Reminder: Chicago’s Asian American Jazz Festival This Weekend

Like blues music, jazz is at the heart of Chicago’s music scene and this weekend is the 14th annual Asian American Jazz Festival.

It’s actually almost a miracle the festival is still happening.

With no corporate funding, the event’s organizers took what money they had (about $10,000) to keep the festival on the calendar.

If you are looking for something to do tonight, then come out and support what will turn out to be an impressive line-up of some of Chicago’s best jazz musicians.

Tonight at 9:15 p.m. there will be a CD release party for Three Big Guys Plus One featuring Jeff Parker, Francis Wong, and Tatsu Aoki at the Velvet Lounge, 67 East Cermak (map it), 312-791-9050. The Hal Tsuchida Organ Trio with Rob Block and Sharif Zaben will also perform.  Admission is $15.

For the festival’s complete line-up, go here.

If you want to turn this weekend into an all-jazz affair, it might also be worth checking out:

Chicago great Jeremy Kahn, Saturday, 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard; $10.

Vocalist extraordinaire Frank D’Rone, Saturday, 9 p.m. at Chambers, 6881 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles; $12.

Piano master Bethany Pickens, Sunday, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Room 43, 1043 E. 43rd St.; $10.

For more information on the Asian American Jazz Festival, contact the Asian Improv aRts Midwest, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 943, 708-386-9349.

Photo credit: SXU