The Free Admission Chicago Jazz Festival Returns this Labor Day Weekend

The 39th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival (Aug. 31- Sept. 3) will hold court  in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center. A favorite Labor Day weekend tradition, the festival showcases free live performances by important Chicago artists alongside some of the greatest names from around the world on multiple stages.  The free-admission Chicago Jazz Festival is produced by DCASE and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

Pianist and MacArthur Fellow, Jason Moran will lead a special centennial celebration performance for Thelonius Monk with a presentation of In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall 1959. His tribute to Thelonious Monk is one of three centennial celebrations at the festival in 2017 that were previously announced, including a homage to bebop pioneer Dizzy Gillespie led by his most famous protégé and Chicago favorite Jon Faddis and a celebration of the singular vocalist Ella Fitzgerald.

2017 Chicago Jazz Festival Lineup:

• 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.: A Jazz Village featuring Chicago’s Jazz Community

• 11 a.m. – Noon : The Evolution of Afro-Cuban Jazz: A Talk with Ignacio Berroa
• 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.: Thaddeus Tukes Quintet
• 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.: Tim StineTrio
• 3:15 – 4:15 p.m.: Dave Rempis Quintet performing Jackie McLean’s Action

• Noon – 1 p.m.: Curtis Prince Band featuring Ari Brown
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: West End Jazz Band
• 3 – 4 p.m.: Southport Records Celebrates 40 Years of Sparrow

• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: “What Is This Thing Called Jazz” with Willie Pickens and Miguel de la Cerna
• 2 – 3 p.m.: Young Chicago Authors
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Chicago Jazz Composers Collective

• Noon – 12:55 p.m.: Tim Fitzgerald’s Full House
• 1:10 – 2:05 p.m.: Steve Gibons Gypsy Rhythm
• 2.20 – 3:15 p.m.: Rob Denty / Tim Mulvenna Duo Plus
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Slavic Soul Party!

• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: Joe Policastro Trio
• 2 – 3 p.m. : Reggie Thomas Quintet
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.:  Stu Katz Shearing Redux

• 5 – 5:50 p.m.: dana hall’s spring
• 6 – 6:55 p.m.: Donny McCaslin Group
• 7:10 – 8:10 p.m.: Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio
• 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.: Jason Moran presents In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall 1959

• 11:30 a.m. a.m. – Noon: Morgan Park High School Jazz Combo
• 12:15 – 12:45 p.m.: Jones College Prep Jazz Combo
• 1 – 1:30 p.m.: Whitney Young High School Jazz Combo
• 2  – 2:40 p.m.: Kelly High School Jazz Ensemble
• 2:55 – 3:35 p.m.: Kenwood Academy High School Jazz Ensemble
• 3:50 – 4:30 p.m.: Roosevelt University Jazz Ensemble plays A Love Supreme

• Noon – 12:55 p.m.: Charles Heath Quartet
• 1:10 – 2:05 p.m.: Gustavo Cortiñas Snapshot
• 2:20 – 3:15 p.m.: Hearts & Minds
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Mary Halvorson Octet

• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: Typhanie Monique
• 2 – 3 p.m.: Shawn Maxwell’s New Tomorrow
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Low Down Brass Band

• 5 – 5:50 p.m.: Dr. Michael White Quartet
• 6 – 6:55 p.m.: BassDrumBone
• 7:10 – 8:10 p.m.: Allison Miller Boom Tic Boom
• 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.: Ellabration! 100 Years of Ella Fitzgerald featuring the Brad William Trio, Sheila Jordan, Dee Alexander, Frieda Lee, Spider Saloff, and Paul Mariano

• 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Jenna Przbysz Collective
• 12:30 -1:15 p.m.: Trilogy (Kevin King, Jeremy Warren, Jada Stroud)
• 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.: Infrared Quintet led by Kenthaney Redmond
• 2:30 -3:15 p.m.: Possibilities Trio (Tim Bennett, Dan Stein, Peter Manheim)
• 3:30 4:15 p.m.: Chosen Few led by Isaiah Collier

• Noon – 12:55 p.m.: Rooms Trio
• 1:10 – 2:05 p.m.: The Jonathan Doyle Swingtet
• 2:20 – 3:15 p.m.: Josh Berman Quartet
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Louis Moholo-Moholo: Five Blokes

• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.: Michele Thomas
• 2 – 3 p.m.: JoAnn Daugherty
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Johnny Blas Afro Libre Orquesta

• 5 – 5:50 p.m.: Roscoe Mitchell’s Quartets Celebrating 50 years of Nessa Records
• 6 – 6:55 p.m.: Sheila Jordan featuring Steve Kuhn’s Trio
• 7:10 – 8:10 p.m.: Matt Wilson’s Honey and Salt
• 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.: Rebirth Brass Band

Chicago Jazz Fest Info

Admission to the Chicago Jazz Festival is free, and hours for Thursday, Aug. 31, are noon–4:30 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center and 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. in Millennium Park. On Friday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 3, the festival will be in Millennium Park, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.