Ever since Zarin Mehta became executive director of the Ravinia Festival, in 1991, the institution has addressed the art of jazz with a seriousness and consistency unprecedented on the North Shore.
Mehta’s latest venture, which will debut later this season, will go one dramatic step further: It will link the Highland Park arts festival to downtown Chicago culture, and to the development of new audiences across the Chicago area.
In November, Mehta will launch a Rising Stars of Jazz series that will present emerging artists in Ravinia’s acoustically superb Bennett Hall. Perhaps more significant, several of these musicians will repeat their performances the following evening in Symphony Center’s Buntrock Hall.
The development is important not only because a roster of young artists could attract young listeners to jazz (the affordable, $15 ticket price should help too), but also because it marks the first time in years that Orchestra Hall will have ventured beyond its successful but predictable Ameritech Jazz at Symphony Center series.
“At first, we wanted to present the Rising Stars series (entirely) downtown, but we couldn’t find a place with exactly the right atmosphere, from my standpoint,” says Mehta.
“So six months ago, we decided, `Why don’t we just go ahead and do it in Bennett Hall,’ ” the same venue where Ravinia’s classical Rising Stars series has played to growing audiences during the past several years.
Because Mehta and his Ravinia staff have been booking jazz in Orchestra Hall since 1996, and because the smallish seating capacity of Buntrock (approximately 300) suits a roster of not-yet-famous artists, Mehta decided to feature some of his Rising Stars of Jazz downtown as well.
Though there’s no predicting exactly how audiences will respond to the new venture, the strength of the first season suggests that Mehta is on the right track. The first two performers, pianist Eric Reed and drummer Jason Marsalis (Wynton’s younger brother), certainly stand among the most promising young artists in jazz.
Despite their gifts, these musicians are not yet prominent enough to command major club engagements. The Rising Stars series, therefore, will give them an opportunity to headline for downtown audiences years earlier than their careers might otherwise have allowed. At the same time, the series seems likely to add to the texture of downtown and suburban musical offerings.
“When we first started the classical Rising Star series,” says Mehta, “I had to hunt people down to perform for us. In the last couple years, though, I’ve been getting calls from conductors and soloists saying they’ve heard about this pianist or that violinist, and that we really should book the artist for our series.
“I’m hoping that will happen in jazz — that when (trumpet legend) Clark Terry goes somewhere and hears a young person he’s excited about, he’ll call us and say: `This kid is great, put him on the series.’ “
That only can be good news for young artists looking to catch a break, for listeners eager to hear tomorrow’s stars and, above all, for music in Chicago.
Here’s the schedule for the Rising Stars of Jazz:
Eric Reed Trio: Nov. 11 at Ravinia.
Jason Marsalis Quintet: Dec. 16 at Ravinia; Dec. 17 at Buntrock Hall.
Brad Mehldau Trio: March 3, 1999 at Ravinia; March 4 at Buntrock Hall.
Jeffrey Smith and Trio: March 24 at Ravinia.
Russell Malone Quartet: April 21 at Ravinia.
Sherman Irby Trio: May 12 at Ravinia; May 13 at Buntrock Hall.
For details, phone the Ravinia Festival at 847-266-5100.
BEST BETS
– Alexander’s Steak House, Thursdays. Jazz on the South Side has a thousand different sounds, but at its core are the JazzMasters, veteran musicians who sum up musical traditions many decades in the making. Presented by Jazz Unites, a not-for-profit organization, the JazzMasters include the sublime vocalist Geraldine de Haas and the esteemed tenor saxophonist Eddie Johnson.
– Traffic at Steppenwolf Theatre, starting Nov. 16. Launching its third season, Steppenwolf’s ground-breaking multiarts series offers provocative programming available nowhere else in the country. Its roster of jazz improvisers, urban poets, avant-garde composers and other freethinkers represents a fascinating forum on American culture in the ’90s.
– Patricia Barber at the Green Mill Jazz Club, Sundays and Mondays. One of the most profound singer-pianists Chicago has produced in the past two decades, Barber does more than simply perform a song — she breaks it down to its essence, then reconstructs it in unexpected ways.
– Chicago Jazz Ensemble, at the Jazz Showcase, every other Monday, starting Sept. 14. Because of the popular and critical success of the band’s summer residency at the Showcase, club owner Joe Segal has booked William Russo’s sterling repertory ensemble for an open-ended run on alternating Mondays. There’s no better way to discover orchestral masterworks by Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Count Basie and Russo himself.
– Third Annual Asian American Jazz Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art, Oct. 23-25. This event grows each year, this time around presenting Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra, Tokyo “noise musicians” Yasuhiro Ohtans and Yuko Nexus 6 and more. But the festival is one part of the museum’s wide-ranging music and performance-art series already underway, the lineup including daring works from saxophonist David Murray, poet Amiri Buraka, multi-instrumentalist Ken Vandermark and others.
DISTANT FUTURE
The annual Jazz Fair, a dead-of-winter soiree traditionally held in a Loop hotel, for the first time will move to the Chicago Cultural Center, at 78 E. Washington St., on Jan. 25, 1999. The new setting should improve the event, since Cultural Center programmer Michael Orlove — one of the most innovative young jazz producers in Chicago — will play a major role in staging the Fair. Several Chicago bands, still to be named, will headline in the event, organized by the Jazz Institute of Chicago. Phone 312-427-1676.
EVENTS
Alexander’s Steak House, 3010 E. 79th St., 773-734-2000. Jazz Unites presents The JazzMasters — with Eddie Johnson, John Young, Paul Serrano, George Hughes and Eddie de Haas — Thursdays.
Andy’s, 11 E. Hubbard St., 312-642-6805. A changing lineup of jazz artists seven nights a week.
Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 22nd St., Glen Ellyn, 630-942-3737. Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Nov. 15. “Judy Collins’ Christmas Show,” with the 100-voice DuPage Chorale, Dec. 6-7. Take 6, Jan. 23, 1999. Chick Corea and Origin, Feb. 26. “Three Piano Crossover,” with Dick Hyman, Ruth Laredo and Marian McPartland, March 5. Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, April 11.
Arts Club of Chicago, 201 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1919. Geraldine Freund — one of the last great, independent arts producers — will present “George Gershwin: The Sound of American Music,” on Oct. 17. The event will feature the piano-vocal duo of William Bolcom and Joan Morris; the two-piano team of Stephen Drury and Yukiko Takagi; and singer Jessica Tardy with the Classical Jazz Trio of Harvard University and the Civic Orchestra Quartet.
Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., 773-525-7793. The “Do-It-Yourself Chanukah,” featuring Debbie Friedman and Peter Yarrow, returns to the Athenaeum on Dec. 14.
Bennett Hall, Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, 847-266-5100. “Rising Stars of Jazz at Ravinia,” with the Eric Reed Trio, Nov. 11; Jason Marsalis Quintet, Dec. 16; Brad Mehldau Trio, March 3, 1999; Jeffrey Smith and Trio, March 24; Russell Malone Quartet, April 21; Sherman Irby Trio, May 12. In addition, Buntrock Hall in Symphony Center will feature repeat performances of three of these shows, with the Jason Marsalis Quintet, Dec. 17; Brad Mehldau Trio, March 4; Sherman Irby Trio, May 13.
The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, University Park, 708-235-2222. Buddy Guy, Sept. 19. Glen Campbell, Dec. 5. Corky Siegel’s “Chamber Blues” and the Siegel-Schwall Band, April 17, 1999. Bobby Caldwell Big Band, April 24, 1999.
The Chambers, 6881 N. Milwaukee Ave., 847-647-8282. Chicago jazz musicians Thursdays through Sundays, including: Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman, Sundays.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 312-744-6630. Jeremy Kahn’s tribute to George Gershwin, Sept. 25. Terry Callier, Sept. 26. Jon Weber and Reginald Robinson, Oct. 1. Dennis Kim and Tatsu Aoki Trio, Oct. 15. Jeff Chan Quartet, Tatsu Aoko and Kahil El’Zabar, Oct. 22.
Chicago Sinfonietta at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., 312-857-1062. Trumpeter Orbert Davis with the Sinfonietta, Nov. 23.
Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., 312-902-1500. “Michael & George — Feinstein Sings Gershwin,” Sept. 26.
College of Lake County Performing Arts Building, Grayslake, 847-543-2300. Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues, Nov. 7-8. Rob Parton’s JazzTech Big Band and CLC Jazz Ensemble, Nov. 22. La Shun Pace gospel concert, Feb., 13, 1999. Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine, March 27. Arturo Sandoval, April 17.
DuSable Museum of African-American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., 773-947-0600. Paul Robeson Tribute Concert, with Kennedy-King Concert Choir and bass-baritone James Murray, Sept. 20.
Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., 312-276-3600. Ellerly Eskenlin with Andrea Parkins and Jim Black, Sept. 16. Sylvie Courvoiser and Mark Feldman, Sept. 23. Peter Kowald, Sept. 30.
FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn, 708-788-2118. Bill O’Connell’s Chicago Skyliners Big Band, Sept. 13 and Oct. 11. Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Sept. 20 and Oct. 18. Chicago Grandstand Big Band, Sept. 27. Chicago Basie Connection, Oct. 1. Rob Parton’s JazzTech Big Band, Oct. 21.
Green Dolphin Street, 2200 N. Ashland Ave., 773-395-0066. Chris Foreman-Greg Rockingham Hammond B-3 Organ Quintet, Sept. 18; Denise LaGrassa Quartet, Sept. 21; Bill Porter-Rich Fudoli Quintet, Sept. 24; Freddy Cole Quartet, Oct. 2-3.
Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway, 773-878-5552. Patricia Barber, Sundays and Mondays. Vanguard Aces, Tuesdays. Big Band of Chicago, Thursdays. Jim Trompeter Quintet, Sept. 18-19. Henry Butler Trio, Sept. 25-26. Willie Pickens Quintet, Oct. 2-3. Steve Hashimoto’s Suenos, Oct. 9. Fareed Haque Quartet, Oct. 10. Marvin Stamm Quartet, Nov. 13-14. Astral Project, Nov. 20-21.
HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo Dr., 312-362-9707. Gregorio Guillermo, Sunday. Leon Parker, Sept. 16. Don Byron, Sept. 18. Sones de Mexico, Sept. 27. Jazz Unlimited Orchestra, Sept. 28. The Eternals and David Boykin Outet, Sept. 29. Odean Pope, Oct. 16. Rova Saxophone Quartet, Oct. 17. Myra Melford with Leroy Jenkins and Joseph Jarman, Oct. 23.
Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave., 773-363-6063. A holiday concert featuring pianist Willie Pickens, trumpeter Nicholas Payton and singer Kurt Elling, Dec. 18.
Illiana Club of Traditional Jazz, Ramada Inn Chicago South, 17040 S. Halsted St., Harvey, 708-755-8312. 25th anniversary celebration, featuring The Original Salty Dogs, Marty Grosz’s Orphan Newsboys, The Inn Place Reunion Band and others, Sept. 18-20.
Ivanhoe Theater, 750 W. Wellington Ave., 773-975-7171. Kevin Cole’s “Gershwin Solo,” Sept. 19 and 26.
Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave., 312-670-BIRD. New at the Showcase this fall is a series of Monday offerings, with William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble on Sept. 14 and 28, Oct. 12 and 26, and Nov. 9. Orbert Davis on Oct. 5, 19, and Nov. 2. Trombonist Paul McKee and saxophonist Mark Colby, Nov. 16.
The Tuesdays-through-Sundays lineup will feature the Roy Hargrove Sextet, Sept. 13. Jackie Cain and Roy Kral Quintet, Sept. 15-20. Art Farmer Quintet, Sept. 22-27. Milt Jackson Quartet, Sept. 29-Oct. 4. David Sanchez Quintet, Oct. 6-11. Terence Blanchard Quintet, Oct. 13-18. Christian McBride Quartet, Oct. 20-25. Mose Allison Trio, Oct 27-Nov. 1. Jacky Terrasson Trio, Nov. 3-8. Randy Brecker Quartet, Nov. 10-15. Danilo Perez Trio, Nov. 17-22. Houston Person & Etta Jones, Nov. 24-29. Monty Alexander Trio, Dec. 1-6. Hank Crawford Quartet, Dec. 8-13. Von Freeman Quartet, Dec. 15-20. Marian McPartland Trio, Dec. 22-27. Clark Terry Quintet, Dec. 29-Jan. 3.
Metropole in the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr., 312-565-8000. Jeremy Kahn Trio, Sept. 15-19. Spider Saloff, Sept. 22-26, Sept. 29-Oct. 3 and Oct. 6-10. Chule, Oct. 13-17. Jimmy Damon, Oct. 20-24 and Oct. 27-31.
In addition, “Spider Saloff Sings Gershwin” will play Sept. 18 and 19 in the hotel’s Moulin Rouge Showroom.
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., 312-397-4010. Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzas and Los Hermanos Cepeda, Sept. 13. “Fo deuk Revue,” with David Murray, Doudou N’Diaye Rose, Amiri Baraka and others, Sept. 18-19. Third Annual Chicago Asian-American Jazz Festival, Oct. 23-25. Gerhard Stabler and Kunsu Shim, Nov. 21. “Full Moon Vaudeville,” with Ken Vandermark 5, Michael Zerang, Hamid Drake and others, Jan. 30, 1999. Summer Solstice Celebration, June 19-20.
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-679-9501. Andrea Marcovicci, Oct. 16. The Coasters, the Drifters and the Platters, Feb. 13, 1999. Ladysmith Black Mambazo, March 6. Kingston Trio, April 16.
The Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-489-0011. Mars Williams, Mondays. Barrett Deems Big Band, Wednesdays. Fareed Haque Quartet, Oct. 17.
Pete Miller’s Steak House, 1557 Sherman Ave., Evanston, 847-328-0399. Third annual Jump & Verve Jazz Festival, with the McCoy Tyner Trio, Sept. 15; Judy Roberts Quartet, Sept. 16; Orbert Davis with Strings Attached, Sept. 17; Jose Valdes’ Sonora Tropical, Sept. 18; plus a Festival Stage lineup on Sept. 19, on Sherman Avenue, between Grove and Davis Streets, with Barry Winograd’s Alternative Big Band, 1 p.m.; Victor Parra and Mambo Express, 3 p.m.; Liquid Soul, 5 p.m.; Malachi Thompson and Africa Brass, 7 p.m.; Stanley Turrentine Quartet, 9 p.m.
Also, Marlene Rosenberg Trio, Sundays in September and October.
Pops for Champagne, 2934 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-472-1000. Music seven nights a week, including: Judy Roberts, Mondays. Stephanie Browning, Thursdays. Denise LaGrassa, Sept. 13.
Prairie State College Auditorium, Chicago Heights, 708-481-7774. The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra performs “Celebrating the Music and Poetry of Dizzy, Davis, Mingus and Hughes,” featuring narrator Paul Winfield, Sept. 27.
Rituals, 537 S. Dearborn St., 312-922-3834. Kahil El’Zabar’s Experimental Big Band, Tuesdays.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 122 S. Michigan Ave., 312-663-1628. Performing Arts Chicago presents Fulcrum Point, a chamber group in Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat” and the suite version of Wynton Marsalis’ “A Fiddler’s Tale,” Nov. 1.
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr., 773-734-2000. Concerts presented by Jazz Unites and the Chicago Park District: Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble, Nov. 21. “Tribute to Marian Anderson,” Feb. 14, 1999. JazzFest ’99, July 31-Aug. 1.
Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650. Traffic, Steppenwolf’s innovative multiarts series, opens Nov. 16, with schedule details still to be announced.
Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., 312-294-3000. Ameritech Jazz at Symphony Center series will present Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette, Oct. 9 (rescheduled from last season); George Shearing Trio and Diana Krall Trio, Oct. 23; Joshua Redman Quartet and Marcus Roberts Trio, Nov. 6; Mingus Big Band and Chucho Valdes Trio, Dec. 4; Chick Corea and Origin, Chico Freeman Quartet (with Victor Lewis and George Cables), Jan. 22, 1999; Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross sing “The Lambert, Hendricks and Ross Songbook,” plus Phil Woods Quintet, Feb. 5; Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ray Drummond’s All-Star Excursion Band, March 5; Cassandra Wilson, April 2; William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble, with guest trumpeter Jon Faddis, and Kurt Elling Quartet, May 7. Sonny Rollins, May 21; The Great Guitars, with Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis and Bucky Pizzarelli, and the Milt Jackson Quartet, May 28.
In addition, Symphony Center will present repeat performances from the “Rising Stars of Jazz at Ravinia” in Buntrock Hall, with the Jason Marsalis Quintet, Dec. 17; Brad Mehldau Trio, March 4; and Sherman Irby Trio, May 13.
Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, Ind., 219-769-6600. Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Oct. 4. Mitzi Gaynor, Nov. 22. “The Colors of Christmas,” with Philip Bailey, Sheena Easton, Jeffrey Osborne and Deniece Williams, Dec. 5. Wayne Newton’s Christmas Show, Dec. 13.
Three Arts Club of Chicago, 1300 N. Dearborn Pkwy., 312-944-6250. Jodie Christian, Sept. 23. Karl Montzka Quartet, Nov. 18. Patricia Barber, Jan. 27, 1999. Brian Gephart-Bob Long Quartet, March 24. Audrey Morris, May 26.
Toulouse Cognac Bar, 2140 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-665-9071. Carol Sloane, Sept. 15-19. Buddy Greco, Sept. 22-27. Dave McKenna, Sept. 30-Oct. 3. Carole Marche and Joe Vito, Oct. 6-10. Lenna, Oct. 13-17. Cory Jamison, Oct. 20-24. Steve March Torme, Oct. 27-Oct. 31 and Nov. 3-7. Frank D’Rone, Nov. 10-14; Susannah McCorkle, Dec. 1-12.
Velvet Lounge, 2128 1/2 S. Indiana Ave., 312-791-9050. Avant-garde jazz Thursdays through Sundays.
Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., 312-409-3947. Jazz Members Big Band subscription series, with “A Tribute to George Gershwin,” featuring trumpeter George Bean and vocalist Frieda Lee, Oct. 4; “A Tribute to Stan Kenton & Woody Herman Orchestras,” with drummer John Von Ohlen, Nov. 22; “A Tribute to Charlie Parker,” with saxophonist Eric Schneider, Jan. 17, 1999; “A Tribute to Duke Ellington,” with saxophonist Eddie Johnson and violinist Johnny Frigo, April 11; and “A Tribute to Count Basie,” with Joe Williams, May 16.
Yvette, 1206 N. State Pkwy., 312-280-1700. Nan Mason Trio, Tuesdays through Saturdays.
