jazzandbluesnews

Here is the schedule for the last day of the Chicago Blues Festival.  Be sure to leave comments and links if you attend in the comments section.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

“Every Day and Night” 

(schedule is subject to change)

Front Porch (12:00-8:00 pm)
• 12:00-1:00 pm - Lee Boys
• 1:30-2:30 pm - Christland Singers

• 3:00-4:15 pm - Lou Pride and the Blues Disciples
• 4:45-6:00 pm - Rabbit Factory Soul Revue
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Vernon Harrington and the Atomic Blues Band

Gibson Guitar Crossroads (12:00-5:00 pm)
• 12:00-1:15 pm - Tre’ and the BlueKnights with Lady Kat
• 1:45-3:00 pm - Ernest Lane and the Kings of Rhythm
• 3:30-5:00 pm - Lee Boys
 

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse (12:30-8:00 pm)
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson
• 2:30-4:00 pm - Eden and John’s East River String Band with special guests Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Dom Flemons
• 4:30-6:00 pm - Change Blues Films to Record Collecting through the Ages

• 6:30-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express

Mississippi Juke Joint (12:30-8:00 pm)
• 12:30-1:30 pm - Ben Payton
• 2:00-3:00 pm - Big Jack Johnson
• 3:30-4:30 pm - David Honeyboy Edwards and with Devil in a Woodpile
• 5:00-6:00 pm - Grady Champion
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Blues Festival Pro Blues Jam-Gary Gand
 

Petrillo Band Shell (5:00-9:30 pm)
• 5:00-6:00 pm - Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters

• 6:10-7:10 pm - Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers
• 7:20-8:20 pm - Jeremy Spencer
• 8:30-9:30 pm - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

I know I posted the entire Blues Festival lineup the other day, but I want to keep posting what’s going on for the rest of the weekend.  It’s a great festival and you should really try to attend if you can.  There are some great musical acts despite the fact that the festival is now only three days instead of four.

Chicago does festivals right.  It opens this weekend with the Blues Festival and then there is Lollapalooza in the middle and it ends with the Jazz Festival at the end of the season. 

So, here’s the lineup, from the website linked above, for Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday, June 13 - “Sweet Black Angel”

Front Porch
• 12:00-1:30 pm - Earwig Record’s Tribute to Sunnyland featuring Aaron Moore, Allen Batts and Dennis Binder

• 2:00-3:00 pm - Holle Thee Maxwell

• 3:30-4:30 pm - Ray Allison

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Nolan Struck with King Edward and special guests

Gibson Crossroads Stage

• 12:00-1:15 pm - Lurrie Bell
• 1:45-3:00 pm - Cyrus Hayes and Lady Lee

• 3:30-5:00 pm - Travis Haddix

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson

• 2:30-4:00 pm - The Art of the Slide Workshop: Elmore James Jr., Jeremy Spencer, Lil’ Ed, and John Primer

• 4:30-5:30 pm - Samuel James

• 6:30-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express

Mississippi Juke Joint

• 12:30-1:30 pm - Terry Harmonica Bean

• 2:00-3:00 pm - Eden Brent

• 3:30-4:30 pm - Little Dave Thompson

• 5:00-6:00 pm - John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Festival Jam Session-hosted by Demetria Taylor

Petrillo Band Shell

• 5:00-6:30 pm - Walter Scott hosts Southside Angels featuring Miss Peaches, Claudette, and Miss Jessie

• 6:40-8:10 pm - Trudy Lynn with the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings featuring “Daddy G”

• 8:20-9:30 pm - Bettye LaVette

Sunday, June 14 - “Every Day and Night”

Front Porch Stage
• 12:00-1:00 pm - Lee Boys

• 1:30-2:30 pm - Christland Singers

• 3:00-4:15 pm - Lou Pride and the Blues Disciples

• 4:45-6:00 pm - Rabbit Factory Soul Revue

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Vernon Harrington and the Atomic Blues Band

Gibson Crossroads Stage
• 12:00-1:15 pm - Tre’ and the BlueKnights with Lady Kat

• 1:45-3:00 pm - Ernest Lane and the Kings of Rhythm

• 3:30-5:00 pm - Lee Boys

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson

• 2:30-4:00 pm - Eden and John’s East River Band with special guests Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Dom Flemons

• 4:30-6:00 pm - Change Blues Films to Record Collecting through the Ages

• 6:30-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express

Mississippi Juke Joint

• 12:30-1:30 pm - Ben Payton

• 2:00-3:00 pm - Big Jack Johnson

• 3:30-4:30 pm - David Honeyboy Edwards with Devil in a Woodpile

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Grady Champion

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Blues Festival Pro Blues Jam-Gary Gand

Petrillo Band Shell

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters

• 6:10-7:10 pm - Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers  

• 7:20-8:20 pm - Jeremy Spencer

• 8:30-9:30 pm - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

I bet you thought I forgot that the Chicago Blues Festival was this weekend.  Well, considering it’s my birthday on Monday and I have been busy writing a new book you’d be right about that.  This year the festival is only three days, but it still looks packed with acts.  This list is from the website linked above which is called “Chicagofestivals.net.”

So, if you don’t mind bringing an umbrella (we are apparently in monsoon season here) and can stand mud and wet grass, then you should enjoy the festival.  If anyone goes and would like to talk about it here, let me know.

Friday, June 12 - “Prowling Nighthawk”

Front Porch

*12:00-1:00 pm - Blues in the Schools

• 1:30-2:30 pm - Gloria Thompson Rogers

• 3:00-4:30 pm - Big Bill and Mud Morganfield with special guests Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Andrew Jr. Boy Jones
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Charlie Musselwhite Band

Gibson Crossroads Stage

• 1:00-2:00 pm - Chicago Blues Experience featuring Vince Agwada and Russ Green

• 2:30-3:30 pm - Mary Lane’s Blues All Stars

• 4:00-5:30 pm - Sherman Moody Thomas and the Lee’s Unleaded Revue

• 6:00-7:00 pm - Grana’ Louise

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse

• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson

• 2:30-3:30 pm - Donna Herula

• 4:00-5:00 pm - Remembering Nighthawk

• 5:30-6:30 pm - Beginning Blue Progression Workshop

• 7:00-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express

Mississippi Juke Joint

• 12:30-1:30 pm - Eddie Taylor Jr. with Harmonica Hinds

• 2:00-3:00 pm - Maxwell Street Revisited: featuring Dancin’ Perkins, Iceman Robinson, Smilin’ Bobby, Bobby Too Tough and Frank “Lil Sonny” Scott Jr.

• 3:30-4:30 pm - Sam Lay

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Fernando Jones and the Columbia College Blues Ensemble

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Festival Jam Session

Petrillo Band Shell

• 7:00-8:10 pm - Shirley Johnson

• 8:20-9:30 pm - Eddie C. Campbell-70th Birthday Celebration

Saturday, June 13 - “Sweet Black Angel”

Front Porch
• 12:00-1:30 pm - Earwig Record’s Tribute to Sunnyland featuring Aaron Moore, Allen Batts and Dennis Binder

• 2:00-3:00 pm - Holle Thee Maxwell

• 3:30-4:30 pm - Ray Allison

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Nolan Struck with King Edward and special guests

Gibson Crossroads Stage

• 12:00-1:15 pm - Lurrie Bell
• 1:45-3:00 pm - Cyrus Hayes and Lady Lee

• 3:30-5:00 pm - Travis Haddix

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson

• 2:30-4:00 pm - The Art of the Slide Workshop: Elmore James Jr., Jeremy Spencer, Lil’ Ed, and John Primer

• 4:30-5:30 pm - Samuel James

• 6:30-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express

Mississippi Juke Joint

• 12:30-1:30 pm - Terry Harmonica Bean

• 2:00-3:00 pm - Eden Brent

• 3:30-4:30 pm - Little Dave Thompson

• 5:00-6:00 pm - John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Festival Jam Session-hosted by Demetria Taylor

Petrillo Band Shell

• 5:00-6:30 pm - Walter Scott hosts Southside Angels featuring Miss Peaches, Claudette, and Miss Jessie

• 6:40-8:10 pm - Trudy Lynn with the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings featuring “Daddy G”

• 8:20-9:30 pm - Bettye LaVette

Sunday, June 14 - “Every Day and Night”

Front Porch Stage
• 12:00-1:00 pm - Lee Boys

• 1:30-2:30 pm - Christland Singers

• 3:00-4:15 pm - Lou Pride and the Blues Disciples

• 4:45-6:00 pm - Rabbit Factory Soul Revue

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Vernon Harrington and the Atomic Blues Band

Gibson Crossroads Stage
• 12:00-1:15 pm - Tre’ and the BlueKnights with Lady Kat

• 1:45-3:00 pm - Ernest Lane and the Kings of Rhythm

• 3:30-5:00 pm - Lee Boys

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson

• 2:30-4:00 pm - Eden and John’s East River Band with special guests Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Dom Flemons

• 4:30-6:00 pm - Change Blues Films to Record Collecting through the Ages

• 6:30-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express

Mississippi Juke Joint

• 12:30-1:30 pm - Ben Payton

• 2:00-3:00 pm - Big Jack Johnson

• 3:30-4:30 pm - David Honeyboy Edwards with Devil in a Woodpile

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Grady Champion

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Blues Festival Pro Blues Jam-Gary Gand

Petrillo Band Shell

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters

• 6:10-7:10 pm - Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers  

• 7:20-8:20 pm - Jeremy Spencer

• 8:30-9:30 pm - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

It is indeed festival season around here.  The people are finally coming out of their homes after another brutal winter.  It was a rough one, as I found out for myself.  It was easy to cocoon yourself inside and not want to stick your head out of the house.  Now, it’s time to start spending time listening to some live music.

Yes, there are the big jazz and music festivals downtown, but the suburbs have their festivals.  One of those that I particularly like is sponsored by radio station WDCB.  It is the Glen Ellyn Jazz Festival. 

From the radio station’s website, here is information about this festival, add it to your calendar:

Jazz Fest Glen Ellyn 

General Event Information
 Event Category:WDCB Sponsored Events
Price:Free  
Dates and Times:Saturday, July 11; 3 to 10 p.m. Add to my calendar
Artist/Group:see list below
Chicago Hot Five Dixieland Band
Kelly Brand Trio
Mark Colby Quartet
Tammy McCann Quartet
Deep Blue Organ Trio
 

Venue Information
Venue:Glen Ellyn - Jazz Fest Stage  
Address:downtown Glen Ellyn
Main Street - between Crescent Blvd. and Pennsylvania Ave.  
City:Glen Ellyn
State:IL
Zip Code:60137
Country:United States
Telephone:(630) 469-0907
Venue Map:

I am just in a New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kind of mood.  Maybe it’s the weather or something.  I haven’t been able to find quite as much 2009 footage as I was hoping, but I found a bunch of footage people took from the 2008 version.  Maybe people are just slower to upload.

Just to show how the festival covers all kinds of music, here is Stevie Wonder in a harmonica duet:

Here is a man named George French and his band, playing under a tent.  I love music festivals and the small tents just off the main drag that you can find all kinds of cool things in:

Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers.  I love the jazz and blues band names!  They are really the most creative.  Take THAT “Coldplay.”

OK, that’s just three different samples.  They get all of the big names, but the true joy, at least in my opinion, are the local bands and smaller tents and festival venues that have the people playing just becuase they love to play. 

Festival season is here!  Stay tuned!

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is really one of the premier music festivals in the country.  Given what New Orleans has been through in recent years, the fact that the Festival has come back and come back strong is an amazing thing.  It is still one of the premier music festivals in the country.  The cool thing about our modern all-digital, all-the-time culture is that if you miss a certain event or festival, you can always find it on some place like YouTube. 

The Festival is also one of the earlier music festivals in the country.  While we are still waiting for the Chicago Blues Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as already played out at the end of April.  By all accounts, it was another amazing showcase for music of all kinds.  While Jazz is featured prominently, because New Orleans was one of the birth places of jazz, it is not the only form of music shown throughout the weekend.  No, rock and roll, blues, and just about every other genre you could want is featured there.

So, I encourage you to click on the link above and check out the information they have on the official website.  I the meantime, here is some amature video taken at the festival for you to enjoy as well.

With the Memorial Day holiday with us now, it is time to start looking at the jazz and blues festivals in and around Chicago.  Right now there is a jazz celebration continuing in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst that is starting to wind down.  You should check it out.

This is from the radio station WDCB’s website:

Elmhurst Jazz: A Celebration of an American Art Form 

General Event Information
Event Category:	Jazz Calendar
Price:	Free
Dates and Times:	April 28 - May 24 on Tuesday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Artist/Group:	Elmhurst Historical Museum
Artist/Group Email Address:	ehm@elmhurst.org
Description
Explore the eclectic history of jazz through rare images and artifacts celebrating 75 years of DownBeat magazine, and the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival’s 42-year run. See Louis Armstrong’s trumpete, Benny Goodman’s clarinet, and lear about notable jazz greats and their influence on the Chicago jazz scene. Free admission. Tues.-Sun.
Venue Information
Venue:	Elmhurst Historical Museum
Address:	120 E. Park Ave.
City:	Elmhurst
State:	IL
Zip Code:	60302
Country:	United States
Telephone:	630-833-1457
Email Address:	ehm@elmhurst.org

I spent part of the week mentioning the Chicago Blues Festival and I thought I might spend a little time mentioning the Chicago Jazz Festival.  The problem is that the festival has only some dates in September and no lineup just yet.

Both Blues and Jazz festivals have been reduced from four days to just three.  The festival organizers have been bending over backwards trying to say that this will not be a reduction in quality of the performances.  I never really thought there would be.  Apparently there have just been some budget cuts and creating some kind of huge Thursday night event is just too expensive.

So, I dug into YouTube and searched for some video that I knew had to be out there from last year’s event.  I couldn’t find a big head-liner from last year’s event, but I found something, anyway.  I figure you have to give me credit for that.

So, this is the Vijay Ijer Quintet performing at the 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival.

May is finally here and that means we are really in the heart of spring.  That means summer is coming up fast and that is Festival season here in Chicago.  Chicago opens the season with the Chicago Blues Festival and then there is Lollapalooza in the middle of the summer.  Then, it ends nicely with the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Just as a reminder, and so you can start planning now, here are the list of the stages and those who are performing during the festival.  This is from the Chicago Blues Festival website which is linked above.

FRIDAY JUNE 12, 2009

“Prowling Nighthawk”
(schedule is subject to change)
 
Front Porch (12:00-8:00 pm)
• 12:00-1:00 pm - Blues in the Schools
• 1:30-2:30 pm - Gloria Thompson Rogers
• 3:00-4:30 pm - Big Bill and Mud Morganfield with special guests Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
• 5:00-6:00 pm - Andrew Jr. Boy Jones
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Charlie Musselwhite Band 

Gibson Guitar Crossroads (1:00-7:00 pm)
• 1:00-2:00 pm - Chicago Blues Experience featuring Vince Agwada and Russ Green
• 2:30-3:30 pm - Mary Lane’s Blues All Stars
• 4:00-5:30 pm - Sherman Moody Thomas and the Lee’s Unleaded Revue
• 6:00-7:00 pm - Grana’ Louise

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse (12:30-8:00 pm)
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson
• 2:30-3:30 pm - Donna Herula
• 4:00-5:00 pm - Remembering Nighthawk
• 5:30-6:30 pm - Beginning Blue Progression Workshop
• 7:00-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express 

Mississippi Juke Joint (12:30-8:00 pm)
• 12:30-1:30 pm - Eddie Taylor Jr. with Harmonica Hinds
• 2:00-3:00 pm - Maxwell Street Revisited: featuring Dancin’ Perkins, Iceman Robinson, Smilin’ Bobby, Bobby Too Tough and Frank “Lil Sonny” Scott Jr.
• 3:30-4:30 pm - Sam Lay
• 5:00-6:00 pm - Fernando Jones and the Columbia College Blues Ensemble
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Festival Jam Session
 
Petrillo Music Shell (7:00-9:30 pm) 
• 7:00-8:10 pm - Shirley Johnson
• 8:20-9:30 pm - Eddie C. Campbell-70th Birthday Celebration 

SATURDAY JUNE 13, 2009

“Sweet Black Angel”
(schedule is subject to change) 

Front Porch (12:00-8:00 pm)
• 12:00-1:30 pm - Earwig Record’s Tribute to Sunnyland featuring Aaron Moore, Allen Batts and Dennis Binder
• 2:00-3:00 pm - Holle Thee Maxwell
• 3:30-4:30 pm - Ray Allison

• 5:00-6:00 pm - Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials 

• 6:30-8:00 pm - Nolan Struck with King Edward and special guests    

Gibson Guitar Crossroads (12:00-5:00 pm) 
• 12:00-1:15 pm - Lurrie Bell
• 1:45-3:00 pm - Cyrus Hayes and Lady Lee
• 3:30-5:00 pm - Travis “Moonchild” Haddix     

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse (12:30-8:00 pm) 
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson
• 2:30-4:00 pm - The Art of the Slide Workshop: Elmore James Jr., Jeremy Spencer, Lil’ Ed, and John Primer
• 4:30-5:30 pm - Samuel James
• 6:30-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express 

Mississippi Juke Joint (12:30-8:00 pm)

• 12:30-1:30 pm - Terry Harmonica Bean
• 2:00-3:00 pm - Eden Brent
• 3:30-4:30 pm - Little Dave Thompson
• 5:00-6:00 pm - John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Festival Jam Session-hosted by Demetria Taylor  

Petrillo Band Shell (5:00-9:30 pm) 
• 5:00-6:30 pm - Walter Scott hosts Southside Angels featuring Miss Peaches, Claudette, and Miss Jessie
• 6:40-8:10 pm - Trudy Lynn with the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings featuring “Daddy G”
• 8:20-9:30 pm - Bettye LaVette

SUNDAY  JUNE12, 2009

“Every Day and Night” 
(schedule is subject to change)

Front Porch (12:00-8:00 pm)
• 12:00-1:00 pm - Lee Boys
• 1:30-2:30 pm - Christland Singers
• 3:00-4:15 pm - Lou Pride and the Blues Disciples
• 4:45-6:00 pm - Rabbit Factory Soul Revue
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Vernon Harrington and the Atomic Blues Band 

Gibson Guitar Crossroads (12:00-5:00 pm)
• 12:00-1:15 pm - Tre’ and the BlueKnights with Lady Kat
• 1:45-3:00 pm - Ernest Lane and the Kings of Rhythm
• 3:30-5:00 pm - Lee Boys 

Zone Perfect Route 66 Roadhouse (12:30-8:00 pm)
• 12:30-2:00 pm - Charles Wsir Johnson
• 2:30-4:00 pm - Eden and John’s East River String Band with special guests Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Dom Flemons
• 4:30-6:00 pm - Change Blues Films to Record Collecting through the Ages
• 6:30-8:00 pm - East of the Edens Soul Express 

Mississippi Juke Joint (12:30-8:00 pm)
• 12:30-1:30 pm - Ben Payton
• 2:00-3:00 pm - Big Jack Johnson
• 3:30-4:30 pm - David Honeyboy Edwards and with Devil in a Woodpile
• 5:00-6:00 pm - Grady Champion
• 6:30-8:00 pm - Blues Festival Pro Blues Jam-Gary Gand 

Petrillo Band Shell (5:00-9:30 pm)
• 5:00-6:00 pm - Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters
• 6:10-7:10 pm - Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers
• 7:20-8:20 pm - Jeremy Spencer
• 8:30-9:30 pm - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
 
  

This is Easter weekend, for those of you Christian-religious-minded folks out there.  Maybe that’s why the number of live shows in the jazz and blues genres is a little light.  It was a little like that on Christmas.  It is hard for me to picture jazz performers and hard-core bluesmen and women taking time off to go to church, but you never know.

So, mostly what I have here (provided by radio station WDCB) are the jazz shows they have scheduled for this weekend.  There is even a jazz festival that started yesterday and goes through the weekend, which is very cool.  Happy Easter and enjoy some live jazz

JAZZ

Chicago Sessions Jazz Fest
April 9, 2009 - April 12, 2009
Jazz Showcase, Chicago
 
Every Second Friday: Mr. G and the Mystery Band
April 10, 2009
C.J. Arthur’s, Wilmette
 
Tatsu Aoki’s Miyumi Project
April 10, 2009
Velvet Lounge, Chicago
 
Friday Night Jazz At Sonoma’s
April 10, 2009
Sonoma Coffee Cafe, Evergreen Park
 
Chicago Sessions CD Release Party
Steven Hashimoto’s Mothra
April 10, 2009
Green Mill, Chicago
 
Chicago Sessions Jazz Fest
Zvonimir Tot Trio
April 10, 2009
Jazz Showcase, Chicago
 
Isaiah Spencer & The Originals
April 11, 2009
Velvet Lounge, Chicago
 
Chicago Sessions Jazz Fest
Paulinho Garcia and Friends
April 11, 2009
Jazz Showcase, Chicago
 
CheckerJazz
April 12, 2009
Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago
 
AACM Small Ensemble & Jazz Jam
April 12, 2009
Velvet Lounge, Chicago
 
Chicago Sessions Jazz Fest
Tony do Rosario’s New Chicago Jazz Quartet
April 12, 2009
Jazz Showcase, Chicago
 
Chicago Sessions Jazz Fest
The Method
April 12, 2009
Jazz Showcase, Chicago