JAZZ CITY IS BACK IN 2023!
The Jazz Institute of Chicago opens 2023 with a special celebration of Women in Chicago Jazz. This concert will feature the Shanta Nurullah Quintet with special opening act by Jazz Links Student Council Member, Alfie Jackson at the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory.
The concert free, family friendly, and open to the public.
Jazz City is produced in partnership with the Chicago Park District, Night Out in The Parks, WBCB radio 90.9, Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
ABOUT SHANTA NURULLAH
Shanta Nurullah was born into a musical family and studied piano and tap dancing throughout her formative years. While in college, she was able to travel to India and study Indian Classical music and the sitar. Shanta has been performing professionally as a musician since 1972, and as a storyteller since 1978. After college, Shanta immersed herself in the Black Arts Movement as a member of the Kuumba Workshop, Kelan Phil Cohran’s Black Music Workshop, and associating with writers, visual artists, dancers, and members of the AACM.
Shanta formed her first band in 1978 and went on to co-found the all- women’s ensembles Sojourner and Samana, the first female band inthe AACM. With these groups, and others, Shanta has performed in venues across the country, distinguishing herself as a sitarist and bassist exploring African-American improvisational music. Her current projects include the bands Sitarsys and Classic Black, the duo ShaZah, and Freedom Song Leaders, a vocal ensemble. Shanta has an original story on permanent display at Brookfield Zoo (IL) and has been a storytelling teacher and mentor for many years. Currently, Shanta teaches at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music.
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