Catherine Russell, Kenny Garrett, and Spanish Harlem Orchestra highlight 2024 Chicago Jazz Fest lineup!

Vocalist Catherine Russell, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, pianist Amina Claudine Myers and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra will be among the headliners at the 2024 Chicago Jazz Festival. The full lineup for the fest, announced by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), also includes veteran heavyweights like saxophonist Billy Harper and trumpeter Eddie Henderson, plus rising star saxophonists Lakecia Benjamin and James Brandon Lewis. As always, there’s an abundance of excellent Chicago artists on the bill too. The fest will take place Thursday, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Sept. 1 on multiple stages in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center.

WDCB is again a major media sponsor for the festival. For the third straight year, WDCB will also add to the official fest lineup by offering multiple daily sets featuring top-shelf Chicago jazz musicians at the “WDCB Jazz Lounge” in Millennium Park. The lineup for the WDCB Jazz Lounge will be announced at a later date.

“The Chicago Jazz Festival is one of the musical high points of every year,” says WDCB Station Manager Dan Bindert. “We’re looking forward to seeing all of the local and internationally renowned artists at the fest. It’s like a well-stocked buffet with so many different musical flavors to sample. And the opportunity for us to present a dozen additional Chicago acts each year at the WDCB Jazz Lounge has makes great jazz even more plentiful at the fest.”  

The festival is produced by DCASE and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago (JIC). Celebrating its 55th year promoting and nurturing Chicago’s world class jazz community, The Jazz Institute of Chicago has served as the programming partner for the Chicago Jazz Festival since 1979.

“The JIC and the Jazz Festival Committee are excited about the lineup as always and pleased to highlight Chicago voices in this year's festival,” shared Heather Ireland Robinson, Executive Director of The Jazz Institute of Chicago (JIC). “To me, one of the most thrilling stages and ‘hidden gem’ of the festival is the Harris Theater Rooftop Stage. Saturday will feature five remarkable high school bands showcasing tomorrow's stars today —and the energy from the packed houses cheering on our uber-talented youth is unmatched.”

“Chicago's impact on jazz music is recognized globally,” says DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “And our city's powerful and significant contributions are showcased annually at the Chicago Jazz Festival. This year is no exception with the lineup of all-star headliners and Chicago’s own Tomeka Reid, Miguel de la Cerna, Bethany Pickens and more taking the stage. Making world-class programming, like the iconic Chicago Jazz Festival, free and accessible furthers the City of Chicago’s commitment to honor and celebrate the City’s music legacy for generations to come.”

Listen to WDCB for more details on upcoming events and find more information at ChicagoJazzFestival.us.

Thursday, August 29
(schedule subject to change)

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater
1-2pm: The Young Masters presented by Live the Spirit
2:30-3:30pm: Jeff Chan Ensemble presented by Asian Improv
4-5pm: The DJAZ Quartet  presented by The Elastic Arts Foundation
5:30-6:30pm: What is this thing called Jazz? Presented by the Education Committee of the Jazz Institute of Chicago

Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
12:30-1:30pm: IRIS w/ Special Guest Russ Johnson presented by The Fulton Street Collective
2:00-3:00pm: The New Deal Gypsy Jazz Band presented by  llliana Club of Traditional Jazz
3:30-4:30pm: The Miguel de la Cerna Quartet presented by The Hyde Park Jazz Society
4:45-5:45pm: The Southside All Stars featuring Di'Kobie Berry and Darius Hampton presented by The South Side Jazz Coalition
6-6:45pm: Jason Adasiewicz
7- 8pm: Amina Claudine Myers

Friday, August 30
(schedule subject to change)

Millennium Park, WDCB Jazz Lounge (South Promenade)

12:00-1:45pm: The Sanctified Grumblers
2:15-4pm: Calligram Records Showcase with Geof Bradfield, Chad McCullough & Friends 
4:30-6:15pm: Bruce Henry Quintet
6:45-7:45pm: Bonzo Squad

Millennium Park, Von Freeman Pavilion (North Promenade)
11:30am-12:25pm: Maddie Vogler
12:40-1:35pm: Bethany Pickens Trio
1:50-2:45pm: Big Shoulders Brass Band
3-4pm: Lakecia Benjamin

Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion
4:15-5:05pm: Tomeka Reid
5:25-6:10pm: Billy Harper Quintet
6:25-7:25pm: Charlie Sepúlveda
7:45-9:00pm: Catherine Russell

Saturday, August 31
(schedule subject to change)

Millennium Park, WDCB Jazz Lounge (South Promenade)

12:00-1:45pm: Samuel Mosching Quintet
2:15-4pm: Charles Heath Quartet
4:30-6:15pm: Lynne Jordan & The Shivers
6:45-7:45pm: Soul Message Band

Young Lions Jazz (Harris Theater Rooftop, Enter on Randolph St.)
11:00am: Whitney Young Jazz Combo
11:50am: Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Combo
12:40pm: ChiArts Combo A
1:35pm: Lincoln Park High School Jazz Band
2:25pm: Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage
3:15pm: Kenwood Academy High School Jazz Band

Millennium Park, Von Freeman Pavilion (North Promenade)
11:30am-12:25pm: Windy City Ramblers
12:40-1:35pm: Leslie Beukelman & Jeremy Kahn's "Tonight: At Noon"
1:50-2:45pm: Mike Ross Quartet
3-4pm: James Brandon Lewis

Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion
4:15-5:05pm: Dennis Carroll
5:25-6:10pm: Jeff Parker/New Breed
6:25-7:25pm: René Marie & Experiment In Truth
7:45-9pm: Kenny Garrett and Sounds From The Ancestors

Sunday, September 1
(schedule subject to change)

Millennium Park, WDCB Jazz Lounge (South Promenade)

12:00-1:45pm: Bethany Pickens Soulful Coalition
2:15-4pm: Ernest Dawkins Quintet
4:30-6:15pm: Alexander/McLean Project
6:45-7:45pm: Juli Wood’s “Natalies Wood plays Roland Kirk”

Harris Theater Rooftop (Enter on Randolph St.)
11-11:45am: Alfie Jackson Quartet
12-12:45pm: Brandon Harper & Friends
1-1:45pm: The Isabella Isherwood Quintet
2-2:45pm: Alejandro Salazar and the Afro Cuban Exchange
3-3:50pm: JCANDTHEREUPBAND

Millennium Park, Von Freeman Pavilion (North Promenade)
11:30am-12:25pm: Mai Sugimoto
12:40-1:35pm: Sharel Cassity Alliance
1:50-2:45pm: Charlie Johnson Quartet
3-4pm: Jason Palmer Quartet

Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion
4:15-5:05pm: Clif Wallace Big Band
5:25-6:10pm: Eddie Henderson
6:25-7:25pm: Orrin Evans
7:45-9pm: Spanish Harlem Orchestra

More information is available at http://ChicagoJazzFestival.us