Live at Studio5! CJO SEPTET - FREDDIE GREEN TRIBUTE

CHICAGO JAZZ ORCHESTRA SEPTET
TRIBUTE TO FREDDIE GREEN

Jeff Lindberg – leader
Eric Schneider – reeds (tenor, clarinet, bass clarinet)
Art Davis – trumpet
Russ Phillips – trombone
Reggie Thomas – piano, organ
Dennis Carroll – bass
George Fludas – drums
Michael Pettersen – rhythm guitar
Alyssa Allgood – vocal, special guest

This is special, and will take a little explaining. When my friend, guitarist Michael Pettersen told me about this project, I was immediately interested in making it happen at Studio5. And it was with intent that we landed on this date, just three days shy of Freddie Green's 115th birthday. For those who may not know, in the history of big bands, Count Basie's orchestra is recognized as having the grooviest rhythm section of them all. It always swung SO HARD. One of the main driving forces of that ensemble was the rhythm guitar of Freddie Green, the understated, persistent heartbeat of a swing machine. Seriously. He was aptly nicknamed "Mr. Rhythm" and guitarists still often refer to the "Freddie Green style". 

Though everyone knew Freddie Green and loved his playing, he lived his life as a sideman. In his entire career Freddie recorded just one album as a leader, Mr. Rhythm, in late 1955. The LP was released in 1956 and Freddie filed away the charts. You can hear music from the album by clicking on the link above.

OK, fast forward to 2015 and Micheal Pettersen. Michael is not just a great guitarist and Freddie Green devotee. He is THE historian for Shure Microphones (I have been honored to take his fascinating tour through the Shure facilities) and so his interest in accuracy, authenticity and respect for the past runs deep. Michael knows Freddie Green's son, Alfred, and somehow (we'll get the full story onstage on March 27th) in circa 2015 Michael and Alfred were looking through bankers boxes from his Dad’s estate and saw the charts from Mr. Rhythm. Michael recognized the titles immediately. Michael told me, "The amazing thing was all the parts were there. Nothing was missing. The charts are now in my house."

Working with Jeff Lindberg, the director of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, they organized a subgroup of the CJO to recreate the music from Mr. Rhythm for live performance. They played one concert to a sold out house at Chicago's famed Jazz Showcase in August of last year. This Studio5 event will be just their second performance, ever. This group is truly a who's who of Chicago jazz musicians, including Reggie Thomas, the current pianist in the Count Basie Orchestra. The evening will also feature guest vocalist Alyssa Allgood, singing tunes associated with Freddie Green and/or Billie Holiday (they had a fling in the late 1930s!). What a night this will be! Hope you can join us. –SR

Our ticket prices include all fees and taxes, so the price you see is the price you pay. Nothing extra on checkout. We have a cash bar, light snacks, and free parking right outside! Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. [NOTE: Ticket sales on this website end one hour before showtime. Any remaining tickets are available for purchase at the door.]

LIVESTREAM: For those unable to attend this event in person, we now offer online streaming. Online viewers can watch live or up to seven days following the event, broadcast in high resolution audio and video, using multiple cameras. Tickets to watch this event online are available HERE.

Live taping for CHICAGO JAZZ LIVE on WDCB!
Our syndicated radio program, CHICAGO JAZZ LIVE, is now in its eleventh season! Be part of the studio audience and behind the scenes for an exciting live recording of this performance. CJL airs locally on WDCB (90.9FM or WDCB.org), Tuesdays 7-8PM. Come to the taping ... and then tune in!

Many thanks to our media sponsor, WDCB!