29th Annual Hunger Walk

The 29th annual hunger walk kicked off Saturday morning. The city of Chicago was well represented with churches, businesses and individual walkers from all over town.



Thousands gather outside Soldier Field to prepare for the Hnnger Walk on this cloudy Saturday morning.

Governor Pat Quinn addresses the crowd  moments before the kick off of this morning event.



Former Chicago Bear James "Big Cat" Williams provides words of gratitude and motivation to the walkers.

Ronald McDonald poses for pictures with some to the young participants.

...And we are off.

This is why we are doing this.

More words of motivation.

Just about there.



We did it.

Final Day for Universal Alley Jazz Jam

Saturday was the final day of the two month long Universal Alley Jazz Jam here are a few images of that final day.

 Ressurection Ensemble

 Glow

 Sun Ensemble

Tazama Sun

Little Church Dancers

Little Church Dancers

Jazz @ The Courtyard

Willie Pickens on piano, Charles Briggs on bass, and Taylor Moore on Drums and Timbales

Johnny Drummer & the Starlighters @ Blues Heaven

The next to the last show for the 2012 Record Row Concert Series at the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation was headlined by Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters.

The Quintet played a one hour set full of uptempo energetic blues numbers including "I gonna sell my cadillac(and by myself a mule)". Guest performers Keshia Dixon-Nelson (Willie Dixon's grandaughter), Debra Jackson, Tommy McCracken and even Marie Dixon herself.

The final show will be August 30th from 6:00pm til 7:00pm and will feature Chuck Crane.

 Johnny Drummer

Johnny with the Starlighters

Marie Dixon joins Johnny Drummer on stage to sing the Blues.

L-R Keshia Dixon-Nelson, Johnny, Marie Dixon and Bettye White (daughter of Blues legend Howlin' Wolf)



Freida Lee @ The Courtyard

Word has it that Jazz in the Courtyard has been extended through the month of September. This is extremely good news for jazz lovers who can appreciate performances like that of Frieda Lee's on Friday.





Killer Ray Allison @ Blues Heaven

Longtime Chicago blues guitarist Killer Ray Allison and his band played such an intense set last Thursday that it went into overtime. Everyone was having such a good time at Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation that the scheduled one hour set nearly went on an extra half hour.

Two more show are schedule for the 2012 Record Row Concert Series at Blues Heaven:
Johnny Drummer   -   Aug. 23
Chuck Crane         -  Aug. 30

Time 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Location 2120 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago

Because of rain Killer Ray played inside of the building

instead of outside as usual.

Ray outside of the Blues Garden next to an iron cut out

of Albert King.

2120 S. Michigan Avenue, the former site of  Chess Records,

now home to the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation.

2012 Jazz Club Tour

Wednesday, August 29th the Chicago Trolley Company presents Jazz Institutes of Chicago 29th Annual Jazz Club tour.

The Jazz Club Tour serves as a lead in to the Chicago Jazz Festival. Both visitors and hometown folks have an opportunity to sample many different venues and types of music before the actual Jazz festival which takes place that weekend.

The trolley departs at 7pm. Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door.

For more information, contact 312-427-1676 or jazzinchicago.org/jazz_club_tour