In late 2006, Hyde Park cultural leaders convened with the Hyde Park Jazz Society to create an annual event that would bring new audiences into the many arts and cultural venues in Hyde Park and celebrate jazz’s great legacy and bright future on Chicago’s South Side. The University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement stepped up to assist this grassroots effort with both financial and staff support.

For yet another year, International House plays host to the Hyde Park Jazz Festival! This annual event features the finest artist in local, national, and international jazz. The full line-up of more than 40 programs can be found on the Hyde Park Jazz Festival Website. International House will be hosting Russ Johnson’s Headland and the Eric Schneider & Jeremy Kahn Quartet.

Russ Johnson’s Headland: 7:30PM-8:30PM

Headland is comprised of Russ Johnson, trumpet/compositions; Rob Clearfield, keyboard; Matt Ulery, electric bass; and Frank Rosaly, drums.

A recent Midwest transplant after spending 23 years as an important member of New York City’s jazz community, trumpeter and composer Russ Johnson has 7 recordings as a leader or co-leader and more than 75 recordings as a sideman. He has worked alongside many of the legendary figures in jazz including Lee Konitz, Steve Swallow, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lovano. In addition, Russ has played in more than 40 countries across the globe and has recorded and/or performed with a long list of the most prominent musicians currently on the international jazz scene, including Myra Melford, Ken Vandermark, and Tony Malaby. The Russ Johnson Quartet performed at the 2013 Umbrella Festival in Chicago and the 2014 Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park. Its recording Meeting Point received 4½ stars in DownBeat Magazine and has been listed on its “Best CD’s of 2014.”

Eric Schneider & Jeremy Kahn Quartet: 9:30PM-10:30PM

The quartet features: Eric Schneider, saxophone; Jeremy Kahn, piano; Dennis Carroll, bass; and George Fludas, drums.

One of the city’s top saxophonists, Eric Schneider was on a fast-track early in life having played six years with both the Earl “Fatha” Hines Band and Count Basie Band before he was thirty, bringing him into the company of some of America’s greatest jazz musicians from Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie to Tony Bennett and Clark Terry. During his tenure with Basie, Eric recorded three albums, including the Grammy Award-winning 88 Basie Street. Since Eric decided to stop touring regularly and settle in Chicago, he has worked in a wide variety of settings in the Chicago area including many years at Andy’s and currently the late, late, late Friday evening show (1:30-4:00AM) at The Green Mill. In addition to playing with virtually all of the top local jazz musicians and singers, Eric Schneider also teaches at the Merit School of Music.

Pianist Jeremy Kahn received his music degree from Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory where he studied with the late, great Jaki Byard, later living in New York City before returning to the Chicagoland area of his birth. Versatile and accomplished, Jeremy has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Charlie Haden, Branford Marsalis, and was the pianist in the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. One of Chicago’s busiest pianists, Jeremy divides his time among jazz venues, pit orchestras, and recording and teaching studios. He has played for many of Chicago’s Broadway productions, including Wicked, Spamalot, The Lion King, Les Misérables, and Aida. He has also been a featured performer at the Chicago Jazz Festival and on the radio shows of Studs Terkel and Marian McPartland.

Bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer George Fludas complete the Quartet.

This event is free and open to the public.

Presented by the Global Voices Performing Arts Series and the Hyde Park Jazz Festival.