Although this summer`s Chicago Jazz Festival has been cut back to two days, from the usual four, there are some glimmers of hope that the lost days can be salvaged.
The Mayor`s Office of Special Events, contending with cutbacks in its 1992 budget, is trying to win corporate contributions to shore up the festival.
”We`re right now trying to line up support from corporations to help restore one or both of the days that are not yet funded,” says Penny Tyler, who coordinates the festival for the Office of Special Events.
”These cuts in the city`s budget are not to be taken lightly; they`re for real. But if we can raise enough money from corporations, we might be able to have the four-day Jazz Festival as usual.”
Some jazz fans had suggested circulating a petition at Monday night`s Jazz Fair in the Blackstone Hotel, the idea being to demonstrate to City Hall the widespread support for a four-day festival.
”But that`s not the question,” Tyler says. ”Everybody seems to want the four days, there`s no doubt about that.
”The hard part is affording it. By the end of February we should know if we`ve gotten enough contributions to make it.”
– The University of Chicago will celebrate its centennial with a major jazz performance at 8 p.m. Feb. 8.
Avant-gardist Roscoe Mitchell and the Note Factory will perform. Members of the Note Factory are pianist Jodi Christian, bassists Malachi Favors and Jaribu Shahid, trumpeter Hugh Ragin, and percussionists Vincent Davis, Tani Tabbal and Earl Thompson. Phone 312-702-8068.
– The Jazz Showcase in the Blackstone Hotel, 636 S. Michigan Ave., has announced its spring lineup:
Organist Jimmy McGriff`s quartet, March 10 to 15; alto saxophonist Phil Woods` quintet, March 17 to 22; pianist Jay McShann`s quartet, with saxophonist Red Holloway, March 24 to 29; pianist Monty Alexander`s trio, March 31 to April 5; pianist McCoy Tyner`s trio, April 7 to 12; flugelhornist Art Farmer`s quartet, with multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, April 14 to 19; tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin`s quartet, April 21 to 26; trumpeter Red Rodney`s quintet, April 28 to May 3; guitarist Joe Pass` trio, May 5 to 10;
and trumpeter Harry ”Sweets” Edison`s quintet, May 12 to 17. Phone 312-427-4846.
Showcase impresario Joe Segal will celebrate his 45th anniversary in the business with a concert at 7 p.m. April 20 in the Auditorium Theatre, in conjunction with Roosevelt University.
Among the performers: Joe Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz, Johnny Griffin, Eddie Harris, Ira Sullivan, Wilbur Campbell, Ramsey Lewis and Billy Taylor. For ticket information, write: All-Star Jazz Concert, Chicago Musical College, Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60605.
– Coming up at the clubs:
Ben Sidran plays the Bop Shop, 1807 W. Division St., Friday and Saturday; saxophonist Eric Alexander, who placed second in the recent Thelonious Monk Competition, teams with saxophonist Lin Halliday, Feb. 14 and 15; trumpeter Orbert Davis, Feb. 22; Jeff Newell Quartet, Feb. 29. Phone 312-235-3232.
The Damon Short Quintet is at the Get Me High Lounge, 1758 N. Honore St., on Friday. Phone 312-252-4090.
Melvia Chick Rodgers plays the Cotton Club, 1710 S. Michigan Ave., Feb. 7, 8, 21 and 22. Phone 312-341-9787.
The Edward Petersen Quintet plays the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway, on Feb. 8; soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman, Feb. 15. Phone 312-878-5552.
Kenny Kirkland is at the Cubby Bear Lounge, 1059 W. Addison St., Feb. 9;
Patti Austin, Feb. 28. Phone 312-472-7736.
Ike Cole plays piano at the Pump Room, 1301 N. State Pkwy., Feb. 13 through 15. Phone 312-266-0360.
