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 Club12:15–1:15pm – Anton Hatwich Trio–programmed in collaboration with the Elastic Arts1:45–2:45pm – Mai Sugimoto Quartet–programmed in collaboration with Asian Improv Arts Midwest3:15–4:15pm – 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 Society2–3pm – Tribute to Joseph Jarman, Alvin Fielder and Saalik–Ziyadprogrammed in collaboration with AACM3:30–4:30pm – 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 50th Anniversary featuring Nicole Mitchell, Rob Mazurek, Ari Brown, Jeff Parker, and others7:45–9pm – 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 Trio12:40–1:35pm – Metropolitan Jazz Octet with Dee Alexander1:50–2:45pm – Rocky Yera Band3–4pm – Rob Mazurek
Capital One Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)
Noon–1pm – After Dark Sextet1:30–2:30pm – Kitt Lyles Real Talk Collective Septet3–4pm – 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 Branch5:25–6:15pm – Joel Ross6:25–7:25pm – Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet7:45–9pm – 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 Band11:45am–12:15pm – Thomas Kelly High School Jazz Combo12:30–1pm – ChiArts Honors Jazz Combo1:15–1:55pm – Dekalb High School Jazz Ensemble2:10–2:50pm – Kenwood Academy Jazz Band3:05–3:45pm – Whitney Young Magnet High School Jazz Band
Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)
11:30am–12:25pm – Carolyn Fitzhugh12:40–1:35pm – Andy Brown Quartet1:50–2:45pm – The Fat Babies3–4pm – Hinda Hoffman and the Soul Message Band
Capital One Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)
Noon–1pm – Chris Madsen Quartet1:30–2:30pm – Jeremy Cunningham3–4pm – 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 Seasons5:25–6:15pm – Ryan Cohan’s Originations6:25–7:25pm – Christian McBride7:45–9pm – 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 Band12:15–1pm – Zach Rosenstiehl Nacht Group1:15–2pm – Dakarai Barclay Sextet2:15–3pm – The Perrilles Project3:15–4pm – Alec Tet
Von Freeman Pavilion (Chase Promenade South)
11:30am–12:25pm – Joan Collaso Sextet12:40pm–1:35pm – Sharel Cassity Quartet1:50pm–2:45pm – Russ Johnson3–4pm – Ben Lamar Gay
Capital One Jazz and Heritage Pavilion (Chase Promenade North)
Noon–1pm – Paulinho Garcia1:30pm–2:30pm – Juli Wood’s Big Bari Band Quintet3–4pm – 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 Quartet5:25–6:15pm – Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra6:25–7:25pm – Latino-America Unida7:45–9pm – Eddie Palmieri Sextet