Centrally located on Michigan Avenue – together with The Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and the Magnificent Mile – The Blackstone is within convenient distance of the must-see attractions and best things to do in Chicago. Explore Chicago events and happenings to experience the best Chicago has to offer.
From Friday, August 23, 2019 to Sunday, September 1, 2019 August 23, 2019 September 1, 2019 The Blackstone
Held every Labor Day since 1979, the Chicago Jazz Festival promotes awareness and appreciation for all forms of jazz through free, quality live musical performances by Chicago's vast jazz talent alongside national and international artists.
FREE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWS
FRIDAY, AUG. 23
JD Allen Trio, 8:30 p.m.
Constellation Studio B, 3111 N. Western Ave.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
Brown Derby Jazz Revue, 6 – 10 p.m.
Great Lakes Elks Lodge, 5110 S. Prairie
Marc Ribot Solo, 8:30 p.m.
Constellation Studio B, 3111 N. Western Ave.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
Brown Derby Jazz Revue, 6 – 10 p.m.
Great Lakes Elks Lodge, 5110 S. Prairie
Cooper Moore, 9 p.m.
The Hungry Brain, 2319 W. Belmont Ave.
MONDAY, AUGUST 26
Pop-Up Nu Jazz Festival featuring Thaddeus Tukes, Sam Trump, the Young Masters under the direction of Ernest Dawkins along with special guest Jamila Woods and Alexis Lombre, with the Englewood Soweto Exchange, 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Whole Foods Parking Lot, 832 W. 63rd St.
Anagram Fest featuring The Oh Years and the Alejandro Urzagaste Trio, 9 p.m.
Elastic Arts, 3429 W. Diversey Ave., 2nd Floor
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27
Tuesdays on the Terrace: Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few, 5:30 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
Ancient to the Future featuring Art Turk Burton Congo Square Ensemble and Ernest Dawkins, 6 – 8 p.m.
Jacob R. Caruthers Center, Northeastern Illinois University, 700 E. Oakwood Blvd.
Preservation of Fire hosted by King Hippo featuring Vibes Trio + 1 and Isaiah Spencer Collective, 8 p.m.
Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan St
Anagram Fest featuring Mobile Vanguard and the John Wojciechowski Trio, 9 p.m.
Elastic Arts, 3429 W. Diversey Ave., 2nd Floor
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28
100th Birthday of Nat “King” Cole with Bruce Henry, Henry Johnson and the Musical Arts Academy, 6 – 9 p.m.
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 50th St.
Preservation of Fire: QUARTETS hosted by Angel Bat Dawid & King Hippo featuring Eliel Sherman Storey Quartet and Angel bat Dawid & The Brothahood, 8 p.m.
Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan St
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
Nois and the Dave Rempis Quartet Honor Fred Anderson with a Nod to Charlie Parker's 99th Birthday!, 6 p.m.
Fred Anderson Park, 1611 S. Wabash Ave.
CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER
Claudia Cassidy Theater
11 a.m. – Noon: The Red Rose Jazz Band Septet
12:15–1:15 p.m.: Anton Hatwich Trio
1:45–2:45 p.m.: Mai Sugimoto Quartet
3:15–4:15 p.m.: John Wociechowski
Preston Bradley Hall
11 a.m.–Noon: What Is This Thing Called Jazz? Conversation and “Play & Tell” about the Jazz trumpet – with Corey Wilkes, Pharez Whitted, Miguel de la Cerna and Micah Collier; Jeremiah Collier on drums.
12:30–1:30 p.m.: Alexis Lombre Quintet
2–3 p.m.: Tribute to Joseph Jarman, Alvin Fielder and Saalik-Ziyad–programmed in collaboration with AACM
3:30–4:30 p.m.: Curtis Robinson–programmed in collaboration with the South Side Jazz Coalition
MILLENNIUM PARK
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
5:55 p.m.: Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
6:30 p.m.–7:25 p.m.: Jazz Institute of Chicago’s 50th Anniversary featuring Nicole Mitchell, Rob Mazurek, Ari Brown, Jeff Parker and others.
7:45–9 p.m.: Freddy Cole, Tribute to Nat King Cole
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
MILLENNIUM PARK
Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)
11:30 a.m.–12:25 p.m: Miguel de la Cerna Trio
12:40–1:35 p.m.: Metropolitan Jazz Octet with Dee Alexander
1:50–2:45 p.m.: Rocky Yera Band
3–4 p.m.: Rob Mazurek
Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)
Noon– 1 p.m.: After Dark Sextet|
1:30 –2:30 p.m.: Kitt Lyles Real Talk Collective Septet
3–4 p.m.: Nico Segal’s Juju Exchange
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45 p.m.: Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
4:15–5 p.m.: George Freeman and Billy Branch
5:25–6:10 p.m.: Joel Ross
6:25–7:25 p.m.: Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet
7:45–9 p.m.: Art Ensemble of Chicago
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
MILLENNIUM PARK
Rooftop Jazz: Young Lions Stage (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)
11–11:30 a.m.: Saucedo Academy Latin Jazz Band
11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.: Thomas Kelly High School Jazz Combo
12:30–1 p.m: ChiArts Honors Jazz Combo
1:15–1:55 p.m.: Dekalb High School Jazz Ensemble
2:10–2:50 p.m.: Kenwood Academy Jazz Band
3:05–3:45 p.m.: Whitney Young Magnet High School Jazz Band
Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)
11:30 a.m.–12:25 p.m.: Carolyn Fitzhugh
12:40–1:35 p.m.: Andy Brown Quartet
1:50–2:45 p.m.: The Fat Babies
3–4 p.m.: Hinda Hoffman and the Soul Message Band
Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)
Noon–1 p.m.: Chris Madsen Quartet
1:30–2:30 p.m.: Jeremy Cunningham
3–4 p.m.: Frank Catalano
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45 p.m.: Second-line Procession led by Four Star Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
4:15–5 p.m.: Ben Wendel Seasons
5:25–6:10 p.m.: Ryan Cohan's Originations
6:25–7:25 p.m.: Christian McBride
7:45–9 p.m.: Cécile McLorin Salvant
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
MILLENNIUM PARK
Rooftop Jazz: NextGenJazz (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)
Presented by Allstate Insurance Company
11:15 a.m.–Noon: Emerging Artist Big Band
12:15–1 p.m.: Zach Rosenstiehl Nacht Group
1:15–2 p.m.: Barclay Sextet
2:15–3 p.m.: The Perrilles Project
3:15–4 p.m.: Alec Tet
Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)
11:30 p.m.–12:25 p.m.: Joan Collaso Sextet
12:40 p.m.–1:35 p.m.: Sharel Cassity Quartet
1:50 p.m.–2:45 p.m.: Russ Johnson
3–4 p.m.: Ben Lamar Gay
Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)
Noon–1 p.m.: Paulinho Garcia
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.: Juli Wood's Big Bari Band Quintet
3–4 p.m.: Ben Sidran
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45 p.m.: Second-line Procession led by Four Star Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
4:15–5:00 p.m.: Rempis/Falten/Ra + Baker Quartet
5:25–6:10 p.m. p.m.: Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra
6:25–7:25 p.m.: Latino-America Unida
7:45–9 p.m.: Eddie Palmieri Sextet
Photo Courtesy of Chicago of Chicago and Choose Chicago