Story and Photos by Greg Turner
This year I was able to attend 3 days of the 4 day Chicago Jazz Festival
Labor Day Weekend. Here are some photos from the performances
that really stood out.
Playing music from her latest release “Phoenix Reimagined Live” alto
saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and her group brought absolute fire to a
packed Von Freeman Pavilion Friday afternoon. Their performance was so
strong I could have gone home and been happy with what I saw that day.
Trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, a fiery soloist who is a great addition to any
group he plays with, performed with 81 year old saxophonist Billy Harper’s
Quintet at the Pritzker Friday evening.
Dezron Douglas, a big toned bassist who always provides a strong
foundation to any group he plays with, also performed with Harper’s
Quintet.
Vocalist Rene Marie and her Experiment In Truth was a rousing success
playing a mix of originals and old favorites Saturday evening at the Pritzker
Pavillion A highlight was a medley of the jazz standard ”Imagination” that
segued into the Temptations’ “Just My Imagination”, with a few bars on
John Lennon’s “Imagine” thrown in for good measure.
Alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett and his group Sounds From The Ancestors
closed Saturday night with an energetic performance that incorporated
Jazz, with funk and hip hop. He is hard to photograph because he never
stops moving, whether he’s playing, rapping, or talking.
Playing music from his recent release “Witness to History”, trumpeter Eddie
Henderson and his quintet played a mixture of standards and jazz classics
Sunday evening at the Pritzker Pavillion. At 83 Henderson showed that he
still has “it”.
Pianist Orrin Evans played mostly music from his 2023 release “The Red
Door” Sunday evening at the Pritzker Pavillion. The music was mostly a
continuous stream which sometimes ventured into abstract territory, but
was really enjoyable
Evans’ band mate Caleb Wheeler Curtis, played two instruments rarely
seen, a straight alto sax and a trumpet with a saxophone mouthpiece.
Sorry I didn’t get a better picture.
Special thanks to Chicago’s Department of Current Affairs and Special
Events and the Jazz Institute of Chicago for their efforts.
Greg Turner
9/22/24
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