CARLETON IN CHICAGO (MAY 6-9) UPDATE FROM PROFESSOR KELLY

I spent the weekend of April 1-4 checking out the various clubs and speaking with the managers about the artists they have booked for our weekend in May. Since we were at the mercy of whomever the clubs might book for our weekend, I was a bit anxious about how it would all end up. But I am anxious no longer! We’ll have multiple opportunities to hear some really good music.

ON THURSDAY after our dinner those who would like can catch the 9:00 p.m. (By the way, all jazz shows are on the “ish” schedule!) performance of “The Mike Smith Quintet” at Andy’s, 11 E. Hubbard, a few block from the Hyatt. Andy’s is a “casual” club (i.e., a bit run-down, but appropriatly jazz-like) known for its daily jazz fare including “Jazz at Noon.” The cover charge Thursday night was $6 and there was a two drink minimum, ($6 for a scotch rocks). Smith’s Quintet is a fine local group playing a mix of Miles Davis late 50s tunes and standards mixed with some later tunes. Smith is a strong alto player reminiscent of Parker and Adderley, he has a good trumpet player and a very fine rhythm section. If there is time you could also catch the Jazz at Noon on Friday (no cover charge). Frank Jackson is playing and, although I didn’t get to hear him, the rest of the bands I heard at Andy’s were at least good, so I think it’s a pretty safe bet.

ON FRIDAY we’ll be going to the “Jazz Showcase” the venue for top jazz talent in Chicago since 1947, and still run by the Segal family. Located on W. Grand near Clarke it’s a very good room for music with excellent acoustics. We’ll be treated to vocalist Karrin Allyson and her Quintet. Allyson is a multi-Grammy-nominated performer who has regularly been listed among the top-ten jazz vocalists in both the Critic’s and Reader’s polls in Downbeat. You might want to check out her biography at: www.concordjazzfestival/Content/karrin.html. Her most recent CD “Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane” received many accolades, one reviewer writing “Coltrane would be proud.” I’m sure she’ll be bringing a top-flight band with her and when I know more about the side-men I’ll let you know. This should be a great evening of music—I CAN’T WAIT.

ON SATURDAY we’ll be going to “Green Dolphin Street” named for a famous jazz street in New Orleans and later a Kaper/Washington jazz standard. It is described as a “sophisticated and casually elegant restaurant and jazz bar” in the guide-books, and that’s a pretty accurate description of this club located in west Lincoln Park. They book a wide variety of bands and the weekend we’re there will host the Dave Valentin/Vince Seneri group. Both musicians are nationally known and work out of New York.. Valentin is a Latin percussionist and flutist and Seneri is a Hammond B-3 organist. (They’ll have some side-men as well.). Their repertoire usually is a mix of jazz and Latin standards as well as some blues numbers. Latin jazz is quite important right now reflecting both the increasing Latin influence in American society and the popularity of groups like the “Buena Vista Social Club.” Of course Latin influence has been important in jazz from the days of Jelly Roll Morton’s “Spanish tinge”, through the popularity of various Latin dance crazes in the big-band era, through Gillespie’s “Afro-Cuban” style, and through the Jobim/Getz?Byrd Bossa-Nova boom of the early 1960s. So it’s good to see this style popular again. (Warning—this performance might be LOUD.)

(Incidentally CDs of Valentin, Seneri, and Allyson are all available on Amazon and other sites.)

Steve Kelly