Feb 23

Feb 23 Winter JazzFest

Chicago, Festivals, Jazz, Musicians, Performance

The Jazz Institute of Chicago (JIC) threw Chicagoans a lifeline today. Although this has been a mild winter, it nevertheless is winter, with occasional snow, plunging temperatures, and grey skies. So, the opportunity to spend the day at the Chicago Cultural Center listening to some of Chicago’s best jazz musicians brought some welcome relief.

The JIC took full advantage of the Cultural Center’s facilities, with performances in the Claudia Cassidy Theater, the Preston Bradley Hall, the UVC Room and the Millennium Park Room. The latter two venues located on the Center’s 5th floor, meaning that everyone got a little bit of needed exercise.

In addition to the great music, the JIC also offered a marketplace, where various vendors could offer jazz-related merch. Chicago photographer and raconteur Michael Jackson was on hand, selling images created during years of covering the jazz scene in Chicago. Particularly memorable was one photograph picturing Fred Anderson standing outside the Velvet Lounge.

Lewis Achenbach also was present, hosting a large table filled with action-paintings that he has created during what must now be hundreds of jazz performances. Back in the day, New Orleans painter Leo Meiersdorff developed a signature style that graced the cover of many a class jazz album, included one depicting Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, and another showcasing Earl “Fatha” Hines. You don’t see a lot of album covers in the age of streaming, but if there were still physical manifestations of the music, Achenbach’s highly stylistic work—combining primitive brush strokes and assorted colors, with spashes of paint adding texture and depth—would surely be used to distinctly brand the music. I couldn’t resist, so I purchased two of his paintings.

But as usual, I was there for the music. On hand were a number of Chicago-scene stalwarts, including Robert Irving, Isaiah and Micah Collier, Paul Wertico, Mike Reed, Clark Summers, Dana Hall, Sharel Cassity, Richard Johnson, and a host of others. This being a JIC event, there were plenty of young lions on hand, coming from area high schools.

As is often the case at Chicago festivals. drummer Dana Hall and bassist Dana Hall teamed up to provide a solid bottom for three performances, demonstrating their good-natured fellowship and teamwork. Hall continues to be a photographer’s delight, offering fantastic facial expressions while keeping his sticks in constant motion.

Toward the end of the afternoon, I caught the Sharel Cassity Quartet, with Richard Johnson on piano, and the aforementioned Hall and Clark laying down the rhythm. Cassity chose the alto saxophone today, delivering a largely up-tempo set.

Earlier in the day, another Chicago favorite, the colorfully attired Isaiah Collier opted for his soprano saxophone as he joined his brother, Jeremiah Collier (drums), and cousin, Micah Collier (bass), for a terrific set, which included a swingin’ gospel-inflected rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing. All were working under the auspices of bandleader, Bethany Pickens, who brought an airy touch to the mix.

Mid-afternoon, I caught Chicago-stalwart Mike Reed (drums) with saxophonist and clarinetist Hunter Diamond for an interesting duet that also included Diamond occasionally playing small percussion instruments. I suspect much of the set was improvised, but it nevertheless had a cohesive feel that unfolded as a logical progression, making it highly listenable.

But this being a festival put together by Jazz Institute of Chicago, the afternoon festivities included up and coming high school students. Today’s set were a bit haphazard—more akin to jam sessions built around standards—than structured sets. Nevertheless, the kids exude technical virtuosity and poise. They are excited to be performing in public, taking their efforts seriously. I did run into 17-year-old drummer, Oscar Everly, but unfortunately he was not playing today, although we had a nice chat about this college plans. Not surprisingly, he was seated at a table next to his mentor, Ernest Dawkins.

Overall, the six hours during which I was present was a welcome relief from the winter blahs and the many demonstrations that I have covered over the last five months.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]