Summer Free Jazz in Chicago

Free, as in: of no cost to the listener, not as in: without musical structure.

The shows:

Great Black Music Ensemble: Tribute to Fletcher Henderson, with Von Freeman and Franz Jackson, July 26

Blues/Jazz Summit Chicago, with Sharon Lewis, Billy Branch, Ari Brown, Lurie Bell and Chris Foreman, Aug. 2

Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Orchestra: Tribute to Alice Coltrane, Aug. 9

Legends and Lions: Ragtime and Beyond, with Muhal Richard Abrams, Reginald Robinson and Fulcrum Point, Aug. 16

Sirens of Song: Dee Alexander's Tribute to Nina Simone and Dinah Washington, Aug. 23

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic on Tap: Songs from the Chicago Songbook, with Orbert Davis, vocalists and tap dancers, Aug. 27.

I'm really looking forward to the Great Black Music Ensemble tribute to Fletcher Henderson - the show last year was phenomenal and I expect this one will be even better. Nicole Mitchell's tribute to Alice Coltrane will also feature Myra Melford and Hamid Drake, and should be fabulous. Pairing Muhal Richard Abrams with current ragtime revivalist Reginald Robinson is nothing short of brilliant juxtaposition. Dee Alexander is the only singer I'd like to see try and do a tribute to Nina Simone. The blues summit isn't particularly intriguing to me, although Ari Brown is always a pleasure, and any chance for Orbert Davis to convene his Jazz Philharmonic is a special treat indeed.

I'll be doing podcast interviews with the main musicians for each show as a preview to their respective concerts - stay tuned for details.