Free Chicago Jazz Festival dates have been announced for this year: Sept. 1-4, 2022.

Details to come.

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2021 Information

Free Chicago Jazz Festival.  The Annual Chicago Jazz Festival returns to the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and on the roof of the Harris Theater.

When:  Sept 4, 2021
Where:  Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and Harris Theater  FREE Admission

The festival kicks-off at the Chicago Cultural Center and the Pritzker Pavilion followed by three days of live jazz on up to four stages in Millennium Park and one stage on the rooftop of the Harris Theater.  Complete schedule for other locations around the city August 23-30.

This event is subject to the New Booze Rules in Millennium Park which means you can’t bring in your own liquor.

FREE Admission

2019 Schedule

Thursday, August 29: Chicago Cultural Center, 12–4:30pm & Millennium Park, 6:30–9pm

Friday, August 30–Sunday, September 1: Millennium Park, 11am–9pm

Thursday, August 29, 2019 (schedule is subject to change)

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater

• 11am–Noon – The Red Rose Jazz Band Septet–programmed in collaboration with the Illiana Jazz Club
• 12:15–1:15pm – Anton Hatwich Trio–programmed in collaboration with the Elastic Arts
• 1:45–2:45pm – Mai Sugimoto Quartet–programmed in collaboration with Asian Improv Arts Midwest
• 3:15–4:15pm – John Wociechowski–programmed in collaboration with the Jazz Record Art Collective

Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall

• 11am–Noon – What Is This Thing Called Jazz?

Conversation and “Play & Tell” about the Jazz trumpet – with Corey Wilkes, Pharez Whitted, Miguel de la Cerna, Micah Collier Jeremiah Collier on drums–programmed in collaboration with the Jazz Education Committee of the Jazz Institute of Chicago

• 12:30–1:30pm – Alexis Lombre Quintet–programmed in collaboration with the Hyde Park Jazz Society
• 2–3pm – Tribute to Joseph Jarman, Alvin Fielder and Saalik–Ziyadprogrammed in collaboration with AACM
• 3:30–4:30pm – Curtis Robinson–programmed in collaboration with the South Side Jazz Coalition
  

Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 5:55pm – Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
• 6:30–7:25pm – Jazz Institute of Chicago’s 50^th Anniversary featuring Nicole Mitchell, Rob Mazurek, Ari Brown, Jeff Parker, and others
• 7:45–9pm – Freddy Cole, Tribute to Nat King Cole

Friday, August 30, 2019 (schedule is subject to change)

Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)

• 11:30am–12:25pm – Miguel de la Cerna Trio
• 12:40–1:35pm – Metropolitan Jazz Octet with Dee Alexander
• 1:50–2:45pm – Rocky Yera Band
• 3–4pm – Rob Mazurek

Capital One Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)

• Noon–1pm – After Dark Sextet
• 1:30–2:30pm – Kitt Lyles Real Talk Collective Septet
• 3–4pm – The JuJu Exchange

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 3:45pm – Second-line Procession led by Mystick Krewe of Laff (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
• 4:15–5pm – George Freeman and Billy Branch
• 5:25–6:15pm – Joel Ross
• 6:25–7:25pm – Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet
• 7:45–9pm – Art Ensemble of Chicago

Saturday, August 31, 2019 (schedule is subject to change)

Young Jazz Lions (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

Presented by Allstate Insurance Company

• 11–11:30am – Saucedo Academy Latin Jazz Band
• 11:45am–12:15pm – Thomas Kelly High School Jazz Combo
• 12:30–1pm – ChiArts Honors Jazz Combo
• 1:15–1:55pm – Dekalb High School Jazz Ensemble
• 2:10–2:50pm – Kenwood Academy Jazz Band
• 3:05–3:45pm – Whitney Young Magnet High School Jazz Band

Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)

• 11:30am–12:25pm – Carolyn Fitzhugh
• 12:40–1:35pm – Andy Brown Quartet
• 1:50–2:45pm – The Fat Babies
• 3–4pm – Hinda Hoffman and the Soul Message Band

Capital One Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)

• Noon–1pm – Chris Madsen Quartet 
• 1:30–2:30pm – Jeremy Cunningham
• 3–4pm – Frank Catalano

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 3:45pm – Second-line Procession led by Four Star Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
• 4:15–5pm – Ben Wendel Seasons
• 5:25–6:15pm – Ryan Cohan’s Originations
• 6:25–7:25pm – Christian McBride
• 7:45–9pm – Cécile McLorin Salvant

Sunday, September 1, 2019 (schedule is subject to change)

NextGenJazz  (Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace)

Presented by Allstate Insurance Company

• 11:15am–Noon – Emerging Artist Big Band
• 12:15–1pm – Zach Rosenstiehl Nacht Group
• 1:15–2pm – Dakarai Barclay Sextet
• 2:15–3pm – The Perrilles Project
• 3:15–4pm – Alec Tet

Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)

• 11:30am–12:25pm – Joan Collaso Sextet
• 12:40pm–1:35pm – Sharel Cassity Quartet
• 1:50pm–2:45pm – Russ Johnson
• 3–4pm – Ben Lamar Gay

Capital One Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)

• Noon–1pm – Paulinho Garcia
• 1:30pm–2:30pm – Juli Wood’s Big Bari Band Quintet
• 3–4pm – Ben Sidran

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

• 3:45pm – Second-line Procession led by Four Star Brass Band (starts at the west side of the Great Lawn)
• 4:15–5pm – Rempis/Flaten/Ra + Baker Quartet
• 5:25–6:15pm – Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra
• 6:25–7:25pm – Latino-America Unida
• 7:45–9pm – Eddie Palmieri Sextet