Welcome to Jazz Institute of Chicago’s JazzGram! Here you will find an ongoing blog of news and information about local, regional, international jazz artists and happenings.
For an archive of our JazzGram please go HERE.
Cecile Savage Sings Her Life Stories in Languages She Loves
Southsiders Stand UP!!!
JIC’s Zakiya Fola talks Englewood jazz Fest with Ernest Dawkins
Maddie Vogler to Celebrate Family, Culture, and Identity at the Chicago Jazz Festival
Billy Harper to Present His Truth His Way at the Chicago Jazz Festival
“Tangible Sound” Strives to Amplify Music through Multiple Media Modes
Tomeka Reid’s Quartet Stretches and Saunters on 3 + 3
Jon Irabagon Searches the Saxophone for the New and the Now, Alone and Together
Consumed with curiosity, the child’s eyes and mind absorbed his aunt’s hand movements as she played Chopin on the piano. How, he wondered, did she play different tempos at the same time? This fascination led him to play piano, before the alto saxophone attracted his attention in the fifth grade.
“The Drum Also Waltzes” Explores Max Roach, the Man, the Musician, and His Messages
Fred Anderson’s Velvet Lounge: What It Meant Then, What It STill Means Today…and Tomorrow
Interview with jazz legend Ron Carter
Eric Hochberg’s “StringThing” to Bring Different Quintet Standard for Jazz Festival Performance
Musings, Reflections, Creations from Maestro Ron Carter
Singing, Signing, and Storytelling: Record Release Party for Joanie Pallatto Brings Many to the Mill
‘Live’ Love from the Constellation: Harrison Bankhead’s life, intensity, and spirit celebrated by admirers in Chicago and beyond…
Harrison Bankhead, March 1, 1955- April 6, 2023
Roy McGrath Reinterprets Classics from Puerto Rico and Unveils New Tunes From Now on Menjunje
Imagine this: You, a young musician, have been hired to play four classic compositions made famous by your countryman. This icon, a septuagenarian, will be present, even though his health is declining.
You ready?
Pearl Platitudes: 30th Anniversary of Kelan Phil Cohran’s “African Skies” to be Celebrated
Von at 100!
Even though Von Freeman left Chicago only after being promoted to a permanent position on August 11, 2012, his centennial will be celebrated before, during, and after October 3, 2023.
McBride Engages Emotions and Ensemble Energy on Ramon
However honest and honorable, songs saluting females in their titles possess a certain characteristic. When discussing “Jeannine,” Duke Pearson’s classic composition during a 1960 Jazz at the Philharmonic performance in Paris, Cannonball Adderley said, “You know, tunes named after girls like Jeannine are usually slow, wispy ballads, but this Jeannine is a swinging chick, right?”