Do This: Jazz Institute of Chicago's Annual Jazz Club Tour

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 12, 2011 4:30PM

The Chicago Jazz Festival is only a few weeks away. For years, the Jazz Institute of Chicago has hosted a tour of Chicago's Jazz clubs as an unofficial kickoff for the fest.

The JIC provides shuttle transportation to all the clubs, using separate loops for North and South side venues and a route connecting the two. Tour passes gain participants entry to all the clubs on the tour and the participating venues step up their games by booking some of the best jazz musicians in the city. The cost for the tour is also affordably priced - JIC members pay only $20 while non-members are charged $25. this year's tour runs from 6 p.m. - midnight Aug. 31. We've both participated in and worked in venues along the tour. It's a great opportunity for people to visit some music venues with which they may not be familiar and to witness the variety and depth of Chicago's jazz music scene.