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

Brown Derby Jazz Revue

Although summer is almost over, there is still plenty of great summer jazz left be found if you know where to look. One of those places is the "Brown Derby Jazz Revue". Located in the Great Lakes Elks Lodge, "Brown Derby Jazz Revue" presents two shows every Thursday night throughout the rest of the summer.

The remainder of summers calender schedule is listed below.

Aug.  16 - Maggie Brown
          23 - Theophilus Reed
          30 - June Yvon
Music By Tony Norman & Friends

Sept.  6 - Alexis
          13- Senebella
          20- Theophilus Reed
          27- June Yvon
Music By: The Vision Band
1st Show 7:30 pm
2nd Show 9:30 pm-Jam Session

Donation: $5.00
Location: Great Lakes Elks Lodge, 5108 S. Prairie, in Chicago
For more information or reservations call  (773) 285-3401

Universal Alley Jazz Jam-Only A Few Shows Left!!!

As the summer winds down, the Universal Alley Jazz Jam still has two more events before it wraps up for the 2012 season.
On Saturday, August 18th in conjunction with the South Shore Chamber Festival, the Jazz Jam will take place at 73rd and Stoney Island and will begin at 11:00am.

The final Universal Alley event will be on Saturday, August 25th at 2:00pm and will return to it's original location at 1801 E. 71st Street.

A few images from last Saturday's Universal Alley Jazz Jam event are shown below.

Pianist-Vince Willis

Violin Soloist-Ayana Ray

Flautist-Kamilah Fuquaan-Randall of the Sun Ensemble



Little Al Thomas @ Blues Heaven

As rain threatened the outdoor musical festivities at Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven foundation, the concert was moved indoors. This made for a packed house for "Little Al Thomas" show Thursday evening.

Looking, sounding, and moving like a man much younger than his eighty-two years, "Little Al" had the audience in the palm of his hand. After decades on the Chicago Blues Scene, Mr Thomas proves that he still has it and some to spare.

For those of you who want to check out any of  the Blues Heaven, Record Row Concerts, there are only three shows left this year.

Here are the remaining shows: 
August 16 Killer Ray Allison
August 23 Johnny Drummer
August 30 Charles "Chuck" Crane

All shows are on Thursday from 6:00pm-7:00pm  Shows are free - Donations are welcome
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven is located at 2120 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago.

"Little Al Thomas, eighty-two years young.

Jazz In The Courtyard

If you are a jazz lover and have some free time between noon and 2:00 on any of the next four friday's here's a treat for you. The courtyard in the Hyde Park Shopping Center a series of jazz concerts. This years concert began in June and will continue thru August, 31st. Today's artist was saxophonist Ari Brown.

The Hyde Park Shopping Center is located at 55th Street and Lake Park Avenue.

Artist lineup for the rest of the Jazz In The Courtyard series are as follows:
Aug. 10th - Victor Garcia
Aug. 17th - Frieda Lee
Aug. 24th - Willie Pickens and Taylor Moore
Aug. 31st - Reginald T. McCants

Ari Brown and his band

Ranblin' Rose @ Blues Heaven

Vocalist and Mult-instrumentalist Ramblin' Rose and her band played a one hour set at Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation. Rose's voice ranges from bluesy rough to soulful smooth. She switches from flute to harmonica to her washboard musical instrument (pronounced "faw-twa") with relative ease.

Ramblin' Rose and her four piece band played a rearrangement of the Bill Withers song "Ain't No Sunshine" with a very haunting flute solo. They also played a version of " I'm A Woman" that would have made Koko Taylor proud.

Ms. Rose also made a point of aknowledging Mrs. Marie Dixon president of Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation who celebrated her 75th birthday of th previous day.

Ladies and Gentlemen "Ramblin' Rose"

Rose and her Faw-Twa

Flute Solo

Ramblin' Rose sings with the band

Mrs. Marie Dixon Acknowledges happy 75th birthday wishes 

from Ramblin' Rose and Blues Heaven audience.

Poets @ The Alley

This past saturday, the Universal Alley Jazz Jam celebrated the poets and storytellers. Of course jazz was at the core of the celebration. Below are a few of creative people in attendance.

Host - Mario/WHPK

Storyteller - Oba William King

Poet - Elder Johnnie Moore

Poet - Kendra Taborn

Poet - Pepi Talbert

Vocalist - Sherry Scott

Musician and Vocalist - Ray Mosley

Musician - Eliel Sherman Story

Musician - Walter Clark

 House Band - Cécile Savage & Komengo

Debra Jackson at Blues Heaven

The storm that was forcast stayed at bay long enough for Blues and Soul Diva, Debra Jackson to get her performance in at Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation. Jackson performed with her backup band "The Fire Starters". The set  included blues classics like  "Rock Me Baby" and soul gems such as "Love and Happiness", were warmly recieved by the audience. Veteran Chicago bluesmen "Little" Al Thomas and Johnny Drummer also came up and sat in with the band. This show was part of the Record Row Concert Series which takes place every Thursday fron 6:00pm until 7:00pm thru August 30th. Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation is located at 2120 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

Universal Alley - Ancestor Tributes

The 2012 Universal Alley Jazz Jam is well under way. The event takes place at 1801 E. 71st on the plaza of Black United Fund Building. Yesterday's show include such artist as Ari Brown, Alexis Bivens, The Chicago Community Ensemble and Che' of Chi.The title of Saturday's celebration was "Ancestor Tributes". Next Saturday's event  is being called "Poets @ the Alley"
.

Alexis Bivens

Chicago Community Ensemble

Che' of Chi

Taylor Moore

Sunshine

Tommy McCracken Plays Blues Heaven

Blues legend Tommy McCracken performed Thursday evening at the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation with his band "Force of Habit". The performace was part of the Record Row Concert Series that takes place at the foundation every Thursday thru August 30th from 6:00pm until 7:00pm. "Blues Diva" Debra Jackson will be next weeks artist. Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation is located at 2120 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago former site of the historic Chess Records Studio.

Blues legend Tommy McCracken

DuSable Museum's 38th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival

Sunday provided better weather for the 38th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival that the sometimes rainy Saturday. Hosted by the DuSable Museum of African, the festival provided everything from painting and sculpture to doll and jewelry making. Shown below are a few of the fine exhibitors.

Quinton Foreman

Keith David Conner

 Tony Wade

Lindsey E. Bates

Sheila McPhan