Details on prefestival concerts around Chicago from Friday, August 24, till Wednesday, August 29, can be found at the DCASE website.
Wednesday, August 29
Millennium Park
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
6:30–9 PM Orbert Davis’s Chicago Jazz Philharmonic: Legends and Lions
Thursday, August 30
Chicago Cultural Center
Claudia Cassidy Theater
11 AM–noon Mindeman/Hall/Sommers Trio perform the 1968 Chick Corea album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, presented by the Jazz Record Art Collective
12:15–1:15 PM Great Black Music Ensemble, in collaboration with the AACM
1:45–2:45 PM Jazz Beat/The Intersection of Jazz and Hip-Hop, in collaboration with Young Chicago Authors and the Jazz Institute of Chicago featuring Stark and the Law, Patricia Frazier, and Christian JaLon
3:15–4:15 PM Miyumi Project Sextet, in collaboration with Asian Improv
Preston Bradley Hall
11 AM-noon What Is This Thing Called Jazz? Robert Irving III: Insights on Improvisation
12:30–1:30 PM Carmen Stokes Quartet, in collaboration with the South Side Jazz Coalition
2–3 PM Paul Giallorenzo Trio, in collaboration with the Elastic Arts Foundation
3:30–4:30 PM Chicago Cellar Boys, in collaboration with the Iliana Club of Traditional Jazz
Millennium Park
Park Grill Plaza Stage
Noon–2 PM Julius Tucker
4–6 PM Thaddeus Tukes Vibez
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
5 PM Second-Line Procession by the Mystick Krewe of Laff with the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at Cloud Gate)
5:25–6:15 PM Geof Bradfield Nonet
6:30–7:25 PM Nicole Mitchell‘s Black Earth Ensemble: Mandorla Awakening
Update at Thu 8/30, 4:30 PM: Due to a family medical emergency, Nicole Mitchell will not perform at the Jazz Festival. The Black Earth Ensemble’s set will go on, led by cellist Tomeka Reid.
7:45–9 PM Kurt Elling with Marquis Hill and Jeff “Tain” Watts
Friday, August 31
Millennium Park
Von Freeman Pavilion (south promenade)
11:30 AM–12:25 PM Junius Paul Quartet
12:40-1:35 PM Quin Kirchner Quintet
1:50-2:45 PM Chris Speed Trio
3–4 PM Greg Ward & 10 Tongues
Park Grill Plaza Stage
Noon–2 PM High Hat
4–6 PM Bowmanville
Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (north promenade)
Noon–1 PM Gayle Kolb Sextet
1:30–2:30 PM Roy McGrath Remembranzas Quintet
3–4 PM Million Brazilian Project, featuring Sarah Marie Young and Guy King
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45 PM Second-Line Procession by the Mystick Krewe of Laff with the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at Cloud Gate)
4:15–5:05 PM Tribute to Muhal Richard Abrams with Amina Claudine Myers, Myra Melford, Mwata Bowden, Ari Brown, Leon Q. Allen, Harrison Bankhead, and Reggie Nicholson
5:25–6:15 PM Sabertooth 25th anniversary
6:30–7:25 PM Louis Hayes Quintet: “Serenade for Horace”
7:45–9 PM Dianne Reeves
Saturday, September 1
Millennium Park
Young Jazz Lions (Harris Theater rooftop)
11–1:30 AM ChiArts Jazz Combo
11:45 AM–12:15 PM Morgan Park High School Jazz Combo
12:30–1 PM CYSO Jazz Combo
1:15–1:55 PM Eric Solorio High School Jazz Ensemble
2:10–2:50 PM Whitney Young High School Jazz Ensemble
3:05–3:45 PM Kenwood Academy Jazz Band
Von Freeman Pavilion (south promenade)
11:30 AM–12:25 PM Black Diamond
12:40–1:35 PM Dustin Laurenzi & Natural Language
1:50–2:45 PM Matthew Shipp & Ivo Perelman Quartet
3–4 PM Amina Claudine Myers Trio
Park Grill Plaza Stage
Noon–2 PM Petra van Nuis
4–6 PM Isabella Sherwood
Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (north promenade)
Noon–1 PM Bruce Henry
1:30–2:30 PM The Chuck Webb Band featuring Margaret Murphy
3–4 PM Nolatet
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45 PM Second-Line Procession by the Mystick Krewe of Laff with the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at Cloud Gate)
4:15–5:05 PM Tribute to Willie Pickens
5:25–6:10 PM Kenny Barron Quintet
6:25–7:25 PM Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
7:45–9 PM Ramsey Lewis
Sunday, September 2
Millennium Park
NextGenJazz (Harris Theater rooftop)
11:15 AM–noon Derek Duleba Quartet
12:15–1 PM Cesar Martinez’s Cuicatl
1:15–2 PM Morgan Pirtle+5
2:15–3 PM Typical Sisters
3:15–4 PM Jahari Stampley Ensemble
Von Freeman Pavilion (south promenade)
11:30 AM–12:25 PM Tribute to John Wright
12:40–1:35 PM Jaimie Branch’s Fly or Die
1:50–2:45 PM Jason Stein Quartet
3–4 PM Eric Revis Quartet
Park Grill Plaza Stage
Noon–2 PM Lucas Gillan
4–6 PM Irvin Pierce
Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (north promenade)
Noon–1 PM Quentin Coaxum Quintet
1:30–2:30 PM Alejandro Urzagaste’s Flow
3–4 PM Fareed Haque & His Funk Brothers
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
3:45 PM Second-Line Procession by the Mystick Krewe of Laff with the Big Shoulders Brass Band (starts at Cloud Gate)
4:15–5:05 PM Matt Ulery’s Loom Large
5:25–6:10 PM Arturo O’Farrill Sextet
6:25–7:25 PM Charles McPherson & Barry Harris Quartet
7:45–9 PM Maceo Parker
Update Fri 8/24: Park Grill Plaza Stage listings were added.