials, hearty pastas, original sandwiches & burgers, and piping hot fresh MECCA pizza. All of which is served in a relaxing environment surrounding you with the feel of a Northwoods Lodge.

In addition to serving Lunch & Dinner fare, they also feature a lumberjack style breakfast menu every Sunday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and also have karaoke & dancing every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday nights after 10:30 pm until closing. The kitchen is open until 1:00 am on these nights and they also deliver!

Every Wednesday night, they have a featured jazz band take the stage. The band, “Freakeasy,” as they are called consists of Pat Mallinger, Dan Trudell, Brian O’Hern, & Gerald Dowd. They go on stage at 9:00 pm. Be sure to ask for them as well as more information about their upcoming shows.

Upcoming Events:

For a list of all upcoming events, please check their Calendar.

Details:

Operation Hours:
Monday – Friday (11:00 am – 2:00 am)
Saturday (4:00 pm – 3:00 am)
Sunday (10:00 am – 2:00 am)

Delivery Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 12 p.m. -10 p.m.
Friday: 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.

-Live karaoke & dancing (Thurs – Sat night after 10:30 pm).
-Hearty Sunday Breakfast Entrees from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

-Jazz can be heard Wednesday nights, starting at 9:00 pm

Location:
The Mecca Supper Club
6666 N Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631
(773) 775-1077
www.meccasupperclub.com

In Chicago You Need Jazz On Wednesdays: Visit the Empty Bottle and get your fix

jazzman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:03:32 +0000

Since January 3, 1996, the Empty Bottle has featured jazz, improvised music, and related idioms every Wednesday night. Selected and programmed by reed-player Ken Vandermark and writer, educator John Corbett, the series emphasizes the most original, exciting new music the genres have to offer.

They bring established stars of the vanguard and emerging artists from Europe and other American locales to the Empty Bottle, featuring groups and individuals drawn from the many parts of Chicago’s own rich sonic amalgam. Though the series maintains a jazz core, it is open to many forms of creative music, including total improvisation, free jazz, experimental composition, swing-based post-bop, tone-color improvisation, texturalist minimalism, and out-rock.

As part of the series, John and Ken also program a festival every spring, The Empty Bottle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. This critically acclaimed festival has brought in lauded performers from all over the United States and the world. Also, as well as being chock full of excellent music, it features absolutely stunning posters and T-Shirts designed by Dan Grzeca.

Upcoming Events:

For upcoming events, please contact them by phone.
Their jazz series is put together on the fly, and they
tend to change it up a bit.

Offering Food, Drink, & Jazz Entertainment, so you
can get the full experience.

Location:
The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL
(773) 276-3600
http://www.emptybottle.com/jazzseries.php

Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Chicago

jazzman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:47:43 +0000

The Green Mill is sophisticated informality, warm glowing atmosphere steeped in the heady sounds of the early ’30s and ’40s; it was actually patterned after Clark Monroe’s Uptown House in Harlem (as it was during the ’40s). Uniquely comfortable to all audiences from the sequined Saturday night date to the progressively dressed offbeat student, the magic of the Mill is that the audience commingles in its mutual respect for the music.

JAZZ – dixieland, traditional, bebop, contemporary, progressive – played by such legendary figures as Von Freeman, Franz Jackson and Wilbur Campbell, as well as young lions Kurt Elling, Eric Alexander and Orbert Davis. All capture the broad spectrum of jazz from its root rhythms in New Orleans to New York avant-garde. Deep smokey jazz sounds fill the club in the early morning hours when soulful musicians continue to express their love of jazz by jamming ’til the early dawn.

History:

Throughout its uproarious history, The Green Mill Jazz Club has played host to a number of famous – and often infamous – celebrities. Opened in 1907 as Pop Morse’s Roadhouse, the “Mill” was a stopping place for mourners to celebrate the passing of a friend before proceeding to St. Boniface’s Cemetery.

By 1910, new owners had converted the roadhouse into the Green Mill Gardens, complete with lantern-lit outdoor dancing and drinking areas, and boasting such headliners as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and Sophie Tucker.

Actors Wallace Beery and Bronco Billy Anderson also visited the Gardens, hitching their horses to the outdoor post and settling down for a drink after a days work filming westerns at nearby Spoor and Anderson Studios.

As the twenties roared, The Green Mill became mobster territory when Al Capone’s henchman, “Machinegun” Jack McGurn, gained a 25% ownership of the club. Manager Danny Cohen had given McGurn the 25% stake to “persuade” comedian/singer Joe E. Lewis from moving his act south to the New Rendezvous Café at Clark and Diversey. McGurn managed to convince Lewis by slitting his throat and cutting off his tongue.

Miraculously, Lewis recovered, but his songs never regained their lush sound. The incident was later immortalized in the movie The Joker is Wild, with Frank Sinatra as Joe E. Lewis and a Hollywood sound stage as The Green Mill. Of course, his interest piqued, Sinatra had to visit the club.

Throughout the 1930s, ’40s, and 50s, The Green Mill continued to pack ‘em in with a heady mix of swing, dance and jazz music. Uptown crowds from the Aragon Ballroom or Uptown and Riviera Theaters would “stop in for one” before or after shows. Business began to slip in the mid-seventies, and in 1986, present owner Dave Jemilo bought The Green Mill and restored it to its prohibition-era, speakeasy décor.

Today, The Green Mill, in keeping with owner Dave Jemilo’s philosophy for a proper mix of down-to-earth friendliness and class, maintains an authenticity of the ’40s in service, price and music, perfected upon with the steady Sunday night performance of the internationally acclaimed Uptown Poetry Slam, which began at the Mill in 1986.

Upcoming Events:

For a list of their upcoming events, please visit their Calendar page.

Open 7 days/week

Hours & Show Times:
Most shows begin at 9:00pm
-often a 2nd sets run, beginning at 1:00am
-Sunday also includes afternoon shows, beginning at 2:00 pm

Pricing:
Varies based on performance, usually $6 (occasionally no cover)

Location:
Green Mill Jazz Club
4802 N. Broadway Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
773.878.5552
www.greenmilljazz.com

Check Out Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant: Jazz is alive in Chicago

jazzman — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:21:13 +0000

Named “Most Popular Jazz Club” during the 27th Annual Chicago Music Awards, this place has earned a great reputation for itself, offering an amazing atmosphere, great acoustics, and of course world class musicians.

In addition to their great selection of music, they also offer some fabulous choices for dining. From appetizers and salads to full course entrees, their selection will satisfy any pallet. Their pastas and pizzas are highly recommended, so you’re sure to have great experience at this joint.

One of Chicago’s best-known and most-respected Jazz establishments, historic Andy’s offers casually sophisticated dining with a musical menu of Chicago’s top Jazz Artists.

Local performers cover a range of styles from traditional and swing to bop, fusion, Latin and Afro-Pop. Their “Spotlight Performer Series” events showcase some of today’s most “in demand” world touring musicians in an intimate setting.

Upcoming Events:

For a list of their live shows, please visit their Calendar page.

Contact Information:

General Info: info@andysjazzclub.com

Dinner Reservations: reservation@andysjazzclub.com

Large Party Inquiries: parties@andysjazzclub.com

Music Bookings: info@andysjazzclub.com

Location:

Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant
11 E. Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-642-6805
http://www.andysjazzclub.com

Check Out The Velvet Lounge: Your key to jazz in Chicago

jazzman — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:11:25 +0000

Fred Anderson opened The Velvet Lounge in 1982 after his other club, The Birdhouse, was shut down due to city zoning ordinances. Functioning mainly as the center for experimental jazz in New York, it is the place to go to see progressive jazz and get a feel for what is on the cutting edge.

In 2006 it moved just around the corner from its first locationand listeners give good reviews of the much-improved acoustics. In terms of visibility, reviewers also applaud the establishment. You can see pretty well from the bar area as well in the back (unlike some jazz clubs).

The best feature about The Velvet Lounge is the comfortable and “cozy” atmosphere. Because it is host to local players, it gives you the feel that you’re in your living room. Full of character, the venue is a must see if you are in the area.

“If you want an authentic jazz joint that has a local jazz legend
in it every day look no further than to the lounge. I think the
velvet lounge is the epitomy of what chicago jazz is. The look,
smell, and sounds of the this place are unmatchable.”
- Swaney (reviewer)

Upcoming Events:

For a list of upcoming events, visit their site and click on “Calendar” (at the bottom)

Cover:
$10 weeknights
$20 Fridays and Saturdays
$5 Sunday (that’s a deal)

Hours:
Monday (7:30 pm -2:00 am)
Tuesday-Sunday (8:00 pm -2:00 am)

Show Times:
Tues.-Thurs: 8:30pm
Fri.-Sun: 9:30pm

Location:
The Velvet Lounge
67 E. Cermak Road
Chicago, Illinois 60616
phone number: (312) 791-9050