Chicago Jazz Festival: Labor Day Weekend 2007

The City of Chicago will be filled with the smooth sounds of jazz music on Labor Day Weekend. The 29th annual Chicago Jazz Festival runs from August 31 to September 2.

Jazz lovers will gather for the free festivities at Grant Park in Chicago. The Jazz Festival begins on Friday, August 31 at 11 am. Music begins at noon on the Jazz on Jackson stage. The Jazz and Heritage Family Stage begins performances at 12:30 pm. At 5 pm the Petrillo Music Shell beginning the first of three evening performances.

The Chicago Jazz Festival started just a few weeks after the death of composer/bandleader Duke Ellington in 1974. Several dozen Chicago musicians held a festival to honor the legendary musician at the old band shell. 10,000 music lovers came to the first festival, which becomes an annual memorial event.

In 1978 musicians held the first John Coltrane memorial Concert, working with the Council of Fine arts. The John Coltrane Memorial concert became another popular success. In 1979 the Jazz Institute of Chicago planned its own jazz concert.

The Mayor's Office of Special Events proposed that the three separate jazz concerts combine to create the Chicago Jazz Concert. The Chicago Jazz Concert was held at the Petrillo Music Shell and drew 125,000 music lovers This was the birth of the largest free jazz festival in the world.

The City of Chicago celebrates jazz all week long, starting on Monday, August 27 with a free concert at Millennium Park at Jay Pritzker Pavillion. On Tuesday there will be a Gala Fundraiser at the Jazz Institute of Chicago. On Wednesday the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Club tour. On Thursday is the jazz Journalists Association Panel Discussion at the Chicago Cultural Center.

The Artist in Residence for this year's festival is Charlie Haden. The respected jazz bassist will play in Grant Park on multiple stages with the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

On Friday The Petrillo Music Shell features John Medeski on piano, John Scofield on guitar, Billy Martin on drums and Chris Wood on bass. These four seasoned veterans combine with harmonies creating sounds of funk, rock, soul and reggae.