- Courtesy of ECM Records
- Hal Russell’s NRG Ensemble
Earlier this week the city formally announced the lineup for Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz, another of its free summer concert series at the Pritzker Pavilion. (Full disclosure: I served as a volunteer on the committee that programmed this series.) The program kicks off on Thursday, July 24, and continues for the next six weeks, culminating with an August 28 concert by Ernest Dawkins that’ll help launch this year’s Chicago Jazz Festival. You can see the full lineup below.
The surviving members of Hal Russell’s NRG Ensemble (reedist Mars Williams, bassist Kent Kessler, bassist/guitarist Brian Sandstrom, and drummer Steve Hunt) perform the autobiographical 1992 album by the singular drummer, saxophonist, and trumpeter, who narrates the record, his last, with characteristic irascibility. The group is rounded out by reedist Ken Vandermark (whose first steady gig in Chicago was as a sub for Williams in the band) and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm. I’m particularly psyched that Russell’s narrative will be handled by the brilliant actor Michael Shannon.
August 21 Fareed Haque—Chicago: Crossroads of the World
Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan, Two of a Mind (Bluebird)Slide Hampton Octet, Somethin’ Sanctified (Atlantic)Juhani Aaltonen Trio, Mother Tongue (TUM)Orquestra Imperial, Fazendo as Pazes com o Swing (MP,B Brazil)Radar, In Sight (Challenge)
