It's uniquely Chicago culture - the "can-do" attitude of a committed hardcore jazz community encouraging new music now. The independent nonprofit Jazz Institute of Chicago throws an absolutely free and musically world-class one day Jazz Fair in the depths of frosty January. … [Read more...]
Windy city, jazz response
January 23, 2008 by
Chicagoans won't be deterred -- like other northerners, they shrug off January and find meaning by escaping their caves. At least, I hope so, heading into my hometown for the Jazz Institute of Chicago's annual winter Jazz Fair at the beautiful Cultural Center. … [Read more...]
Refurbished hall, piano on-and-on
January 22, 2008 by
Merkin Concert Hall nipped and tucked, 14 pianists astride keyboard genres drew an overflow audience from 2 pm to 9 on Martin Luther King Day -- free of charge, and this jewel-box holds only 450, but the acoustics are swell, and so was some of the music. … [Read more...]
International Jazz at IAJE
January 14, 2008 by
"Everywhere I've been in in the past couple of years - and I've been everywhere -- young people have put aside their indigenous musics and adopted jazz and blues as their Esperanto," said Quincy Jones, most famous of the 2008 NEA Jazz Masters at the 35th annual International Association for Jazz Education conference in Toronto last week. … [Read more...]
Jazz Ed-Beyond-Jazz? in Toronto
January 8, 2008 by
Education is one aspect of the jazz world in evident ascent; Down Beat last spring listed some 180 North American schools offering degrees in the music born a century ago in taverns and brothels. The 35th annual International Association for Jazz Education conference, in Toronto this weekend, suggests how far swinging blues have come. … [Read more...]
Peterson considered and reconsidered
January 2, 2008 by
From a JBJ reader -- and a surprise listening encounter: Writes Paul Botts, first quoting another commenter on my earlier posting: " 'He was a jazz pianist for those who don't really like jazz.' Oh for...is it really necessary to regurgitate now the same nonsense that Peterson heard for 50 years? His having a grudge against jazz writers seems completely unsurprising to me. As a lifelong jazz lover and a semi-professional jazz pianist myself, I've always loved the passion and flair and above all the wit of Oscar's playing. And it has long struck … [Read more...]
