JAZZ IN THE CHI

ABOUT JAZZ IN THE CHI

The Jazz Institute of Chicago presents the Jazz in the Chi Regional Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Festival in partnership with the internationally recognized and acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Jazz in the Chi is an educational festival open to high, middle and elementary school jazz bands. All participants perform a short set of music and then receive a post-performance clinic from the panel of professional adjudicators. Written and recorded feedback from the adjudicators helps each participating band continue to grow long after the festival! Workshops, jam sessions, performances by guest artists and a vendor fair with colleges, arts organizations and music merchants are designed to provide an immersive experience that benefits every participant.

The Regional Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Festival aspect of Jazz in the Chi offers high school jazz bands of all levels the opportunity to perform the music of Duke Ellington and other seminal big band composers and arrangers at a non-competitive, education-focused event in the great city of Chicago! Participating bands receive professional feedback from Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians and other jazz professionals. Band directors are also treated to a luncheon with the Essentially Ellington clinicians!

Bands participating in the Regional Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Festival will be required to join Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Program and must play at least one tune from the Essentially Ellington library. By joining this FREE program, participants will receive: original transcriptions of the music of Duke Ellington along with other acclaimed arrangers/composers, teaching guides, access to original recordings of the charts, and access to interactive rehearsal videos of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra playing this year’s music.