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Fresh Festival at Navy Pier

  • Navy Pier 600 East Grand Avenue Chicago, IL, 60611 United States (map)

FRESH FEST at NAVY PIER

with special guests Alfie Jackson Sextet, Stillwater, and Jack Nelson Quartet

Friday, July 14 from 6:30PM-8:30PM at Chicago’s beautiful Navy Pier.

Join us on Lake Michigan in Chicago for a gorgeous night of live jazz from some of Chicago best rising stars in jazz.

ABOUT ALFIE JACKSON

Chiarts graduate Alfie Jackson has been steadily gaining experience singing with her dad’s combo Mike’s Magic Band at the Chicago Magic Lounge, The Riviera Theatre and in the UK, plus featuring on the recording “The Gal From Ochi.” She’s also jammed at the Epiphany Center for the Arts and the legendary Jazz Showcase and performed solo at Dudefest. Currently Alfie is a member of Chiarts prestigious Combo A and has recently debuted as a band leader with the Alfie Jackson Sextet.

ABOUT STILLWATER

The Stillwater Sextet is a Chicago based jazz group of high-school aged students and musicians that attend many different schools across the city. The group first played together as a part of the 2022 NextGenJazz Emerging Artists Project as the Stillwater Septet, where they brought their unique and energetic music to Navy Pier.

In 2023, they return with the same rhythm section of Brandon Harper (piano), Joel Fisher (guitar), Oscar Evely (drums), and Steven Bowman (bass) who have continued to develop their craft as a tight and original sounding section over the last year. However, they bring with them a new horn section of Leo Milano (tenor saxophone) and Payton Bryk (alto saxophone), who have worked with each other in multiple big bands and combos throughout their times in high school and through CYSO.

The Stillwater Sextet is looking forward to sharing the original music of pianist Brandon Harper, interpretation of jazz standards, arrangements of modern music and so much more.

ABOUT JACK NELSON

Jack Nelson is an accomplished, up and coming young saxophonist hailing from Chicago. He has established himself as a frequent soloist and has been honored with numerous awards at prestigious competitions and festivals. Noteworthy among these accolades are his wins at The Purdue Jazz Festival, The Jazz in The Chi Festival, and The New Trier Jazz Festival. Jack has graced the stages of various festivals and venues, including The Epiphany Center, Andy's Jazz Club, The Bucktown Arts Fest, and the Chicago Jazz Festival.

With a wealth of professional experience as a sideman in the city's vibrant music scene, Jack has now taken the reins as a leader of his own quartet. This new venture allows him to showcase his original compositions for the first time. Through his music, Jack's aim is to authentically convey his artistic expression and connect with his audience on a profound level.

Jack Nelson - Saxes

Aleko Lionikis- Piano

Leo buczkowskii - Bass

Frank Morrison- Drums

Part of Jazz Institute of Chicago’s NextGenJazz Emerging Artists Project 

Members of the Jazz Links Student Council are also eligible for the NextGenJazz Emerging Artists Project
The Emerging Artists Project promotes leadership, creativity, and a foundation for self-marketing by working with participants to develop skills necessary to lead their own ensembles, create an online presence, and promote and manage their own gigs and shows.

Jazz Institute of Chicago is proud to receive generous support from the following organizations

The Alphawood Foundation; a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Crown Family Philanthropies; Chicago's Cultural Treasures; The Darling Family Foundation; The Ella Fitzgerald Foundation; The Epstein Family Foundation; The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation; The Fry Foundation; The Glossberg Foundation; The Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency; The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The Mellon Foundation; The Polk Bros. Foundation; The Oppenheimer Family Foundation; The Walder Foundation; The Wang Family

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LATIN JAZZ FESTIVAL