Look at the bulging jazz season ahead, and there seems little doubt that the music is enjoying wider institutional support in the Chicago area than ever.
The bold Traffic series at Steppenwolf Theatre, the avant-garde offerings at the Empty Bottle and Unity Temple, and the all-star series at the newly rechristened Symphony Center suggest that the jazz resurgence of recent years is far more than a passing fad. If you doubt it, check out the crowds at the Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill and other clubs, where young audiences are discovering that there’s life beyond rock ‘n’ roll.
How well Chicago’s private and public institutions continue to serve the music and build the audience will become apparent in the coming season. But at least on paper, the prospects look good.
Best bets
– Alexander’s Steak House, Thursdays. The clock almost seems to have stood still at this splendid old steak joint where the Jazz Masters hold forth weekly. This is straight-ahead, South Side jazz at its most soulful.
– Chicago Jazz Ensemble, starting Sept. 25. Chicago’s top repertory jazz orchestra, based at Columbia College Chicago and led by William Russo, travels across the Chicago area performing everything from Duke Ellington to Stan Kenton. Though its budget is small, the ensemble stands among the best such bands in the country.
– Creative and Improvised Music at Unity Temple, beginning Sept. 12. Hearing master improvisers from across the United States and beyond would be appealing enough — but savoring their work in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple, a unique listening space, can’t help but enhance the experience.
– Empty Bottle Jazz Series, Wednesdays. What’s happening on the outer reaches of jazz experimentation? The Empty Bottle Jazz Series addresses the question provocatively. Programmed by Chicagoans Ken Vandermark and John Corbett, the lineup features innovative musicians from elsewhere in the United States and Europe, often in collaboration with local artists.
– David Sanchez at the Jazz Showcase, Oct. 14-19. One of the most profound young instrumentalists in jazz, tenor saxophonist David Sanchez places emphasis on musical content over technical display. Though he has technique to spare, Sanchez merges elements of Latin jazz, classic bebop and post-bop languages into a searing, somewhat introspective musical idiom.
– Symphony Center, starting Oct. 7. For listeners who enjoy hearing the stars of jazz, many will be playing in the new home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
– Traffic at Steppenwolf Theatre, beginning Oct. 27. No arts series in the United States mixes genres as adventurously as Traffic, which gleefully brings musicians, poets, historians, dancers and others onto the same stage — with utterly unpredictable results.
EVENTS
Alexander’s Steak House, 3010 E. 79th St., 773-667-2707. The splendid Jazz Masters — featuring singer saxophonist Eddie Johnson, pianist John Young, trumpeter Paul Serrano, drummer George Hughes, bassist Eddie de Haas and singer Geraldine de Haas — perform Thursdays.
Andy’s, 11 E. Hubbard St., 312-642-6805. Any club that presents jazz seven nights a week for as long as Andy’s has must be doing something right.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 312-744-6630. Pianist Kevin Cole celebrates George Gershwin’s birthday, Sept. 26; pianist-singers Dave Green and Audrey Morris, Sept. 27.
Chicago Jazz Ensemble of Columbia College Chicago, 312-461-9708. William Russo’s band launches its season Sept. 25 at Hemmens Cultural Center, Elgin. The season will continue with concerts Sept. 28 at FitzGerald’s, in Berwyn; Oct. 2 at Green Dolphin Street, Chicago; Oct. 4 at Mandel Hall, Chicago; and Oct. 12 at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-549-5549. Drummer Barrett Deems, at 84 a certifiable jazz legend, leads his big band on Tuesday nights.
Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., 773-276-3600. The club’s innovative Jazz Series will present Gold Sparkle Band, Sept. 10; Peter Brotzmann Tentet, Sept. 17; Wolfgang Fuchs, Sept. 24; Jeb Bishop and Jim Baker, Oct. 1; Martin Blume and Marcio Mattos, with Ken Vandermark, Oct. 15; “Hal the Weenie: NRG Ensemble Plays Hal Russell,” Oct. 22; Steve Lacy Trio, Nov. 5; Ron Dewar-Josh Abrams-Robert Barry Trio, Nov. 19.
FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd., 708-788-2118. Jazz bands every Wednesday and Sunday, including the Jazz Members Big Band, Sept. 7 and 21 and Oct. 5; Bill O’Connell Big Band, Sept. 14; Rob Parton’s JazzTech Big Band, Sept. 17; Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Sept. 24; Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Chicago Grandstand Big Band, Sept. 28.
Glendora House, 10225 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago Ridge, 708-755-8312. The monthly concert organized by the Illiana Club of Traditional Jazz will present the New Reformation Dixieland Band on Sept. 21.
Grant Park, Petrillo Music Shell, Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard, 312-744-3315. The Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival includes Los Chalanes, Adelante, Mi Linda Costa Rica, Bertin Y Lalo, Condesa, Grupo Rana, Tito Rojas, Carlos Cuevas, Aida Cuevas/Mariachi Toronquila, Paulo Gualano/Luciana Pissarollo, Los Humildes, Sept. 13; Claudia Perez/Sounds of Macondo, Habana, Mariachi Toronquila, Stefani, Flavio Cesar, Salamon Robles, Ensemble Kalinda Chicago, Beatriz Montes/Mariachi Toronquila, Nelson Ned, Los Joao, Oga Tanon, Sept. 14.
Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway, 773-878-5552. Singer Kurt Elling appears Wednesdays with various guest soloists, starting with saxophonist Brad Wheeler on Sept. 10; B Sharp Jazz Quartet, Sept. 12-13; sixth annual Chicago-Brazilian Jazz Festival, with pianist Manfredo Fest & Chizil, Sept. 19-20; tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, Sept. 26-27; keyboardist Jim Trompeter, Oct. 3-4; Big Band of Chicago, Oct. 10; Chevere, Oct. 17; Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Oct. 18; tenor saxophonist Rudy Mahanthappa, Oct. 25; Astral Project, Oct. 31-Nov. 1; Malachi Thompson’s Africa Brass, Nov. 21; Roscoe Mitchell, Nov. 29.
Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave., 312-670-BIRD. Diana Krall Trio, Sept. 9-14; McCoy Tyner Trio, Sept. 16-21; Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Sept. 23-28; Louie Bellson Septet, Sept. 30-Oct. 5; Jacky Terrasson Trio, Oct. 7-12; David Sanchez Quartet, Oct. 14-19; Marian McPartland Trio, Oct. 21-26; Jimmy McGriff Quartet, Nov. 4-9; James Moody Quartet, Nov. 11-16; Joshua Redman Trio, Nov. 18-23; Roy Hargrove Quintet, Nov. 25-30.
The Metropole in the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr., 312-565-8000. Singer Maggie Brown performs Sept. 16-20; singer Eden Atwood, Sept. 23-27; Suenos, a Latin jazz ensemble, Sept. 30-Oct. 4; Bill Boris Group, Oct. 7-11; Eden Atwood, Oct. 14-18.
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-673-6300. Lainie Kazan, Sept. 27; 1997 Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival, Oct. 24; Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues and the Siegel-Schwall Band, Nov. 1.
The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-489-0011. Drummer Barrett Deems leads his big band on Wednesday nights; tenor saxophone giant Von Freeman plays on Sunday nights.
Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., 312-294-3000. Joe Williams, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Oct. 7; Marcus Roberts Trio, “Monk on Monk: The 80th Birthday Anniversary Tribute to Thelonious Sphere Monk,” Oct. 24; Horace Silver Quintet, Von Freeman Quintet, Oct. 31; Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, Joe Lovano Celebrates Sinatra, Nov. 14; “The Jazz Messengers: The Legacy of Art Blakey,” with Terence Blanchard, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller, Geoff Keezer, Peter Washington and Lewis Nash, Dec. 5; Cassandra Wilson’s “Tribute to Miles Davis,” Dec. 19; Roy Hargrove Big Band, Eddie Palmieri Big Band, Jan. 9, 1998; Betty Carter Trio, Milt Jackson Quartet, Jan. 23; Cyrus Chestnut and McCoy Tyner, “Together at Last,” Feb. 27; Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Marian McPartland, March 13; “An Evening of Trio Jazz: Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Peacock,” April 3.
Three Arts Club of Chicago, 1300 N. Dearborn St., 312-944-6250. The top-notch Landmark Jazz Series will present Franz Jackson, Sept. 24; Paul Wertico’s Wicked Sics, Nov. 19; Paulinho Garcia & Jazzmineiro, Jan. 28, 1998; Grazyna Auguscik, March 25; Von Freeman, May 27.
Traffic at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650. Entering its second season, Steppenwolf’s Traffic series will push into even more daring presentations and ideas. The expanded, 10-event season will feature: “Tribute to the AACM,” featuring the Ernest Dawkins Trio, Samana and the Kahil El’Zabar Quartet, Oct. 27; “The Works of Leon Forrest,” with musicians Henry Threadgill and Ari Brown riffing alongside Catherine Slade’s readings of Forrest’s work, Nov. 17; Art Ensemble of Chicago, Dec. 15; “Tribute to Allen Ginsberg,” featuring Frank Galati, Martha Lavey, Kurt Elling and Kahil El’Zabar, Jan. 26, 1998; “Music in the Word,” with Amiri Baraka, Oliver Lake and Steve Colson, Feb. 23; “Dance and Jazz Summit,” with dancer Robert Henry Johnson and the Von Freeman Quartet, March 30; Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale,” with a new libretto by Kurt Vonnegut and violin performance by Rachel Barton, May 18; “Cultural Odyssey — The Performance Group,” featuring Rhodessa Jones and Idris Ackamoor, June 8; “Night of Performance Art,” with Guillermo Gomez-Pena, July 20; “The Divas of Dance,” conversations with Maria Tallchief and Carmen DeLavallade, Aug. 17.
Unity Temple, 875 Lake St., Oak Park, 708-383-8873. The Creative and Improvised Music at Unity Temple series will present: Matthew Shipp String Trio, Sept. 12; Harrison Bankhead/Jim Baker/Edward Wilkerson Jr./Vincent Davis, Sept. 13; John Tchicai/Kidd Jordan Quartet, Sept. 14; Peter Brotzmann/Mats Gustafsson Duo, Sept. 18; Sam Rivers Trio, Oct. 3; Anthony Davis and Cynthia Aronson Davis, Oct. 25; Asian-American Jazz Festival, Oct. 26; Steve Lacy, Nov. 6; ROVA Saxophone Quartet, Nov. 7; Dave Douglas Tiny Bell Trio, Nov. 9; Joe Morris Trio, Nov. 13; Charlie Kohlhase Quintet, Nov. 16; Damon Short Sextet, with Paul Smoker, Nov. 21; Burton Green Trio, with Ken Vandermark and Kent Kessler, Dec. 6.
Velvet Lounge, 2128 1/2 S. Indiana Ave., 312-951-9050. Tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson’s room is a focal point for new music on the South Side of Chicago, with jam sessions Thursdays through Sundays.
Victory Gardens Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-549-5788. Trumpeter Malachi Thompson performs in “The Sutherland,” a play by Charles Smith set in the famous Chicago jazz spot.
