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THE CHICAGO JAZZ ENSEMBLE WELCOMES JAZZ PIANIST RANDY WESTON
THE CHICAGO JAZZ ENSEMBLE WELCOMES JAZZ PIANIST RANDY WESTON
Date Posted: August 16 2011
Written By: Chicago Jazz
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Legendary jazz pianist Randy Weston is partnering with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Center for Black Music Research, both in residence at Columbia College Chicago, to illuminate and perform works yielded by a career exploring the music of the African Diaspora. On Tuesday and Wednesday, August 30-31, the CJE and CBMR will offer several special events leading up to the Thursday, September 1 concert at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, including a scholarly panel session, an interactive Listening Session with Randy Weston, a book signing, and an outdoor open rehearsal. All events are free and open to the public.
On Tuesday, August 30, from 10am-2pm, there is an Outdoor Open Rehearsal with Randy Weston and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage. Observe the musical collaboration between Weston, CJE Artistic Director Dana Hall, and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble that unfolds at this open rehearsal. It's a unique opportunity to gain musical insight and to see and hear the musicians in an intimate setting before Thursday's concert.
On Wednesday, August 31, from 10am-11:30am at the Chicago Cultural Center's Claudia Cassidy Theater, a panel discussion entitled "Diasporic Connections - Randy Weston's Art, Collaborations, and World-Making" will be presented. Few jazz musicians have thought more deeply or in more sustained and personal ways about the significant role that black music plays in world culture than this acclaimed musician and composer. Join in this discussion about Weston's work, his partnership with Liston, and his contemporary practice.
From noon-1:30pm on August 31 at the Claudia Cassidy Theater, attend a Listening Session: a multi-media conversation between Randy Weston and CJE Artistic Director Dana Hall. CJE Listening Sessions, hosted by Hall as well as band members, historians, guest artists, and noted jazz critics, are a series of informal, interactive discussions that feature musical demonstrations related to the themes of upcoming CJE concerts. Copies of Weston's autobiography African Rhythms will be available for purchase between the two Wednesday events, and Weston will offer a book signing from 1:30pm-2:15pm in the lobby, immediately following the Listening Session.
The first concert of the CJE's 2011-12 season also marks the first night of the 33rd annual Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park. Spiritual Source: Randy Weston with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble featuring the arrangements of Melba Liston takes place September 1 at 6:30pm at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Weston, a recently named Guggenheim fellow, collaborated extensively with trombonist/composer/arranger Melba Liston over several decades. Together they created a pioneering body of jazz exploring music from the African Diaspora. This concert features Weston's music as arranged by Liston plus new works by CJE Artistic Director Dana Hall and Chicago's Tomeka Reid, an emerging cellist and composer, specially commissioned for this concert. Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, the Jazz Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and the Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago.
The Chicago Jazz Ensemble is Dana Hall, Artistic Director and drums; Dan Nicholson and Jarrard Harris, alto saxophone; Pat Mallinger and Rob Denty, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Tim McNamara, baritone saxophone; Andy Baker, Tim Coffman, Tom Garling, and Thomas Matta, trombone; Mark Olen, Larry Bowen, Art Hoyle, and Pharez Whitted, trumpet; Jeremy Kahn, piano; Jeff Parker, guitar; Dan Anderson, bass; and Bobbi Wilsyn, vocals.
Remaining mainstage concerts in the CJE's 2011-12 performance season at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance include Musica Panamericano with trumpeter Etienne Charles on Friday, October 7; Beneath the Underdog: The Musical World of Charles Mingus with bassists Christian McBride and Meshell Ndegeocello on Friday, January 20; and Ornithology: The Music of Charlie "Bird" Parker with saxophonist Miguel Zenón on Friday, February 24. Season ticket subscriptions are available for the CJE's Harris Theater performances. For tickets and more info please visit www.chicagojazzensemble.com or call (312) 369-6250.
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