Z FEST II - June 2nd -June 5th, 2022
A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of
Saalik A. Ziyad (June 2nd 1978-February 12th 2019)
Saalik A. Ziyad ‘Z’ was not only a dynamic performer on keyboards, voice, and electronics. He was an adventurous and inventive composer, and also a unifying and supportive force in Chicago's music landscape. Exemplifying the spirit of a past generation when musicians crossed porous boundaries among different genres, traditions and idioms, Saalik made consistent, significant contributions to modern jazz, creative improvised, and sacred music.
Saalik began singing at the age of seven. His unique style of song creates deep,
melodic vocals that many who have witnessed his craft, soon not forget. ‘Z’ introduction to music was when he was accepted as a member of the Chicago Children’s Choir. This experience opened the door to opportunities to perform with many musical greats including Charlie Haden, Amina Claudine Myers, Willie Pickens, and renowned institutions such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
As a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musician (AACM), ‘Z’ has been able to explore the different areas of creative music by composing and performing with the organization. He is a former student of the AACM and taught in the AACM School of Music since he was 18.
At the age of 40, Saalik had already established himself as a consummate professional musician, brilliant composer, band leader, and arts leader in Chicago. His musical groups “the 5 After 7 Project”, and the “Z Quartet” influences touched Poznan, Poland (Made In Chicago Festival), Europe and the Mediterranean.
Like too many other talented and accomplished jazz artists before him, Saalik made his transition long before any of his contemporaries, friends, family and fans were ready to say goodbye. But it's hard not to imagine all the accomplishments we might have enjoyed if his life had not ended so soon.
It's taken some time since his transition to cope with this tremendous loss to our community. But now a number of musicians and artists have come together to celebrate his life, his work, and his enduring legacy by organizing a four-day festival in his honor. The Z FEST II will include some of his closest collaborators and friends, who will pay tribute through music and visual art.
Z Fest II will begin June 2nd with a special dedication to Saalik by Renee Baker’s Chicago Modern Orchestra Project. This special concert entitled “Baldwin Chronicles IV: The Art of Being Black” will be held at the Reva and David Logan Center auditorium. Starting June 3rd, six sets of music will take place over three days at Constellation, Elastic Arts, and at the Stony Island Arts Bank.
The festival is a collaboration between committee members: Lewis Achenbach (Jazz Occurrence), Adam Zanolini (Elastic Arts), and Taalib-Din & Daaiyah A. Ziyad (Saalik’s parents); and venues: Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts; Constellation; Elastic Arts; and the Stony Island Arts Bank.
Z Fest March 2022
Here are the scheduled live performances. All performances are free; tickets may be required for entry, please rsvp where appropriate; donations are accepted:
Opening – Special Dedication to Saalik A. Ziyad
June 2nd – 7 p.m.
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts (Auditorium) 915 60th St., Chicago, IL
• Renee Baker and the Chicago Modern Orchestra Margaret Murphy-Webb, M.C.
June 3rd – 1st set 8:30 p.m./ 2nd set 9:30 p.m.
Constellation
3111 N. Western Ave, Chicago, IL
• 1st set: James Sanders and Conjuncto
• 2nd set: Preyas Roy Quartet
Taalib-Din Ziyad, M.C.
Lewis Achenbach – visual art
June 4th – 1st set 8:30 p.m./2nd set 9:30 p.m.
Elastic Arts
3429 W. Diversey Ave. #208, Chicago, IL
• 1st set: Lynne Jordan Quintet
• 2nd set: Donovan Mixon Quintet
Taalib-Din Ziyad, M.C
Lewis Achenbach – visual art
June 5th – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Stony Island Arts Bank
6760 S. Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL
• Members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), conducted by Mwata Bowden.
Margaret Murphy-Webb, M.C
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, maximum capacity for all concerts will be enforced.
CDC protocols for outdoor gathering (Arts Bank) will be adhered to and followed. Masks may be required by the venues.
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