FREE OUTDOOR SUMMER JAZZ CONCERTS IN HARPER COURT - FIRST FRIDAYS FROM 12-2:30 P.M.
FREE OUTDOOR SUMMER JAZZ CONCERTS IN HARPER COURT - FIRST FRIDAYS FROM 12-2:30 P.M.
Friday, July 1 - There’s a chance of rain 🌧️ today, but we’re crossing our fingers for clear skies! ☀️
Rain Policy - If it’s steady rain without a break we’ll cancel and reschedule with details to follow. If it starts raining during the show we’ll stop for a bit and continue if possible.
Keep checking the weather and bring your umbrellas ☂️ just in case…
Friday, July 1
DENISE THIMES QUARTET
12-2:30 p.m.
Over the course of a multi-faceted career spanning three decades, Thimes is no stranger to the music world, growing up in a home surrounded by all types of music from her father & radio icon, the late Lou “Fatha” Thimes.
Denise has performed with such jazz notables as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (St. Louis, MO); the late Clark Terry (The Blue Note, NY); Dr. Billy Taylor, Earl May, Benny Powell (Flushing Town Hall); and James Moody (Blue Note, NY). She has also graced the stage with Houston Person, Jimmy & Tootie Heath, Bobby McFerrin, and Bucky Pizzarelli.
In recent years she has appeared and toured Paris with David Sanborn, sung for the Queen of Thailand, Queen Elizabeth II, President George W. Bush, and was hand picked by the Queen of Soul (Aretha Franklin) to perform for her 72nd birthday celebration.
Friday, August 5
CHUCK WEBB with Margaret Murphy-Webb and Tony Carpenter
12-2:30 p.m.
Chuck Webb is an electric & acoustic bassist who has performed with such notable artists as Aretha Franklin, Ramsey Lewis, David Sanborn, Al DiMeola, Grover Washington Jr., Freddie Hubbard, and many others.
As one of Chicago's top studio bassists, Chuck has performed on hundreds of records, commercial jingles, and soundtracks. A graduate of University of Miami's Frost School of Music, Chuck is on the board of directors of the Theater Musician’s Association (Chicago chapter), a member of the National Federation of Musicians, and the National Educators Association.
A versatile writer and producer, Chuck is also on the faculty of Columbia College Chicago's music department, having served as coordinator of bass studies, bass instructor, ensemble director and coordinator of the contemporary, urban and popular music ensemble program.
Friday, September 2
THADDEUS TUKES QUARTET
12-2:30 p.m.
Thaddeus Tukes is a jazz composer, arranger and percussionist from Chicago who has performed with artists including Branford Marsalis, Victor Goines, Roy Hargrove, and Chance the Rapper. Thaddeus has been showcased at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and the Green Mill.
Thaddeus graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School on Chicago’s Near West Side, and is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he studied Jazz Vibraphone and Piano, and Journalism.
He is the first person in the country to receive a degree in jazz vibraphone from a non-conservatory university (public or private), and was the first student to major in jazz vibraphone at Northwestern. Among other awards and distinctions, in 2015 Tukes was named a Luminarts Jazz Fellow.
Sign up to hear about upcoming events.