Chicago Jazzfest 2009

[Uli]

from the trib

Chicago Jazz Festival 2009: Tuning in novel sounds
Howard Reich MY KIND OF JAZZ
May 19, 2009
Several of the most storied innovators in jazz will headline the 31st annual Chicago Jazz Festival, running Sept. 4-6 in Grant Park.

Though the fest long has presented adventurous artists at the Petrillo Music Shell, the iconoclasts nearly will dominate this year. Pianist-bandleader Muhal Richard Abrams will serve as artist in residence, leading a trio Sept. 4 and a big band Sept. 6.

In addition, brilliant Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba will front a quintet Sept. 4; Chicago jazz titan Fred Anderson will lead an "80th Birthday Jam," setting the stage for bassist-bandleader William Parker examining music of Curtis Mayfield and the Dave Holland Big Band, Sept. 5; and the Archie Shepp Quartet performs Sept. 6.

"This year, maybe more than other years, we are saluting the innovators of the music, for which Chicago has become world renowned," said Lauren Deutsch, executive director of the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chicago, which programs the event.



"We're also pleased to announce the addition of a new stage that will be featuring young musicians." Details to come soon.

Technically, the festival shrinks to three days, from four. But, as in the past, a Chicago Jazz Festival Week will offer several evenings of music, with the Jazz Institute's fundraiser concert Sept. 1; the annual Club Tour, Sept. 2; and a "Benny Goodman Centennial Celebration" concert in Millennium Park featuring Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Sept. 3.

Following is the complete lineup. The event is produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events, with all stages near Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard.

Sept. 4Jazz on Jackson Stage, starting at noon: Ernie Adams Trio with Richie Cole; Fareed Haque and the Flat Earth Ensemble; Jason Adasiewicz Quintet; Esperanza Spalding.

Jazz & Heritage Stage, 12:30 p.m.: Dudley Owens Quintet; Diane Delin; Bob Seeley and Bob Baldori.

Petrillo Music Shell, 5 p.m.: Jeff Parker Quartet; Muhal Richard Abrams Trio; Madeleine Peyroux; Gonzalo Rubalcaba Quintet.

Sept. 5Jazz on Jackson Stage, noon: Greg Ward's Fitted Shards; Dan Cray Trio with Geof Bradfield; Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Strings; Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble.

Jazz & Heritage Stage, 12:30 p.m.: Red Rose Ragtime Jazz Band; "Art of the Solo" with William Parker; "A Tribute to Benny Goodman," featuring Eric Schneider.

Petrillo Music Shell, 5 p.m.: "80th Birthday Jam" with Fred Anderson; Amina Figarova Sextet; William Parker; Dave Holland Big Band.

Sept. 6Jazz on Jackson Stage, noon: Mike Allemana; Ben Paterson and Yoko Noge; James Falzone's KLANG: The Goodman Project; "New Apartment Jam" with Von Freeman.

Jazz & Heritage Stage, 12:30 p.m.: Kevin Nabors Quintet; "Percussion Discussion" with Art Burton; Kelly Brand Quintet.

Petrillo Music Shell, 5 p.m.: Archie Shepp Quartet featuring Willie Pickens, Avery Sharpe and Ronnie Burrage; "A Tribute to Art Tatum" with Buddy DeFranco, Johnny O'Neal; Dee Alexander; Muhal Richard Abrams Big Band.

[Pete C]

The Sunday show looks great, and would look even greater if Shepp were in his prime. Johnny O'Neal is fantastic, and De Franco sounded great as of about five years ago. I love Dee Alexander and Muhal.

But that day I'll be at Tanglewood for Kenny Barron/Mulgrew Miller duo & Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. But I expect to be back in 2010, and hopefully Uli won't snub me again

[Uli]

Originally Posted by Pete C

I love Dee Alexander and Muhal.

Have you heard her new " Wild is the wind"? I am quite sure you would love it and it got a DB five stars review.

I promise to make a special effort next time you are in town.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Uli

Have you heard her new " Wild is the wind"?

No, but I'm on it this weekend.

[Frisco]

Wow, from where I stand this is the best lineup in years. And that's not including what could be at the Velvet jams. No reason to stay in Detroit this year.

[Frisco]

Looking at the JIC website, I see that what the Tribune referred to as
Muhal Richard Abrams Big Band is listed as The Arthur Hoyle Orchestra
conducted by Muhal Richard Abrams. A bit less exciting I'd say.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Frisco

Looking at the JIC website, I see that what the Tribune referred to as
Muhal Richard Abrams Big Band is listed as The Arthur Hoyle Orchestra
conducted by Muhal Richard Abrams. A bit less exciting I'd say.

I'm just guessing that it'll be a group of Chicago musicians put together by Hoyle playing Muhal compositions. Bear in mind that that would be much more cost effective than bringing in the mostly NY-based musicians he's been working with for years.

[Frisco]

Yeah you're right Pete. But that's like night and day to me.
I mean, a festival culminating with THE MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS BIG BAND
as opposed to ending with the arthur hoyle orchestra.....?
Nice going Howard.

[Frisco]

May I please expose my idiocy and apologize for momentary shortsightedness?
Reading a recent entry on the Chicago Jazz fest website, it is revealed that Muhal will be presenting a composition named "Spiralview" written for Barack Obama. In three parts, the first featuring solo work from George Lewis, the second an Ari Brown/Harrison Bankhead duo, and the third featuring solo work from Roscoe Mitchell. I should have known it would be something special.

[Lois Gilbert]

The Chicago Jazz Festival, now in its fourth decade as one of the city's great free lakefront festivals, continues to be the place where a rich history meets innovative sound. The 31st Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, produced by the Mayor's Office of Special Events and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, is Sept. 4-6, 2009, held in its longtime home, Grant Park. Three stages, including the Petrillo Music Shell, will showcase jazz musicians from Chicago and the world, while a brand new performing area will be dedicated to the young lions of Jazz featuring high school and college performers.

“At the heart of the first festival was the desire to showcase Chicago's multi-faceted jazz community, and now, 30 years later, that is still the driving force for how we program this event, “ said Jazz Festival Coordinator Jennifer Johnson Washington.

Chicago's music community is vital to the festival and that includes many artists who began their careers here, and now are on an international odyssey such as artist-in-residence and Sunday's headliner, Muhal Richard Abrams leading the Arthur Hoyle Orchestra.

The festival has commissioned Abrams to create a new composition entitled, “Spiralview”, which will be dedicated to President Barack Obama and feature three special soloists sections. The first section features George Lewis playing solo trombone and the next section pairs Ari Brown (saxophone) and Harrison Bankhead (bass) in a duet performance. The third section features Roscoe Mitchell playing solo saxophone.

A founding member of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), Abrams will also play in a Friday night performance at the Petrillo Music Shell as a trio, again performing with Lewis and Mitchell.

Mixing the best of his Cuban musical heritage and his love of the US Jazz masters like Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie to name a few, Gonzalo Rubalcaba has played the world over and winning a Latin Grammy for Jazz Album of the Year. He leads his Quintet for an opening night performance at the festival.

Dave Holland returns with his Big Band, having headlined at the 25th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival and making its only US appearance at the free lakefront event.

In a nod to the event's rich history, the festival honors one of its first headliners, Chicago's own Benny Goodman, on the centennial of his birth with a tribute featuring Eric Schneider, Saturday at the Jazz & Heritage Stage. Goodman performed with Mel Torme on the closing night of the very first Chicago Jazz Festival in 1979. Tenor saxophonist Schneider is not only a regular at Andy's, but also had performed with Goodman.

A second tribute to the great clarinetist will be performed on Sunday at the Jazz on Jackson Stage. James Falzone's KLANG: The Goodman Project will feature Falzone on the clarinet joined by Jason Adasiewicz on vibraphone; Dave Miller on guitar; Jason Roebke on bass and on the drums, Frank Rosaly.

Yet another tribute will be paid to Art Tatum on the centennial of his birth, by the youngster, 86-year-old Buddy DeFranco. Tatum, blind in one eye and only partially sighted in the other, was mostly self-taught, yet still became one of jazz music's greatest piano players. Playing in many different groups brought jazz clarinetist Buddy DeFranco into his circle. Generally credited with bridging the era of swing to the age of bop, DeFranco is award-winning and renowned, having shared the spotlight with the likes of Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey and the Count Basie Septet.

Reaching back yet again to the inaugural festival will be an appearance by Fred Anderson as he celebrates his 80th birthday. Saturday evening at the Petrillo begins with his “80th Birthday Jam” in a performance with his regular crew of Harrison Bankhead on bass and Dushon Mosley on bass. The Fred Anderson Quartet performed on the opening night of the first festival in 1979.

But let's not forget the ladies. Some of the most lauded young women in jazz will appear at this year's festival including Esperanza Spaulding, whose recent gigs have taken her to the White House, twice already this year.

Dutch pianist, Amina Fiagarova, was actually born Baku, Azerbaijan, playing and composing at an early age. She studied at the Baku Conservatory before moving on to her current home and the Rotterdam Conservatory. Her concert schedule has taken her all over the world including Israel, Europe, United Arabs Emirates, Mexico and now this summer to Chicago and the Jazz Festival.

Rounding out the feminist side of jazz will be performances from Madeleine Peyroux at the Petrillo on opening night, the Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Strings on Saturday at the Jazz on Jackson Stage, and Dee Alexander, who performs on Sunday night just before the Muhal Richard Abrams Big Band.

Peyroux, whose early career focused on singing the songs of other great women in jazz, has recently had a hand in writing her own songs reflected by her latest album, Bare Bones. She had a hand in writing all 11 songs.

DownBeat Magazine named her Rising Star Flutist for 2005-2008 and Nicole Mitchell was also Jazz Flutist of the Year in 2008, as chosen by the Jazz Journalist Association. She is joined by Black Earth Strings, the group she founded in 1997, the multi-genre, multi-generational celebration of the African American cultural legacy.

A Chicago Jazz Festival favorite returns once again when one of Chicago's most gifted vocalists, Dee Alexander takes the stage at the Petrillo Music Shell on Sunday evening.

Growing the next generation of jazz legends is a new element to this year's festival with the Young Jazz Lions Stage presented by the Chicago Community Trust.

Also new, Wine Australia presents The Wine Oasis. Festival attendees are able to sample a variety of wines and food, purchased with food and beverage tickets sold at the festival. The tent will be located on the north side of Jackson Blvd. between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive.

Returning yet again is the Chicago Jazz Festival Art Fair offering a wide variety of crafts, paintings, jewelry and textiles, located in the North Rose Garden just off Jackson.

Jazz Festival hours are 11am to 9:30pm all three days. For more information, call the Mayor's Office of Special Events 312-744-3315, TTY 312-744-2964. Visit the Mayor's Office of Special Events on the Internet at chicagojazzfestival.us for updates on performers. For more information on Chicago, including help planning your trip, visit explorechicago.org.

The Mayor's Office of Special Events encourages taking public transportation to all lakefront festivals. Call 312-836-7000/TTY 312-836-4949 for information on RTA, CTA, PACE and Metra. Parking is available at the Millennium Park Garage, East Monroe, Grant Park North and Grant Park South garages.

The Chicago Jazz Festival is made possible in part by the Chicago Jazz Partnership and sponsored by ABSOLUT, American Airlines, Best Buy, Chicago Jazz Magazine, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Tribune, CLTV-ChicagoLand's Television, Communications Direct, Downbeat Magazine, Essex Inn, FlashCash, Heineken, Hinckley Springs, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, JazzTimes Magazine, LaGrou Distribution System, Pepsi-Cola, Wine Australia, The Chicago Jazz Partnership and WGN-Television.

[Pete C]

Sorry I'll be missing this one.

[Fred K]

I will be there this year. FYI, I got the Hyatt on E. Wacker for $60/night through Priceline.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Fred K

I will be there this year. FYI, I got the Hyatt on E. Wacker for $60/night through Priceline.

This is the tapas place I was mentioning. It's pretty close, just north of the river, and they have a nice outdoor seating area.

http://www.emiliostapas.com/solynieve.htm

Also nearby is Sayat Nova, for hearty Armenian food. I recommend the kufta.

http://www.sayatnovachicago.com/

[Frisco]

Hey Fred, Uli, (anyone else), have you heard about any specific afterfest or other happenings during festival time?

[Chuck Nessa]

Always some great stuff at the Velvet. That's where I head since Hot House died.

[Uli]

Haven't heard much yet. I think Kidd Jordan is coming. So some traditional afterfest sessions with Fred, Kidd, Hamid, Bankhead, I believe Henry Grimes and others.

[Fred K]

The Velvet Lounge calendar has been updated for Labor Day weekend --

Thursday 9/3 - Henry Grimes "Grimes Times Chicago" Harrison Bankhead, Avreeayl Ra

Friday 9/4 - 8 Bold Souls

Saturday & Sunday 9/5& 9/6 - Fred Anderson/Kidd Jordan, Henry Grimes, Harrison Bankhead, Hamid Drake

I definitely want to make to 8 Bold Souls show and probably one of the Saturday/Sunday shows.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Fred K

I definitely want to make to 8 Bold Souls show

Absoeffinglutely

[Steve Reynolds]

8 Bold Souls need to come to NYC at least once some time before forever is gone....

if I were rich, I would pay the airfare....




Last Option, baby

[Frisco]

Originally Posted by Steve Reynolds

8 Bold Souls need to come to NYC at least once some time before forever is gone....

Didn;t they play a Knitting Factory "What is Jazz Festival" once in the 90's? I seem to remember a lukewarm reaction.

Dushun Mosely is a fantastic drummer! He was in Detroit last weekend and mentioned the 8 Bold Souls gig and said that he may end up filling in for Hamid on one of the nights if Hamid is tied up.

A few other gigs popping up:
On Thursday night - Dave Rempis, Jeb Bishop, Kent Kessler, Michael Zerang
2 sets beginning at 10pm at Elastic

On Saturday night - Dave Rempis & Michael Zerang at Heaven Gallery 10pm

Sunday night - Lucky 7's at Hungry Brain 10pm

[Uli]

Bring the longjohns, folks!

[Frisco]

OLIVER LAKE TRIO
w/Dana Hall & Junius Paul
Saturday Sept. 5 @ 8:00pm
Nimrod Systems
200 West Superior Ste. 310

[LutherBlissett]

Originally Posted by Frisco

Looking at the JIC website, I see that what the Tribune referred to as
Muhal Richard Abrams Big Band is listed as The Arthur Hoyle Orchestra
conducted by Muhal Richard Abrams. A bit less exciting I'd say.

Anyone who attends this tonight, could you post a review ?
How did Muhal do ? wish i was there

[Frisco]

Originally Posted by LutherBlissett

Anyone who attends this tonight, could you post a review ?
How did Muhal do ? wish i was there

Well, I hope you noticed that I called myself out (above) for an obvious moment of stupidity after I posted about this and learned more about it.

It was a wonderful set. I never would have dreamed that a set like this would ever close a jazz festival of this type. Muhal put together a piece that would rival any piece of contemporary classical music or jazz today.

Muhal began the piece from the piano, coaxing the orchestra to a rich and frenzied climax before moving center stage to conduct the rest of the piece and allow a pianist (unknown to me) to take over. The colors of the orchestra were brilliantly developed by Muhal then allowing for fine solo segments from first George Lewis on trombone, Ari Brown dueting with Harrison Bankhead, and finally Roscoe circular breathing on the alto sax, leading the orchestra to a closing that made one want to scream and shout.

Perhaps someone could add a lot to what I recall, as I never take notes, pictures, or record any sets that I attend and am prone to forget.

Mr. Abrams was incredible throughout the weekend. An intense solo set at the Cultural Center on Friday that started with single, sparse notes, left to ring out and decay into space and ending close to an hour later after weaving through sheets of sound that employed the entire keyboard.

He followed the solo set on Friday evening at the park with The Trio (w/Roscoe and George Lewis). A highly spirited set with George alternating between trombone and electronics and a combination of the two, with Roscoe on alto and soprano. Though the music varied, covering a lot of ground, they generally went with a more dense sound rather than a lot of sparse or "little sounds". I think that Roscoe's huge sound rang out across Lake Michigan to at least as far as Muskegon, Mi.

Saturday night, Muhal entered the Velvet Lounge ready to play with Fred, Kidd, Grimes, Bankhead, and Hamid, but there was no piano in the room. A Roland was brought out for Muhal to play. Muhal took to it with a joyous look and a joyous sound to match, playing in a way that would have made Sun Ra smile.

Oliver Lake had played a great set in a space earlier, mixing free improv with tunes (including) "Gazzeloni". I left after one set to get down to Velvet Lounge but Oliver said he'd be coming down and 'I hope they let me play". He did indeed!! As did Douglas Ewart on soprano, both prompting the music in set two at Velvet to tremendous heights. Bankhead played a beautiful cello, joining the bass of Henry Grimes, Hamid on drums, Muhal at the Roland, and Fred and Kidd on tenors. The four horns, along with the percussive sounds of Hamid and Muhal, and the screaming strings of Harrison and Henry, evoked the spirits of many, particularly Ayler and Trane. Midway through the set, Kidd broke into one of those pensive, spiritual folk-type melodies a la Ayler, with the other three horns crying out and the strings screaming behind, reminding one of the great Ayler Village Sessions. Beautiful stuff!!

And then Muhal coming right back the next night for the large ensemble set.
A brilliant feature for the most deserving artist in residence that I could think of. And I only had to sacrifice the feature of John Clayton as artist in residence in Detroit!

[Fred K]

Yes, the Muhal Richard Abrams large ensemble was great. I know people wanted a NY-CHI based group, but the Arthur Hoyle Orchestra held their own and the unaccounced soloists were Roscoe Mitchell, George Lewis, Ari Brown and Harrison Bankhead. I'm sorry I missed Saturday at the Velvet Lounge. I went for 8 Bold Souls on Friday and the announced Fred Anderson/Kidd Jordan jam on Sunday (with no special guests, at least not while I was there). Both night were very nice, but Saturday sounds like it was something special.

[Fred K]

Muhal Richard Abrams conducts the Arthur Hoyle Orchestra, Roscoe Mitchell is the soloist.

[Fred K]

Sunday night at the Velvet Lounge with Fred Anderson, Kidd Jordan, Deshun Mosley, Harrison Bankhead and Henry Grimes.

[LutherBlissett]

Originally Posted by Fred K

Muhal Richard Abrams conducts the Arthur Hoyle Orchestra, Roscoe Mitchell is the soloist.

Thanks for the review and pic,

sounds like great finale to a weekend

Im guessing Art Hoyle is the same trumpeter in the early Arkestra ? Sun Ra's 1st Chicago band.

just hope Muhal gets to reform his own orchestra with NYC players next year

[Chuck Nessa]

As posted above, all was wonderful. I spent some time talking with Muhal and his wife Peggy. They were as happy as possible. Thanks Muhal.

edit to say it is the same Art Hoyle. Wonderful human, musician and friend.

[Fred K]

Muhal Richard Abrams/Roscoe Mitchell/George Lewis