This summer the Jazz Institute of Chicago has teamed up with the Chicago Park District to start a new program employing and mentoring a group of young jazz musicians for the summer. During a six week intensive program, this select group of 10 young musicians will work with a  roster of local jazz all-stars who will mentor them for one week each. At the end of each week the Jazz Ambassadors perform at a different park in the city with their guest artist as a conductor.

Tonight’s concert will feature mentor Pharez Whitted as guest conductor. Mr. Whitted performs regularly with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and works with young students at Gallery 37.  He has been featured at our JazzCity concerts with Bebop Brass and Robert Irving III's Miles Davis and Horace Silver projects.   He was selected to be a mentor for William Miller, one of our Kiewitt-Wang Mentorship Award recipients in 2007.  This year his Quintet will be featured on the Main Stage of the Chicago Jazz Festival.