We are pleased to present the 2011-12 Chicago Jazz Ensemble Performance Season, created by our new Artistic Director, Dana Hall. The guest artists we are collaborating with are some of the most exciting creative artists in contemporary music. Each has developed work that has charted new territory for music - we are thrilled they are bringing their vision and musicianship to Chicago and to the CJE.
Read the Artistic Director's Season Welcome Letter
Download the 2011-12 CJE Season Brochure
Remaining concert in this season's Harris Theater Performance Series:
Ornithology: The
Music of Charlie “Bird” Parker
Friday, February
24, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Grammy-nominated Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenón joins the CJE to celebrate the rich
musical legacy of the great Charlie Parker. Also featured are selections from
the classic Parker recording Bird with
Strings, enhanced by the lush sounds of a guest string ensemble.
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Info
Remaining show in our Inaugural Small Ensemble Concert Performance Series:
This season the CJE introduced its Small Ensemble Concert series, curated by Artistic Director Dana Hall to complement the Harris Theater series with a more intimate concert experience featuring smaller quintet and sextet programs. Tickets are only available via Brown Paper Tickets (NOT via the Harris Theater Box Office).
Jazz and Literature
Friday, April 6, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Harold Washington Library's Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
American literary figures such as Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, and
Toni Morrison have infused the language of jazz into their writing. This program explores historical and contemporary intersections of jazz and the spoken and written word.
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Don't miss our series of free LISTENING SESSIONS featuring this season's special guests and Artistic Director Dana Hall in conversation:
Including pianist Randy Weston, trumpeter Etienne Charles, bassist/vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello, bassist Christian McBride, saxophonist Miguel Zenón, Dana Hall on Louis Armstrong, and trombonist/educator Wycliffe Gordon.
pictured: Meshell Ndegeocello and Dana Hall; student Darren Wallace
PAST PERFORMANCES, 2011-12 Performance Season
Made in Chicago: First Night of the 33rd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival:Spiritual Source: Randy Weston with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble
Thursday, September
1, 2011
6:30 p.m. Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Legendary jazz pianist Randy Weston offers a special performance of his music, including arrangements by Melba Liston and new works by CJE Artistic Director Dana Hall and cellist Tomeka Reid that were specially commissioned for this concert. Part of the Randy Weston Celebration, a series of FREE events from August 30-September 1. More Info
Musica Panamericano
Friday, October 7,
2011
7:30
p.m. Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Trinidadian trumpeter/percussionist Etienne Charles brings his captivating music to Chicago, arranged for the CJE. This exciting exploration of music from the Caribbean and the Americas will fuse original music with classic Caribbean sounds such as calypso, reggae, and Latin, plus compositions by CJE Founder William Russo. More Info
Buhaina's Delight: Art Blakey and the Message of Jazz
Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Harold Washington Library's Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
An exploration of hard bop jazz featuring smaller quintet and sextet ensemble configurations, this intimate concert presents music most associated with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Special guests include saxophonist Geof Bradfield, pianist Dan Trudell, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and trumpeter Derrick Gardner. More info
Beneath the Underdog: The Musical World of Charles Mingus
Friday, January 20,
2012 at 7:30 pm
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
In this compelling pairing, bassist Christian McBride and bassist/vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello join the CJE to perform music by bassist/composer Charles Mingus, including some of his final compositions, written in collaboration with Joni Mitchell. More Info
