August 28–September 6, 2020 • FREE Admission

Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and Venues Across Chicago

DCASE Homepage > Chicago Jazz Festival

Following the guidance of City and State officials regarding large gatherings, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) canceled all permitted special events through Labor Day (September 7, 2020). Regrettably, this includes many of Chicago’s annual summertime traditions - including the Chicago Jazz Festival. In lieu of summer festivals, DCASE is presenting a series of reimagined summer events including "Millennium Park at Home" concerts and a forthcoming series of live events featuring Chicago musicians performing at neighborhood clubs and other unique locations — for limited in-person engagements and broadcast to larger audiences.

Produced by the Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events | Programmed with the Jazz Institute of Chicago

For everyone missing this year’s Chicago Jazz Music Festival, check out the "Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz" concerts featuring Jazz Music in the Key of Chicago.

What is this Thing Called Jazz?

Thursday, September 3, Noon–1pm

facebook.com/jazzinchicago

Produced by the Education Committee of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, “What Is This Thing Called Jazz?” has become an annual event leading into the Chicago Jazz Festival. Although described as a musician’s “Play & Tell” in the past, this year’s online program will focus on the “tell”—i.e. a conversation among some of Chicago’s busiest musicians representing both the young and established voices in the industry. The 2020 topic is “What Now?” moderated by educator and Grammy Award-winning drummer Paul Wertico with a panel including educator, saxophonist and composer Sharel Cassity; trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Victor Garcia; pianist and composer Alexis Lombré; and bassist and composer Junius Paul.

Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz



Thursday, September 3, 4–8pm

with Commissioner Mark Kelly, DCASE, Heather Ireland Robinson, JIC, and Paul Abella, 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio

NextGenJazz Series: Isabella Isherwood

4:25pm: Citywide Jazz Presentations:

Live the Spirit Residency presents: The Young Masters directed by Ernest Dawkins

Elastic Arts presents: Anagram Series with the Greg Artry Trio

Birdhouse presents: Mai Sugimoto Trio at Fred Anderson Park

Chicago Jazz Festival Archives:

1985 – Charlie Rouse, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco

1988 – Von Freeman and Clifford Jordan

2014 – Sun Ra Arkestra / Ari Brown Quintet

2015 – Henry Butler, Steven Bernstein & the Hot 9 / Fred Hersch Trio / Marquis Hill Blacktet

6:10pm: Nick Mazzarella Trio (feat. Matt Ulery, Quin Kirchner)

6:50pm: Rempis, Reid, Abrams Trio (Dave Rempis, Tomeka Reid, Joshua Abrams)

7:30pm: Tito Carrillo Quintet (feat. Rich Moore, Stu Mindeman, Matt Ulery, Juan Pastor)

Friday, September 4, 4–8pm

youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE

with Commissioner Mark Kelly, DCASE, Heather Ireland Robinson, JIC, and Bruce Oscar, 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio

NextGenJazz Series: The Swan Collective

4:25pm: Citywide Jazz Presentations:

Association of Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) presents: Tribute to Black Lives Matter

The South Side Jazz Coalition presents The Denise Thimes Quartet

Public Media Institute presents Preservation of Fire

Chicago Jazz Festival Archives:

2011 – Orbert Davis

2014 – Myra Melford's Snowy Egret

2015 – Claudia Quintet with Theo Bleckmann and Kurt Elling / Chico Freeman featuring George Freeman / The Chicago Jazz Orchestra

2016 – Dee Dee Bridgewater

2017 – Jo Ann Daugherty Quartet

6:10pm: Abigail Riccards

6:50pm: Bobby Broom Trio

7:30pm: Victor Garcia

Saturday, September 5, 4–8pm

with Commissioner Mark Kelly, DCASE, Heather Ireland Robinson, JIC, and Leslie Keros, 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio

NextGenJazz Series: Alejandro Salazar

4:25pm: Citywide Jazz Presentations:

Kalapriya Foundation presents Anjali Ray

Museum of Contemporary Art presents: Tuesday on the Terrace with Isaiah Collier and The Chosen Few

Constellation presents Mike Reed's People, Places & Things

Chicago Jazz Festival Archives:

1985 – Doc Cheatham, Stu Katz, John Bany, Barrett Deems

2014 – Tootie Heath Trio

2015 – Jane Bunnett & Maqueque / Mark Turner Quartet / Muhal Richard Abrams' Experimental Band / Douglas Ewart & Inventions

6:10pm: Matt Ulery Pollinator

6:50pm: Marlene Rosenberg Trio (feat. Scott Hesse and Xavier Breaker)

7:30pm: Reggie Thomas and Trio Nexus

Sunday, September 6, 4–8pm

youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE

with Commissioner Mark Kelly, DCASE, Heather Ireland Robinson, JIC, and Dan Bindert, 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio

NextGenJazz Series: Aaron Kaufman-Levine

4:25pm: Citywide Jazz Presentations:

Hungry Brain presents: The Josh Berman Quartet

51st Street Business Association presents Bronzeville Jazz

The Jazz Showcase presents Dee Alexander

Chicago Jazz Festival Archives:

1985 – Charlie Rouse, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco

1988 – Von Freeman and Clifford Jordan

2014 – Sun Ra Arkestra / Ari Brown Quintet

2015 – Henry Butler, Steven Bernstein & the Hot 9 / Marquis Hill Blacktet / Fred Hersch Trio

6:10pm: Charles Rumback with Jim Baker & John Tate

6:50pm: Bethany Pickens (feat. Junius Paul and Charles Heath)

7:30pm: Twin Talk (Katie Ernst, Andrew Green, Dustin Laurenzi)

“Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz” is produced by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, with support from Millennium Park Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).