Aug 31

Aug 31 Chicago Jazzfest--Day 3

Chicago, Chicago Tourism, Festivals, Jazz, Musicians, Performance

Today proved to be another packed day of jazz in the great outdoors. In decades past, the fest’s evening performances culminated with established masters who had laid the foundation. In earlier days, the Petrillo Music Shell was the site of these performances, which included the likes of Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Count Basis, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Stitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Haden, Jay McShann, Herbie Hancock, and many other foundational luminaries. While most of those folks are no longer with us, jazz continues to produce masters of equal caliber. Tonight, two of the masters took the main stage to reinvigorate the foundations.

I have seen Christian McBride and Cecile McLorin many times before. They never disappoint. McBride, who abandoned her trademark white glasses for this performance, certainly didn’t abandon the voice that has made her one, if not the top female vocalist in the world of jazz, although she has to keep her upping her game to stay on top with the likes of Dee Alexander, Jazzmeia Horn, René Marie, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, and a dozen other contenders close behind. Keeping McLorin tops on my list was her decision to perform the late Nancy Wilson’s signature number, Guess Who I Saw Today, a song that Chicago’s Dee Alexander also frequently includes in her set. McLorin, accompanied by Aaron Diehl at the piano,” also worked her way through Cole Porter’s All Through the Night, and Betty Carter’s I’m All Smiles, while McLorin criss-crossed the stage with perfect posture and a sparkly green dress, with a magenta-fringed hem.

Christian McBride brought his bass, together with his band, New Jawn, in a return visit to Chicago. With McBride came Josh Evans (trumpet), Marcus Strickland (saxophones) and the swinging drummer, Nasheet Watts. McBride’s discrete bass lines support some slippery notes coming from the horn section, with Watts using his shoulders to put the swing into the beat. I loved this ensemble when I saw them earlier this year, and still do.

Prior to McBride, Chicago pianist and composer Ryan Cohan brought a large ensemble of Chicago’s top musicians to the stage to perform another one of his orchestral pieces, this one entitled Originations. Like his earlier, The River, this is another piece that makes Cohan someone to watched as he moves upward. With him were John Wojciechowski (saxophone and clarinet), Geof Braffield (bass and soprano saxophones), Tito Carrillo (trumpet), James Cammack (bass), Michael Raynor (drums) and a string quartet. Bradford is one of the busiest musicians in terms of appearances at this year’s festival. Lots of people like his playing, which ranges from traditional to avant garde, which explains why he so many leaders add him to the mix.

As for the daytime performances, for me the highlight was the Fat Babies, led by Beau Sample on bass and Alex Hall on drums. They are essentially the big band version of the Red Rose Jazz Band, which opened the festival on Thursday. Both bands mine the same territory, which includes traditional jazz from the first half of the last century's with an emphasis on New Orleans. I could sit and listen to the Babies all day. There was one problem, however. Photographing them was next to impossible given the fact the size of the ensemble results in an overcrowded composition. Nevertheless, their sound carried the day.

I also enjoyed singer Hinda Hoffman, the Andy Brown Quartet, and Jeremy Cunningham’s The Weather Up There.

As usual, the Jazz Institute did an excellent job in programming the day. The available options made it easy for people with a variety of tastes to find something to sink their teeth into. Of equal importance, what was on offer once again showcased Chicago’s talented jazz scene.

Click on an Image to Enlarge It