Jazz Fest Lineup Announced, Vandermark Named Fest's Artist-In-Residence

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 14, 2012 6:00PM

The lineup for this year's Chicago Jazz Festival was announced, with national and international acts headlining the Petrillo Band Shell while the depth and range of Chicago's jazz scene will take to both the band shell and the smaller stages along Grant Park.

Ken Vandermark, the saxophonist-clarinetist and 1999 MacArthur Fellowship awardee who helped lay the foundation for the city's vibrant modern free jazz scene, has been named this year's artist in residence. Chicago jazz musicians are exclusively named artists in residence for Jazz fest, and are tasked with writing large-scale compositions and performing in various settings throughout the four-day festival. Vandermark will be flitting about throughout the festival. He'll be performing with his idol and mentor Joe McPhee Aug. 31 at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall; in a duo setting Sept. 1 with powerhouse Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love and at the Petrillo with his Resonance Ensemble; and with his Made to break Quartet Sept. 2.

The marquee names set to play the Petrillo Band Shell include vocalist Dianne Reeves, a diva in the Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan mode. Ella will also be paid tribute by a trio of local singers: Spider Saloff, Dee Alexander and Freida Lee.

New Orleans will be well-represented by Allen Toussaint and Jeff Newell’s New-Trad Octet, while the legendary 87-year-old Roy Haynes will bring his Fountain of Youth band to Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion Aug. 31. One band worth checking out is the eclectic Pierre Dørge and New Jungle Orchestra Sept. 2 at Petrillo. this Danish ensemble takes what Duke Ellington did with his Jungle Orchestra and adds a litany of international influences to their sound, drawing inspiration from China, Africa, the Middle East and Africa.

The full lineup, along with artist bios, is available here. The 34th annual Chicago Jazz Festival runs Aug. 30 - Sept. 2.