Mike Green Assistant Editor

The Freedom Of Jazz For Free

by Mike Green

Jazz music and Chicago have a long relationship. Ever since New Orleans jazz traveled up the Mississippi River and landed in Chicago, the city has been thriving on the music. The classic sounds of Dixieland jazz were introduced to Chicago and turned into the innovative Chicago Style jazz of the 1920s, known by players such as Benny Goodman and Bud Freeman.

Since then, Jazz went through many changes. Musically, it’s diversified: There’s hard bop, fusion, smooth jazz, bossa nova and countless other subgenres of jazz. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, jazz took a prominent social role. Many African Americans voiced their complaints through music … especially Jazz music The improvisation of free jazz is still thriving in Chicago today.

Ken Vandermark, 41, is a multi-reedist who has been playing jazz for 20 years —he has lived in Chicago the whole time. Vandermark received the MacArthur “Genius” Grant in 1999, placing him among canonical jazz composers such as Cecil Taylor and Anthony Braxton. He has offered his energy and sweat to over 15 different jazz ensembles.

Vandermark and his peers can usually be seen performing several nights during any given week in Chicago. And for the lover of jazz, the music can be heard and watched for a very low price.

The Hungry Brain, at 2319 W. Belmont Ave., offers the public free music every Sunday night. The jazz is always exciting, since it is a mixed bag to what it will sound like. Sometimes it’s melodic, sometimes it’s exceedingly noisy; sometimes composed, sometimes spontaneous and completely improvised.

Another place that offers its music is the Empty Bottle. Located at 1035 N. Western Ave., the Empty Bottle holds jazz shows ranging from $3-5. The shows take place every Wednesday night, presented by the Empty Bottle Jazz Series. On other nights, innovative jazz sounds are presented through the Chicago Improvisers Series.

Of course there are others since two rooms can’t hold the entire movement of Chicago jazz. These two places offer music of outstanding quality — music that has a history in Chicago as great as the el. Instead of opting for another hot dog or fast food sandwich, discover another route of Chicago culture for the same price: The innovative sounds of Chicago jazz.