In a rare appearance, Ed Wilkerson’s Shadow Vignettes, a 25-member ensemble featuring some of the most distinguished jazz musicians in Chicago, will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.
The concert, sponsored by the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chicago, also will spotlight flutist James Newton as guest soloist.
Although the ensemble began as a trio, in 1979, it expanded to 16 players by 1983, when the Jazz Institute engaged the band for a performance with Newton.
Even as the personnel roster has grown, the band’s performances have been infrequent, if only because of the cost and expense of gathering a large, avant-garde orchestra that plays new and original charts.
This performance has been organized by the Jazz Institute, with a grant from the Lila Wallace National Jazz Network. For details, phone the Jazz Institute at 312-427-1676.
– The Playboy Jazz Festival, which has played the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for 16 years, will offer a Chicago edition running Nov. 11 through 13 in various locations.
The event, which has drawn some criticism in recent years for its “jazz lite” programming in Hollywood, will take a somewhat more hard-hitting approach for its engagement in Chicago, where Playboy founder Hugh Hefner first launched the event in 1959.
Here’s the schedule:
Saxophonist Sonny Fortune’s Quartet and pianist Tommy Flanagan’s Trio, 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave.
Singer Al Jarreau and saxophonist Richard Elliott, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy.
Trumpeter Wallace Roney’s Quintet, 8 and 10 p.m. Nov. 13 at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave. Phone 312-559-1212.
– Bill McFarland and the Chicago Horns, one of the most dynamic jazz bands in the city, will play at 9 p.m. Friday at the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway. Coming up at the Green Mill: Singer Aisha de Haas, Saturday; organist Charles Earland, Oct. 28; singer Kimberly Gordon, Oct. 29. Phone 312-878-5552.
– Joe Williams, the majestic jazz and blues singer who launched his career in Chicago, will perform Friday and Saturday at the College of DuPage Arts Center, 22nd Street and Lambert Road., Glen Ellyn. Phone 708-858-2800.
– The fall concert series of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) continues with a triple bill beginning at 10 p.m. Friday at the Bop Shop, 1807 W. Division St. The Samana Quartet, Dushun Mosley Trio and reed soloist Ari Brown will perform. Phone 312-235-3232.
– The Chuck Hedges Swingtet-a sublime traditional jazz ensemble-will play the Keep Jazz Alive in Hinsdale series at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, 11 W. Maple St., Hinsdale. Phone 708-323-2885.
– Cabaret singer Ann Hampton Callaway performs through Saturday at Toulouse Cognac Bar, 2140 N. Lincoln Park West. Phone 312-665-9071.
– The 12th annual Jazz Mini-Fest of the Illiana Club of Traditional Jazz will run from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Glendora House, 10225 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago Ridge. The headliners include the Chuck Hedges Swingtet, Memphis Nighthawks and Swing Express. Phone 708-755-8312.
– The jazz beat is still going strong at the Rusty Pelican, 777 E. Butterfield Rd., Lombard. At 6 p.m. Thursday, the Bill O’Connell Big Band will perform; and at the same time Oct. 26, drummer Mike Raynor’s Trio will play. Phone 708-573-0400.
– Pops for Champagne, the plush room at 2934 N. Sheffield Ave., will feature Chicago jazz veteran Franz Jackson Oct. 28 and 29. Phone 312-561-3800.
– Japanese alto saxophonist Sadao Watanabe will appear at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. Phone 312-559-1212.
– Jazz violinist Sonya Robinson will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl. Phone 312-947-0600.
– The Jazz Masters, sponsored by non-profit Jazz Unites Inc., plays at from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursdays at Alexander’s Steak House, 3010 E. 79th St. Phone 312-667-2707.
– Illusionist Jim Bailey will offer two shows this weekend at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave. “Jim Bailey in Concert as Barbra Streisand” will start at 8 p.m. Friday; “Jim Bailey in Concert as Judy Garland” begins at 8 p.m. Saturday. Phone 312-559-1212.
– Coming up in the jazz rooms:
HotHouse, 1565 N. Milwaukee Ave.-Violinist Leroy Jenkins, Friday; flutist James Newton and reed player Douglas Ewart, Oct. 27; bassist Richard Davis and his quintet, Oct. 29. Phone 312-235-2334.
Jazz Showcase in the Blackstone Hotel, 636 S. Michigan Ave.-Pianist Dorothy Donegan, through Sunday; drummer T.S. Monk Jr., Oct. 25 through 30; drummer Jack DeJohnette’s Chicago Stars, Nov. 1 through 6; singer Joe Williams, Nov. 8 through 13. Phone 312-427-4846.
