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2009 Chicago Jazz Fest -
A Musical Cornucopia of Jazz Sounds


Grant Park, Chicago, IL
Sept. 4 - 6

Amina Figarova
Amina Figarova (JW)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (BT)

Victor Garcia (JB)

Story by Brad Walseth
Photos by James Walker, Jr. (JW), John Broughton (JB), Bryan Thompson (BT) and Brad Walseth (BW) - copyright 2009
Videos by John Broughton - copyright 2009

After enduring one of the chilliest summers in recent history, jazz fans of all ages attending the 2009 edition of the Chicago Jazz Festival were granted glorious sunshine for nearly the entire week of festivities. And despite the sound issues that accompany an outdoor festival, attendees were treated to a cornucopia of jazz sounds as provided by a wide range of talented artists from across the full spectrum.

The week started off with the Jazz Institute's Gala concert tribute to Michelle Obama as composed and performed by Nicole Mitchell. Mitchell - one of the finest composers on the scene - did double duty - also leading her Black Earth Ensemble through an exceptional set on the Jackson Street stage later in the week. The Jazz Institute's club tour was expanded this year and again gave people the opportunity to sample the scene at a number of Chicago jazz establishments. Thursday night's final Made in Chicago concert at the Pritzker Pavillion at Millenium Park ended a stellar series with a tribute to Chicago favorite son, Benny Goodman, with veteran clarinetist Buddy Buddy DeFrancoDeFranco joining the Chicago Jazz Ensemble to finish up the season with a bang.

The Jazz Fest proper began on a sad note - with the news that beloved local drummer Ernie Adams - perhaps the hardest working musician in town - had taken ill (get well soon, Ernie!!!). With Ernie's scheduled bandmate - alto madman Richie Cole trapped by fires in L.A. and also unable to attend, a band led by trumpeter Orbert Davis and featuring guitarist Henry Johnson, drummer Greg Rockingham and bassist Stewart Miller opened the fest in fine fashion. As the fellow standing next to me said: "not bad for a pick-up band."

While the new and quite popular Chicago Community Trust Young Lions Stage featured the best young high-school age talent paired with veterans like Ari Brown, Mark Colby and Junior Mance, the Jackson Street stage continued its reputation as the "hot" stage. Greg Ward's Fitted Shards, Fareed Haque's Flat Earth Ensemble, the Dan Cray Trio with Geof Bradfield, the Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble and the aforementioned Nicole Mitchell all put on high energy sets, while young superstar Esperanza SpaldingEsperanza Spalding - fresh off her David Letterman appearance - packed Jackson Street for her pleasing set.

Jackson Street also featured solo piano from Chicago favorites Yoko Noge and Ben Patterson, and thought-provoking sets by vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz' Rolldown and clarinetist James Falzone's KLANG. And the legendary Von Freeman led a crowd-pleasing jam session. But perhaps the most surprising concert was led by Von's guitarist - Mike Allemnna - whose gospel-vocal Come Sunday contingent led off appropriately Sunday morning with a bushel-full of good cheer.

The Jazz and Heritage Stage is sometimes shortchanged as the "educational" venue (and indeed, the popular percussion discussions and art of the solo discussions with Art Burton and William Parker respectively were well-attended), but it's shady confines provided plenty of heat from several excellent groups. Young saxophonist Kevin Nabors led his quintet - including trumpet star Corey Wilkes, guitarist Scott Hesse bassist Junius Paul and drummer Isaiah Spencer through a fiery set. Great to see this young man taking strides as a player and leader. Alto saxman Dudley Owens also scored with a great, high-octane session featuring David Young on trumpet and the incredible Keith Javors on piano. Violinist Diane Delin and the underrated and highly talented Kelly Brand Quartet - a personal favorite - were also featured on this stage, as was the ever-popular Eric Schneider - who packed the area with fans.

This would be more than enough talent for any jazz fan, but we have yet to touch on the amazing amount of musical magic that appeared on the main (Petrillo) stage. Friday night began with a highly enjoyable set from Chicago's own Jeff Parker. The guitarist - who often engages in left-of-center tangents - was backed by keyboardist Pete Benson (Sabertooth), saxophonist Scott Burns and drummer George Fludas and played a hot straight-ahead set. Roscoe MitchellNext up was The Trio - a take-no-prisoners avant group featuring composer in residence and pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and trombonist George Lewis in a full-frontal sonic assault on the audience. Although not everyone's cup of tea, the majority of the crowd remained seated and even gave these avant garde pioneers a standing ovation. In a bid for presenting a kaleidoscopic musical experience, folk/blues chanteuse Madeleine Peyroux was up next and gave the crowd a pleasant, albeit not real jazzy, set. The evening ended with fireworks as Gonzalo Rubalcaba brought his innovative Cuban-based music to the stage.

Eric Schneider Saturday's mainstage fun began with an impressive set from veteran saxophonist and Velvet Lounge club owner Fred Anderson. Backed by drummer Hamid Drake and bassist Josh Abrams, Fred - who was a bebop player before becoming immersed in the avant garde scene - played some of the most beautiful and melodic playing I have heard from the jazz legend on this memorable concert. Amina Figarova'a sextet was up next and put on another one of the highlights of the fest with an energetic display. This is a talented group that you should be aware of.

The evening continued with plenty of combustible energy as bassist William Parker brought his ensemble to the stage for a delicious rendering of the songs of the late great Chicago R&B star Curtis Mayfield. With lovely singer/dancer Leena Conquest gyrating, revolutionary poet Amiri Baraka providing spoken word over the incendiary music and the crowd singing along to favorites like "Freddie's Dead," "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue" and "It's Alright," this set offered a tough act to follow. Fortunately, the Dave Holland Dave HollandBig Band was more than equal to the task. The veteran bassist led an extremely talented group through some hard-charging numbers that - despite the limitations of the sound system - displayed Holland's use of colors in his big band arrangements. Great solos by Holland, alto saxohonist Jaleel Shaw, tenor saxman Chris Potter and Holland himself brought this evening to a wonderful conclusion

The final performances on Sunday night at the Petrillo included an enjoyable set from Archie Shepp that veered into blues, followed by Buddy DeFranco's tribute to Art Tatum: both were solid. Chicago's reigning queen of jazz vocals, Ms. Dee Alexander came on in yet another stunningly beautiful dress and she and her group did Chicago up proud with selections from her latest album - "Wild is the Wind." The festival closed with a challenging composition by Muhal Richard Abrams that showcased Ari Brown, George Lewis and Harrison Bankhead in extended solo spots in front of the Art Hoyle Orchestra.

The Jazz Institute and the City of Chicago and all of those involved deserve a big hand for producing yet another exciting free festival.

Ari Brown
Ari Brown (BT)
Von Freeman
Von Freeman (BT)
Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell (BT)

Orbert Davis (JB)
Dudley Owens
Dudley Owens (JW)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (JB)
Corey Wilkes
Corey Wilkes (JB)
Kevin Nabors
Kevin Nabors (JB)
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp (BT)
Madeleine Peyroux
Madeleine Peyroux (BT)
Muhal Richard Abrams
Muhal Richard Abrams (JW)
Tito Carillo
Tito Carillo (JW)

Backstage with Nicole Mitchell

Frank
Frank Rosaly (JW)
Willerm Delisfort
Willerm Delisfort (JW)
Indrajit Banerjee
Indrajit Banerjee (JW)
Junius Paul
Junius Paul (JB)
Scott Hesse
Scott Hesse (JB)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (JB)
Jason Roebke
Jason Roebke (JW)
Yosvany Terry
Yosvany Terry (JB)
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp (JB)
Von Freeman
Von Freeman (JB)
Reiner Rosario
Renier Rosario (BT)
Leena Conquest
Leena Conquest (BT)
Josh Abrams
Josh Abrams (BT)
Darwin Noguera
Darwin Noguera (JB)
Tito Carillo
Tito Carillo (JB)
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding (BT)
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp (BT)
Darwin Noguera
Darwin Noguera (BW)
CALJE
Reiner Rosario - CALJE (BW)

Backstage with Darwin Noguera and Victor Garcia of CALJE

Come Sunday
Alton Smith, Lindsay Weinberg & Sue Demel (BW)
Lindsay Weinberg
Lindsay Weinberg (BW)
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding (JW)
Josh Berman
Josh Berman (JW)
Leena Conquest
Leena Conquest (JB)
 Lewis Barnes
Lewis Barnes (JB)
Yoko Noge
Yoko Noge (BT)
Von Freeman
Von Freeman (BT)
Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell (BW)
CALJE
Steve Eisen and CALJE (BW)
Jeff Parker
Jeff Parker (JW)
Scott Burns
Scott Burns (JW)
Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell (JB)
Tomeka Reid
Tomeka Reid (JB)
George Lewis
George Lewis (JW)
George Fludas
George Fludas(JW)
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell (JW)
Carlos Vega
Carlos Vega (JW)
Fareed Haque
Fareed Haque (BT)
Yosvany Terry
Yosvany Terry (BT)
Mark Mommaas
Mark Mommaas - Anima Figarova (JW)
Leena Conquest
Leena Conquest - William Parker (JW)
Harrison Bankhead
Harrison Bankhead (BT)
Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco (BT)
Dave Holland
Dave Holland (JW)
James Falzone's KLANG
James Falzone's KLANG (BW)
Jeroen Vierdag
Jeroen Vierdag - Amina Figaraova Sextet (JW)
Amiri Baraka
Amiri Baraka (JW)
Ira Nathaniel Smith
Ira Nathaniel Smith (JW)
Klang
KLANG (BW)
Greg Ward
Greg Ward (BT)
Tomeke Reid
Tomeka Reid (BT)
Fred Anderson
Fred Anderson (JW)
Kevin Nabors
Kevin Nabors (BW)

Backstage with Kevin Nabors

Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (BT)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (BT)
Fred Anderson
Fred Anderson (JW)
Kevin Nabors and Corey Wilkes
Kevin Nabors and Corey Wilkes (BW)
Orbert Davis
Orbert Davis (BT)
Fred Anderson
Fred Anderson (BT)
Dave Holland
Dave Holland (JW)
Ronnie Burrage
Ronnie Burrage (JW)
Dave Holland
Dave Holland (BT)
George Lewis
George Lewis (JB)
Jeff Greene
Jeff Greene (BW)
Geof Bradfield and Art Davis
Geof Bradfield and Art Davis (BW)

Backstage with Geof Bradfield

Come Sunday
Bill Brickey - Come Sunday (BT)
Kevin Nabors
Kevin Nabors (BT)
Dan Anderson
Dan Anderson (JW)
Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco (JW)
Mike Allemana
Mike Allemana (BW)
Lindsay Weinberg & Sue Demel
Lindsay Weinberg & Sue Demel (BW)
Avery Sharpe
Avery Sharpe(JW)
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp (JW)

Backstage with Avery Sharpe

Mark Gross
Mark Gross (JW)
Ira Nathaniel Smith
Ira Nathaniel Smith (JW)
Jason Adasiewicz
Jason Adasiewicz (BT)
Frank Rosaly
Frank Rosaly (BT)
Harrison Bankhead
Harrison Bankhead (JW)
Rusty Jones
Rusty Jones (JW)

Backstage with Henry Grimes

crowd
crowd (BT)
crowd
crowd (BT)
Amiri Baraka
Amiri Baraka (BT)
Clark Sommers
Clark Sommers (BT)
Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell (BW)
Klang
James Falzone, Dave Miller, Jason Roebke - KLANG (BW)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (JW)
James Sanders
James Sanders (JW)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (JW)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (JW)
Marquis Hill, Ari Brown and Steve Berry
Marquis Hill, Ari Brown and Steve Berry (JW)
Ari Brown
Ari Brown (JW)
Anima Figarova
Anima Figarova (JB)
Bart Platteau
Bart Platteau (JB)
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding (BT)
Avery Sharpe
Avery Sharpe(BT)
Shirazette Tinnin
Shirazette Tinnin (JB)
Quin Kirchner
Quin Kirchner (JB)
Aram Shelton
Aram Shelton (JW)
Jason Adasiewicz
Jason Adasiewicz (JW)
Greg Ward
Greg Ward (JB)
David Young
David Young (JB)

Backstage with Greg Ward

Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Gonzalo Rubalcaba (BT)
Fareed Haque
Fareed Haque (JB)
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp (JB)
Ben Paterson
Ben Paterson (JB)
Lewis Barnes
Lewis Barnes (JW)
William Parker
William Parker (JW)
Jaleel Shaw
Jaleel Shaw (JW)
Miguel de la Cerna
Miguel de la Cerna (BT)
Johnny O' Neal
Johnny O'Neal (BT)
Hamid Drake
Hamid Drake (BT)
Bart Platteau, Ernie Hammes & Marc Mommaas
Bart Platteau, Ernie Hammes & Marc Mommaas (JW)
Steve Nelson
Steve Nelson (JW)
Chris Potter
Chris Potter (JW)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (JB)
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp (JB)
James Sanders
James Sanders (JW)
Hamid Drake
Hamid Drake (JW)
Keith Javors
Keith Javors (JB)
Rob Clearfield
Rob Clearfield (JB)
Sylvia de la Cerna
Sylvia de la Cerna (JW)
Robin Eubanks
Robin Eubanks (JW)
Kevin Nabors and Corey Wilkes
Kevin Nabors and Corey Wilkes(BW)
Kevin Nabors Quintet
Kevin Nabors Quintet (BW)
Stewart Miller
Stewart Miller (JW)
Henry Johnson
Henry Johnson (JW)
Renee Baker, Nicole Mitchell, Josh Abrams
Renee Baker, Nicole Mitchell and Josh Abrams (BW)

(BW)
Dudley Owens
Dudley Owens (JW)
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding (JW)
The Trio
The Trio (JB)
Madeleine Peyroux
Madeleine Peyroux (BT)
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding (JW)
Pete Benson, George Fludas, Jeff Parker and Scott Burns
Pete Benson, George Fludas, Jeff Parker and Scott Burns (JW)
Greg Ward
Greg Ward (JW)
Cool Shoes
Cool Shoes (JW)
Amiri Baraka, Rahsaan Clark Morris and William Parker
Amiri Baraka, Rahsaan Clark Morris & William Parker(JW)
Fred Anderson
Fred Anderson (JW)
Mike Allemana
Mike Allemana (JB)
Josh Berman
Josh Berman (JB)
Renee Baker
Renee Baker (BT)
Orbert Davis
Orbert Davis (JW)
Henry Johnson
Henry Johnson (JW)
David Young, Mark Lomax and Dudley Owens
David Young, Mark Lomax and Dudley Owens (JW)
Dave Burrell
Dave Burrell (BT)
Avery Sharpe
Avery Sharpe (BT)
Morgan Park Academy
Morgan Park Academy (JW)
St. Charles High School
St. Charles High School(JW)
Kelly Brand
Kelly Brand (BW)
Kelly Brand Quartet
Kelly Brand Quartet (BW)
Sabir Mateen, Darryl Foster and Lewis Barnes
Sabir Mateen, Darryl Foster and Lewis Barnes (JW)
Sabir Mateen
Sabir Mateen (JW)
James Sanders
James Sanders (JB)
Clark Sommers
Clark Sommers (JB)

crowd (BT)

crowd (BT)
Ari Brown
Ari Brown (JW)
Darryl Foster
Darryl Foster (JW)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander(BT)
Dee Alexander
Dee Alexander (BT)

For Many More JazzFest 2009 Photos click on the photo galleries below


James Walker Jr. Photo Gallery
John Broughton Photo Gallery Bryan Thompson Photo Gallery

Contact Brad Walseth and JazzChicago.net at bwalseth60@aol.com

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