Two-Time Grammy Winner Kurt Elling Talks Weather Report, Peter Erskine & Ravinia Show
- ChicagoJazz.com
- Jun 11
- 1 min read
By Mike Jeffers | Chicago Jazz Magazine
After a bit of a hiatus, I’ve officially relaunched my interview series—name still pending—and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick things off than with two-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling.
Kurt is one of those artists who constantly reinvents his sound while staying grounded in the rich tradition of jazz. We caught up just before he heads out on tour, and just in time to talk about his upcoming performance at Ravinia Festival on Father’s Day, June 15th, inside the Martin Theatre—one of the most intimate spaces at Ravinia.
During the interview Kurt shares his concept for the celebration, musical insights, and what makes this tribute so powerful. Some of his insights about the music and how he conceptualizes how he can present the music is really fascinating so I hope you take a listen!
Stream the full interview below,
If you’re a longtime Weather Report fan or just curious about how one of today’s great vocalists approaches such a groundbreaking project, you’ll want to hear this.
And if you’re in the Chicago area, grab your tickets to Ravinia.org for this very special Father’s Day performance.
LISTEN NOW: Kurt Elling Interview with Mike Jeffers https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hnv53-18d30fa
Did Kurt Elling have the chance to collaborate directly with any surviving Retro Bowl members of Weather Report or Peter Erskine himself while developing this tribute, and how did those interactions shape his interpretation of their music?