May 28--A hard-charging weekend in Chicago jazz:
Jason Moran: Last year at this time, Chicago heard the innovative pianist Moran on the grandest scale possible: leading his trio, the Bandwagon, plus Theaster Gates and the Kenwood Academy Jazz Band in the world premiere of Moran's "Looks of a Lot" in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center. The magnum opus was a highlight of 2015, as Moran and his high school partners explored -- through jazz -- the theme of violence on Chicago streets. This time, Moran returns with the Bandwagon -- featuring drummer Nasheet Waits and bassist Tarus Mateen -- in a more characteristic format and setting, as he closes the Jazz at the Logan season. The opportunity to hear a pianist of Moran's depth and creativity in a concert space such as the Performance Hall at the Logan Center is not to be missed. 7:30 p.m. Friday at the University of Chicago's Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.; $35 general; $5 students; 773-702-2787 or chicagopresents.uchicago.edu
In addition, a screening of the documentary film "Looks of a Lot," chronicling the evolution of Moran's work, will be presented at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday in the Logan Center's screening room; admission is free; reservations required.
"Cutting Edge Spirit Music: The Women of the AACM": Celebrations of the 50th anniversary year of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) are plentiful and welcome this year, this one casting a spotlight on sometimes overlooked contributions of AACM women. Billed as a mini-concert and conversation, the event will feature Ann Ward, Coco Elysses, Maia, Shanta Nurullah, Sherry Scott and Rita Warford, with Kai El'Zabar -- executive editor of the Chicago Defender -- serving as moderator. Before the event, visitors can tour the museum's landmark exhibition, "Free at First: The Audacious Journey of the AACM," which traces the history, philosophies and global impact of the organization. 6:30 p.m. Friday at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl.; free; 773-947-0600 or dusablemuseum.org; to reserve tickets, visit thedusablemuseum.eventbrite.com
Frank Catalano/Jimmy Chamberlin Band: At first glance, the partnering of jazz tenor man Catalano and former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Chamberlin might seem odd, considering the distinct musical worlds in which they've thrived. But Chamberlin studied jazz drumming intently in his youth, and you could hear as much when he collaborated deftly with Catalano last year at the Green Mill. Chamberlin's taut swing rhythms and tersely economical gestures surely helped bring out the softer, subtler side of Catalano's art. For this engagement, Catalano and Chamberlin will celebrate the release of their album "God's Gonna Cut You Down." 9 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway; $15; 773-878-5552 or greenmilljazz.com
Jeremy Pelt: The stylistically versatile trumpeter has been an annual visitor to the Jazz Showcase in recent seasons, whether leading his own band or partnering with the Columbia College Jazz Ensemble. Pelt returns leading a quartet in music from his newest album, "Tales, Musings and Other Reveries." 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Sunday; at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court; $20-$40; 312-360-0234 or jazzshowcase.com
"Mingus Maynard": For the second concert in its spring season, Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra takes on two formidable and enticing challenges. First, a complete performance of the music from Charles Mingus' landmark album "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady." Though in past years Chicago has heard excerpts performed by the Mingus Big Band and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, this is believed to be the Chicago premiere of the complete work (which, coincidentally, will be re-imagined during the Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz series at Millennium Park on Aug. 13 by saxophonist-bandleader Greg Ward and choreographer Onye Ozuzu). For the CJO performance, bassist Rodney Whitaker will be guest soloist. The program also will explore music from early-1960s Maynard Ferguson, with trumpeter Walter White as soloist. 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Feinberg Theater of the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, 610 S. Michigan Ave.; $30-$40; chicagojazzorchestra.org
"His Way -- Sinatra's Centennial Celebration": Chicago singer Ron Hawking has been paying homage to Ol' Blue Eyes for decades and does it better than most, his Sinatra tribute more a valentine than an act of impersonation. For this celebration of the Sinatra centennial (the master was born on Dec. 12, 1915), Hawking brings his show to its most spectacular setting yet, the concert part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Auditorium Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy.; $35-$65; 800-982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org
Fred Anderson Park Grand Opening Celebration: Five years after the death of Chicago tenor saxophone giant Anderson, in 2010 at age 81, a new park bearing his name will officially open. That it sits on the Near South Side seems ideal, for that's where Anderson's beloved Velvet Lounge thrived in two locations. To mark the occasion, the AACM Great Black Music Ensemble -- staffed by many musicians who honed their art in Anderson's famous club -- will perform, as will drummer and Anderson acolyte Hamid Drake with bassist Joshua Abrams. 1 p.m. Sunday at Fred Anderson Park, 1611 S. Wabash Ave.; free; in case of rain, the event will move to True Rock Ministries, 57 E. 16th St. Visit facebook.com/fredandersonpark
Paul Marinaro: The singular Chicago singer has been picking up the tempo of his public appearances, a boon to anyone who admires jazz standards sumptuously sung. Among an array of engagements, he now has what many listeners have hoped for: a standing engagement at single location. Marinaro plays sets at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Sundays at Jack's on Halsted, 3201 N. Halsted St.; no cover; 773-244-9191 or jacksonhalstedchicago.com
hreich@tribpub.com
"Portraits in Jazz": Howard Reich's e-book collects his exclusive interviews with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and others, as well as profiles of early masters such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. Get "Portraits in Jazz" at chicagotribune.com/ebooks.
