2015 Chicago Jazz Festival Revisited

Junius Paul (double bass), Makaya McCraven (drums), and Jeff Parker (guitar) performing at 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival, September 5, Millennium Park's Jazz and Heritage Pavilion

The 37th edition of the Chicago Jazz Festival ran from September 3 through September 6, with performances at the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park.

Several of the performances brought me back to when I first discovered, and fell in love with, jazz. I attended a music appreciation class with a friend. It was a night class and she needed someone to walk home with when her usual classmate was unable to attend. That evening, I was introduced to the jazz of Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and others. I loved it immediately!

James Davis playing the flugelhorn at 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival, September 3, 2015, Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall My husband and I began our jazz fest experience on Thursday afternoon by taking in two performances in the Chicago Cultural Center's beautiful Preston Bradley Hall. Pianist Ben Waltzer led the first group that took the stage, which included Bill McHenry (tenor saxophone), Marquis Hill (trumpet), Yosef Ben Israel (double bass), and Gerald Cleaver (drums). I particularly enjoyed the group's rendition of blues and jazz pianist Art Hodes' "Clark and Randolph."

Next up was James Davis' Beveled, which featured James Davis (flugelhorn), Chad McCullough (flugelhorn), Michael Salter (bass clarinet), Geof Bradfield (bass clarinet), Daniel Thatcher (double bass), and Juan Pastor (drums). Included in the set were songs from Beveled, the group's 2014 album. I had not seen a flugelhorn played live before, so this was a fun experience. I enjoyed the band's performance and left wanting to hear more of their music.

Chad McCullough (trumpet) and Geof Bradfield (tenor saxophone) of Spin Quartet performing at 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival, September 4, Millennium Park's Jazz and Heritage Pavilion Spin Quartet members Chad McCullough (trumpet), Geof Bradfield (tenor saxophone), Clark Sommers (double bass), and Kobie Watkins (drums) took the stage Friday afternoon in Millennium Park's Jazz and Heritage Pavilion. With a summer breeze blowing through the pavilion's open tent sides, sunshine, and a set which included "Gliders" (from the 2015 live album Starting From Zero) and "You Will Look for Yours on Earth" (from 2014's In Circles), I couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting to enjoy live jazz on a September afternoon.

My husband and I found ourselves back at the Jazz and Heritage Pavilion Saturday afternoon, to see the Makaya McCraven Quartet. In addition to Makaya McCraven (drums), the group included Marquis Hill (trumpet), Jeff Parker (guitar), Justin "Justefan" Thomas (vibraphone), and Junius Paul (double bass). Audience members were treated to a great set, including the band's take on a Hungarian folk song/lullaby that McCraven's mother sang to him when he was a young boy.

Marquis Hill (trumpet), Juan Pastor (drums), and Rich Moore (alto saxophone) of Chinchano performing at 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival, September 5, Millennium Park's Jazz and Heritage Pavilion

My 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival experience came to a close with a performance by Juan Pastor-led Chinchano. Chinchano is a jazz band that rocks! Featuring Juan Pastor (drums and percussion), Rich Moore (alto saxophone), Marquis Hill (trumpet), Stu Mindeman (piano), and Patrick Mulcahy (double bass) playing Central and South American-influenced jazz, it was a lively, fun performance.

I can't wait to see next year's lineup!