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Livestream via the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Facebook page
Amid the uncertainty that was 2020, the JIC developed 2 new programs through generous support of the Andrew Mellon Foundation - The New Works Fresh Voices (NWFV) commission project and Jazz Links Fellowship (JLF). Both awards give rise to the work of Chicago musicians and the Chicago sound through the development of new works, collaboration, consultancy and mentorship.
Moderated by JIC Executive Director, Heather Ireland Robinson, this panel discussion presents the 2020-21 NWFV and JLF awardees Fred Jackson Jr., Juli Wood, Camila Mennitte Pereyra and Lenard Simpson in a conversation about their career paths, current projects, and the impact of the Chicago jazz scene.
About the panelists:
FRED JACKSON JR.
Mr. Jackson was introduced to the saxophone by his band director Brian Standridge at Paul Lawrence Dunbar Middle School in seventh grade. He turned him on to Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Duke Ellington. He vowed to follow the path of Jazz. His life would mirror the story of Jazz and its migration, which is the Great Migration in the United States.
In 2010, he became a member of AACM and he went back to school in 2012 - 14 to pursue his Masters in Jazz studies from DePaul University. He studied with Mark Colby, Dana Hall, Dr Robert Lark and many other professors. He also studied extensively the music of the African diaspora for ten years, mainly the North and West. Magic Carpet allowed him the opportunity to study music from all over the world. He has been teaching pre - k - 8th grade since 2015. Currently he performs with Sitarist (Shanta Nuerulla) and his Erudition Project. Mr. Jackson newest venture is Spacetonic Music, a music publishing label.
JULI WOOD
For the past twenty five years with five albums as a leader, several studio projects as a side man, and countless worldwide performances, saxophonist, vocalist and composer Juli Wood has established herself as a solid, swinging, lyrical and entertaining performer on Chicago’s music scene. Juli has played many jazz clubs and festivals nationally and internationally; Chicago Jazz Fest, Hyde Park Jazz Fest, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, Chicago’s main jazz clubs – Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Andy’s and Constellation. Skansen Jazz and Blues (Stockholm , Sweden), Pori Jazz Fest (Finland), Bent J’s club (Aarhus, Denmark), Storyville (Helsinki Finland), Arlandia Jazz Fest (Aaland Islands, Finland) and the ” Made in Chicago ” jazz festival in Poznan Poland to name a few. Juli is in the tradition of saxophonists who were also great vocalists; Cleanhead Vincent, Eddie Harris, and Louis Jordan.
CAMILA MENNITTE PEREYRA
Percussionist Camila Mennitte Pereyra began her musical journey playing along to recordings of Jimmy Cobb and Oscar Peterson. Growing up in Argentina, Camila was influenced at an early age by Argentine and American rock music, as well as traditional Argentine folkloric music. Since moving to the United States, she has had the opportunity to work with Jeff Tain Watts, Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Greg Ward. By participating in the Jazz Links Fellowship Program, Camila aims to find her sound as an artist, as well as use her platform as an engine for social justice.
LENARD SIMPSON
Lenard is a saxophonist, composer and educator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After completing high school, Lenard went on to pursue a bachelors in Jazz performance at Northern Illinois University. In 2018, Lenard was selected by a panel of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, James Newton and Ambrose Akinmusire to be a member of Thelonious Monk Institute Fellowship, which has since been renamed to the Herbie Hancock Institute. After finishing his master’s degree at the Institute , Lenard moved to Chicago where he remains an active performer and educator.