Click on links for front-row video excerpts — text adapted from Chicagao Jazz Fest program book.
DAY 1 — Claudia Cassidy Theater, Chicago Cultural Center:
- The Toyoaki Ensemble, an expansion of bassist and Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival founder Tatsu Aoki’s longstanding MIYUMI Project blends electro acoustic jazz and traditional Japanese okiya (Geisha House) chamber music, in a series of improvised pieces based on pre-determined frameworks. Aoki, onetime member of local jazz legend Fred Anderson’s quartet, played shamisen (three-stringed lute); the ever-surprising Mai Sugimoto, alto saxophone; Lori Ashaikawa, violin; Koichi Hiraishi, bass, and Kioto Aoki (the leader’s daughter), taiko drums.
- Robert Glasper in conversation with Robert Irving III in a “Music to Movies, Scoring Master Class,” on how to get started in scoring, composing and syncing for film and tv, during the Jazz Institute of Chicag’s day-long What is This Thing Called Jazz? program. Jazz Institute “Jazz Links” alumnae also performance to the event.
- Jazz Institute “Jazz Links” alumnae: Devin Shaw- piano, Micah Collier, bass and Frank Morrison, drums.
In Pritzker Pavilion, Millenium Park:
- Joel Ross’s Good Vibes. The vibraphonist and Chicago native has devoted himself to musically interpreting the Bible, both in its promises of redemption and joy and its depictions of darker events. Layering his interpretations of the Scripture beneath a moody post-bop sensibility, he brings a highly personal approach to his source, featuring saxophonist Devin Daniels, pianist Tyler Bullock II, bassist Kanoa Mendenhall and drummer Jeremy Dutton.
- Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap Duo A veteran of bebop combos, big bands and Broadway, created a living room intimacy in Millennium Park. Pushing interpretation to its limits and creating variations on the tunes as originally written, she buoyantly redefined the vocal and piano duo alongside pianist Charlap, a master of the Great American Songbook.
DAY 2 — Pritzker Pavilion, Millenium Park:
- The Luciano Antonio Octet. Brazilian guitarist, singer, composer, percussionist and educator Luciano Antonio has placed his stamp on the Brazilian music scene in Chicago by contrasting songs that have rich and complex harmonies and melodies with simple rhythms against songs that have simple harmonies and melodies with very complex rhythms. The dynamics range from pure solo guitar and voice to the full sound of the rich Brazilian percussion in a fascinating musical way.
- Dr. Emma Dayhuff Innovations & Lineage: The Chicago Project featuring Dee Alexander, Corey Wilkes, Isaiah Collier, Michael King and Jonathan Pinson. On her live 2025 debut album, Innovations & Lineage: The Chicago Project, bassist and composer Dayhuff reflected on her time here (she now goes back and forth from Madison) with a cast of local notables. At CJF, the Montana native reunited with beloved singer Dee Alexander and the phenomenal young saxophone star Isaiah Collier in a band including celebrated trumpeter Corey Wilkes, pianist Paul Cornish and drummer Jonathan Pinson, joined by vocalist Aikenya Seymour on one of the tunes.
- Robert Glasper performed with his boldly flexible, keyed-in band, featuring bassist Derrick Hodge, Burniss “Boom Bishop” Travis II, drummer Justin Tyson and DJ Jahi Sundance — with a guest performance by a three-time Grammy Award Winning poet and Chicago native J. Ivy.
DAY 3 — Pritzker Pavilion, Millenium Park:
- Patricia Brennan Septet played tunes from Breaking Stretch, her 2024 album embraced (and named top album in the DownBeat Critics Poll) for its bold vision in blending futuristic sounds, Afro-Cuban rhythms, electronics and edgy percussion. An all-star septet included Cuban virtuoso Kali Rodriguez-Pena on trumpet, the prolific Chicagoan Jon Ibrabagon on alto and sopranino saxophones, Mark Shim on tenor saxophone, Kim Cass on bass, Dan Weiss on drums, and Mauricio Herrera on percussion.
- Drawing from his double-disk album Mood Ellington, Paul Marinaro led a terrific nonet on a selection of Duke classic with arrangements by the distinguished likes of Alan Broadbent, John Clayton, Bill Cunliffe and Jim Gaillareto. The band comprised pianist Tom Vaiysas, guitarist Mike Allemana, bassist John Tate, drummer Neil Hemphill, reed and flute players Rich Moore and Scott Burns, baritone saxophonist and bass clarinetist Ted Hogarth, trumpeter Eric Jacobson and trombonist Raphael Crawford.
- MEB Miles Electric Band celebrating The Miles Davis Centennial. Lighting up the sky over Millenium Park with its combustible playing, the band featured the imposing front line of trumpeter Theo Croker, tenor and soprano saxophonist Antoine Roney and Hendrix-influenced guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, making a rare return to his hometown to play with South Side high school friends Willburn (Miles’ nephew, MEB’s drummer and artistic director), music director and pianist/keyboardist Robert “Baabe” Irving III and bassist Darryl Jones (the Rolling Stones’ longtime member), and younger keyboardist Greg Spero (from Chicago’s north suburbs). The band was rounded up by percussionist Munyungo Jackson, DJ Logic nd DJ Hapa on turntables and Nigerian master Rasaki Aladokun, soloing on talking drum.
DAY 4 – Pritzker Pavilion, Millenium Park:
- Isaiah Collier plays Coltrane. From the start of his quickly accelerating career, saxophonist Isaiah Collier has had a Trane-like presence with his curiosity, spirituality and ability to connect with listeners while maintaining an inner intensity. Collier was joined by his AACM mentor Ari Brown (blending as on this clip) pianist Davis Whitfield, bassist Way Campbell and drummer Tim Regis.
