Jazz is a musical genre that most people think of experiencing in a cool little club, and Madison certainly has its share of cool little clubs, including Cafe CODA and North Street Cabaret. But the Madison Jazz Festival, running through June 15, is a chance to experience jazz in all sorts of places in all sorts of ways, including free shows in Madison parks and on the Memorial Union Terrace.
On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to festival organizers Kate Schwartz and Jolynne Roorda about their vision for the festival. She also talks to festival headliner Arturo O’Farrill, whose Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble will close the festival on the Terrace Sunday, on how jazz feeds his soul.
Here’s all you need to know to enjoy this year’s Madison Jazz Festival:
The Big Stages
The festival builds to a crescendo this weekend, taking over the UW Memorial Union Terrace outdoor stage on Saturday and Sunday for 10 free performances. On Saturday, the headliner at 7 p.m. is Chicago saxophone legend Isaiah Collier and his ensemble, the Chosen Few. Also playing Sunday are Camille Thurman and Darrell Green Quartet at 5 p.m., and La Combi at 9 p.m.
While Collier represents an American jazz tradition that goes back to John Coltrane, Sunday’s headliner celebrates another strain of the genre. O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble will get the Terrace moving at 7 p.m. Sunday, preceded by Kal Bergendahl Project at 3 p.m., and Melanie Charles with Ignabu at 5 p.m.
The Small Clubs
On Wednesday, the North Street Cabaret will be swinging with the sounds of the Sweet Tooth Jazz Band, playing both originals and classic tunes. And on Thursday, Chicago’s DC & the Love, a band steeped in the Windy City’s jazz and blues heritage, will play a free show at Cafe CODA.
Know Your History
In addition to celebrating the future of genre, the Madison Jazz Festival has several events aimed at honoring its history. On Tuesday night, Art + Literature Laboratory is hosting a tribute to trailblazing pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams.
“Remember Me: Celebrating Mary Lou Williams in Poetry and Music,” will feature words by Madison poet Fabu Phillis Carter and musicians Laurie Lang and Chris Rottmayer. Williams has a connection to Madison, serving a residency in 1976 at the UW-Madison.
On Wednesday, the festival is hosting a free screening at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art of the acclaimed documentary “Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat,” which mixes African politics and American jazz in looking at how the U.S. meddled in politics in the Congo in 1961.
Finally, jazz pianists will come together to celebrate the 100th birthday of the late jazz great Oscar Peterson with a special concert Friday night at Arts + Literature Laboratory.
