Chicagoland Events for the Week Ahead, as heard at ChiTownSmoothJazz.com

It's the last Smooth Jazz blast of summer, "Smooth Jazz at South Shore," featuring Richard Elliot, Jonathan Butler and Rick Braun, at Washington Park in Michigan City, this Saturday, August 29.

Taste of Highland Park and the annual Port Clinton Art Festival in downtown Highland Park, August 28-30.

The annual Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival in Grant Park, August 29 and 30.

Taste of Greece 2009 on Halsted Street between Van Buren and Monroe, August 29 and 30.

The Fleet Feet Sports Supersprint Triathlon and McDonald's Kids Triathlon at Foster Avenue Beach, Sunday, August 29.

The Bucktown Arts Fest at Senior Citizens' Park, Oakley Avenue and Lyndale Street, August 29 and 30.

Forty Years Ago This Month

August 15-18, 1969 - Bethel, New York

David Sanborn was there.

David Sanborn could fill a book with all the unique experiences he'd had in his career. When he came by the WNUA studios in 1995 and joined me on the air during my midday show, little did I know, however, that we'd spend some time talking about something I wouldn't expect coming out of the mouth of a Smooth Jazzer. The man told me he played Woodstock! Yup, the original one--the one that's marking its 40th anniversary this month.

In the late 1960s David was a member of the famed Paul Butterfield Blues Band, which was booked to perform at Woodstock on Sunday, August 17. He recalled for my audience and me that day the group had to fly into the park in a helicopter, since the freeway was closed. It was a sight he won't soon forget, he and the band "coming over the hill and seeing half a million people below, all spread out on this field." Never before had he seen a crowd that size.

The whole experience must have left a positive impression on David. He left Butterfield's group in 1971 and moved to Woodstock, where he lived until the mid '70s, when he relocated to Manhattan.

Chicagoland Events for the Week Ahead, as heard at ChiTownSmoothJazz.com

Summer weekends are winding down, but there's no shortage of weekend fun in Chicagoland:

The 8th annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest (above), on Glenwood Between Lunt and Farwell, August 21-23.

Lakeview Music Fest, at Sheffield and Addison, August 22-23. (773-868-3010)

The Lincoln Park Firemen's Cook-Off, the Lincoln Park Market, 2500 North Clark Street, August 22-23.

The 60th annual Greek Festival at the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2727 West Winona, August 21-23. (773-561-5992)

And next weekend, "Smooth Jazz at South Shore," featuring Richard Elliot, Jonathan Butler and Rick Braun, at Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana, Saturday, August 29.

Ring A Bell?

I'm sure you remember the TV commercial showing a father joyfully rolling through a department store on a shopping cart singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year". The "father" is ecstatic that the kids would soon be going back to school.

Some of you have already experienced this "wonderful time". Your kids attend year-round schools. For the rest of you, it's just around the corner.

Each year it takes a minute to realize that you're actually sipping a cup of coffee and the only sound in the room is the soundtrack of your life coming from ChiTown Smooth Jazz.com AHHHH.

Whatever else comes your way that day, this moment is ALL YOURS. Enjoy. Meantime we'll look for a Smooth Jazz version of "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year".

Smoothly yours,
Danae Alexander

Smooth Jazz's Summer Swan Song

Jonathan Butler

Rick Braun

Richard Elliot

For several years it's heralded the end of summer for Smooth Jazz fans in a big way. "Smooth Jazz at South Shore" is an incredible evening of live music on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana. This year's event features three performers who never disappoint: powerhouse saxman Richard Elliot, smooth-as-silk trumpeter Rick Braun and awesome singer/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Butler as "Jazz Attack" on Saturday, August 29, at 7:30 p.m.

"Smooth Jazz at South Shore" was the brainchild of Bernie Scott, a local businessman and proprietor of The Joy of Flowers in Michigan City. Through his tireless efforts each year, Smooth Jazz fans in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland get to enjoy an evening with the genre's premiere artists, and several important charities in the area benefit from a portion of the proceeds. It's a definite win-win for Smooth Jazz and several worthy organizations. Last year's event, for example, raised over $100,000 for the Sand Castle Shelter for Children and Families, the Stepping Stone Shelter for Women and the American Red Cross, LaPorte County Chapter.

My wife, Lori, and I attended our first "Smooth Jazz at South Shore" concert last August, when Nick Colionne and Mindi Abair were the headliners. Bernie and his staff put on such a good show that we're looking forward to being back this year. We hope you decide to come join us, too. I guarantee you'll enjoy their hospitality and, with the excitement of "Jazz Attack," I can think of no better way to wrap up our summer.

For information on tickets, please click here. See you on the 29th!

Chicagoland Events for the Week Ahead, as heard at ChiTownSmoothJazz.com

The annual Air & Water Show at North Avenue Beach, August 15 and 16.

Edison Park Fest, around the Edison Park Metra station in the northwest side neighborhood, August 14-16.

Windy City Ribs Festival, with live music and good food, at Union Park, 1501 West Randolph, August 14-16.

Green Music Fest at Eckhart Park, 1330 West Chicago Avenue, August 15 & 16.

What's New at ChiTownSmoothJazz.com

Peter White - “Bright”

CD: Good Day (Peak Records) (Release date: 9/8/09)

One of our favorite six-stringers is back with a CD of original compositions, drawing from what Peter describes as “my backlog of material—songs that I'd never finished, some going as far back as ten or fifteen years.” Peter adds, “I discovered that I had a lot of gems that I really wanted to show to the world.” The first single, “Bright,” is dedicated to the memory of Wayman Tisdale.

Here's "Rick's Pick to Click," the track I feel has the best chance to stick:

Jonathan Fritzen - “VIP”

CD: VIP (Nordic Night Records)

Multi-instrumentalist (but mainly pianist) Jonathan Fritzen hails from Stockholm. This is his second solo CD, and--here's my prediction--it's going to be his Smooth Jazz breakthrough track.

Freddie Washington - “In the Moment”

CD: In the Moment (RFW Records)

This is our introduction to the talented bassist currently on tour with Steely Dan. You can catch Freddie in action with the group at their Chicago Theatre shows August 31 through September 5.

Also:

Four80East - “Roll On”

CD: Roll On (Native Language Records)

The Toronto-based group made their debut in 1997 with “Eastside.”

Nils - “Up Close & Personal”

CD: Up Close And Personal (Baja/TSR Records)

It's another cool west coast groove by the guitarist whose past hits include "Pacific Coast Highway" and "Summer Nights."

You'll hear all of these fresh, new tracks just added to the ChiTownSmoothJazz.com playlist.