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Chicago has always been a jazz city — from Louis Armstrong to Green Mill to the Jazz Festival — and this summer, WBEZ is celebrating that legacy with a free outdoor concert at Navy Pier.
On August 14th, Mike Reed’s Common Good Dance Band takes the stage for an evening of soul-jazz drawn from the global canon: Expect deep cuts by Sun Ra, Duke Ellington and South African legends Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani and Mongezi Feza. It’s a set that honors jazz’s past while bringing it to life for a new audience.
Local musician Katie Ernst (Iron & Wine) opens with a solo performance, plus DJ Joe Bryl spins a special set.
A limited number of event posters designed by Chicago-based illustrator Ryan Duggan will be available at the event.
Arrive early — entry is first-come, first-served. RSVPs do not guarantee entry and are subject to capacity.
Mike Reed is a musician, composer, bandleader and arts presenter based in Chicago. Over the last two decades, he has emerged as a dominant force within Chicago’s diverse artistic community, both through the music he makes and the live events he produces. In addition to leading or co-leading several working bands, all rooted deeply in jazz and improvised music, he’s the founding director of the Pitchfork Music Festival, the current programming chair of the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the owner and director of the acclaimed performing arts venue Constellation. He is a devoted cultural advocate committed to providing platforms for artistic expression unhindered by commercial pressures. In 2016, he also became the owner of the Hungry Brain, a cozy neighborhood tavern that’s been a fulcrum for live creative music and socially driven public programs.
Katie Ernst is a touring member of the indie folk band Iron & Wine. She is an active sidewoman in the jazz and improvised music communities of Chicago, and is a member bands including the Alvin Cobb Jr Trio, Mike Conrad Trio, John Raymond/S. Carey’s Shadowlands.
Joe Bryl, the previous co-owner and musical director of the famed Chicago nightclub Sonotheque, has focused on a wide range of eclectic, underground sounds. He has been working in the club and entertainment industry for the last 30 years and was an original partner in the creation of the renowned HotHouse, exposing Chicagoans to a diverse selection of left-field dance music with a range of rare groove, Latin, funk, Brazilian, steppers, African, acid jazz, and neo-soul. Bryl was also involved in the early days of The Funky Buddha Lounge, setting new standards for nightclubs in Chicago.
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