Wynton Wynton Wynton at Symphony Center! Jan. 22 & 23, 2016

Wynton Marsalis and his world renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra are in residence this weekend at Symphony Center.  They'll perform three concerts, including a Jazz for Young People concert on Saturday Jan. 23 at 1 pm called "Who Is Duke Ellington?"  We caught last year's concert about Dave Brubeck, and I am sure that this will be equally amazing.  Wynton Marsalis is half jazz genius, half musical shaman, and his passion, humor, and desire to educate are so evident in his repartee with the audience.

The other two concerts look to be especially awesome, especially the Saturday Night classic "Battle of the Bands" between Marsalis and his troupe playing Ellington, and the Count Basie orchestra playing (guess who?) Count Basie!

If you like jazz and/or want your kids to like jazz, these are don't-miss concerts (especially the Jazz for Young People concert)

THE THREE CONCERTS

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.  Photo by Frank Stewart.

Jazz in the Key of Life (Jan. 22, 8 p.m.),Created by longtime JLCO member and trombonist Vincent Gardner.  Gardner’s inspiration and set list comes from iconic pop music of the 1970’s including selections by Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Donny Hathaway and more.  

Wynton Marsalis.
photo by Todd Rosenberg.

Jazz for Young People,®: Who Is Duke Ellington? (Jan. 23, 1 p.m.)Celebrating the American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington, this program highlights his unique contributions to jazz including the landmark tune “It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing). ” There will be a 30 minute Q&A led by Wynton Marsalis, immediately following the performance. 

Battle Royale Also Featuring the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra led by
Scotty Barnhart (Jan. 23, 8 p.m.)This raucous and joyous celebration of big band traditions will include the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn classics and the Count Basie Orchestra, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2015, performing signature Basie standards.

HOW TO GET TICKETS
Tickets for all SCP Jazz series concerts can be purchased by phone at 800-223-7114 or 312-294-3000; online at cso.org, or at the Symphony Center box office: 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604.

Fantasia at Ravinia July 12 at 7 pm

Ravinia is the oldest outdoor musical festival in the US.  It's been going since 1904, and each year it attracts nearly 600,000 visitors to listen to world-class music.  My wife has been raving about Ravinia since I've known her.  Now that we live in Chicago, a trip to Ravinia has become a must.  So on Sunday our family is off to Highland Park for our first trip there, an afternoon of fun, music, and Disney.

Fantasia & Fantasia 2000 available on
Amazon.com

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will play the soundtrack for Walt Disney's classic movie Fantasia, and sections of Fantasia 2000. (which was a continuation of Fantasia, with the idea of giving more classical music the Disney Fantasia treatment)

The history of Fantasia is pretty fascinating and covered thoroughly (along with the CSO connection to Fantasia 2000) on the Ravinia blog.

We've got lawn tickets, which means that we'll be bringing a blanket and some chairs, as well as picnic stuff.  (according to the Ravinia Firsttimers guide, photographic/video equipment is NOT ALLOWED inside Ravinia, so don't bring your expensive cameras.)  There are restaurants, bars, gift shops, and other shopping available at Ravinia, as well as chair rental.  There's also a Pavilion which is under cover.  You see, at Ravinia, the rain falls mainly on the plain. (sorry, I couldn't resist!)

At most concerts at Ravinia, the stage is not actually viewable from the Lawn, but there will be a lawn-screen for this concert. Ravinia also will have fun stuff for kids to do on the North lawn, their "KidsLawn", with interactive exhibits, including a classic "instrument petting zoo." Sounds like a blast!

It's going to be an afternoon of lots of fun, and an evening of lots of great music.  Here's the program:

Disney’s Fantasia and Fantasia 2000
Beethoven:		Movement 1 from Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67   Movements 3–5 from Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68
Tchaikovsky:		The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a
Debussy (orch. Stokowski):		Clair de lune from Suite bergamasque
Stravinsky:		Suite from The Firebird (1919 version)
Ponchielli:		“Dance of the Hours” from La Gioconda
Dukas:		The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Elgar (adapt. Schickele):		Marches Nos. 1–4 from Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39
Respighi:		Pines of Rome, P. 141

To find out more and purchase tickets for Fantasia, visit the Ravinia site online.

Ravinia has a number of other upcoming concerts suitable for families, including Laurie Berkner, the Ko-Thi Dance Company, and a production of  Beauty and the Beast.  See their kid's concert page.

Halloween Fun in Chicago: A Roundup

Being in a new city means disruptions of our typical routines.  For the last couple of years, we've been going to Safe Halloween in New York, and we've been trick or treating in various places in NY.  This year, in Chicago, it's to steal a Disney musical song, "A Whole New World" 

But it's not too shabby here in Chicago.  There's a million things to do that are Halloween related.  We can't do everything, but it would be intriguing to try!   Here's some of the more promising things on the potential menu:

THE CIVIC ORCHESTRA OF CHICAGO
OCTOBER 25 AT 3 PM  (pre-show activities for kids start at 1:30pm)

"Hallowed Haunts" is a special family show at the Symphony Center that brings scary and magical classical and popular music together for a selection  that will  delight (and perhaps very slightly haunt) your children.  It's a great way to introduce your kids to some pretty amazing classical music, including music from Grieg's Peer Gynt, Stravinski's Firebird, and John Williams score for the first Harry Potter movie! The concert is an annual event, and has been successful enough that it is the only Civic Orchestra event for which there is a charge.  There are also some school performances scheduled for the day before.  Costumes are encouraged (even the musicians get dressed up!)  Tickets range from $15-$60 (depending on where you are sitting.
More info and tickets available on their website:  https://cso.org/TicketsAndEvents/EventDetails.aspx?eid=6634 or by calling 312.294.3076.

HAPPY HAUNTINGS at the Chicago Cultural Center
OCTOBER 23-26

The Chicago Cultural Center is hosting the City of Chicago's Halloween Festival, which is a free celebration of all things Halloween.  The entire event is free, and features magic and puppet shows, a Ghost tour of the Cultural Center, and my friends the Midnight Circus who will be doing a number of free shows over the course of the weekend.  They'll also show some scary movies, have face painting and arts and crafts, and on Saturday there's a costume contest and parade. Food trucks on one side of building will add to the festivities.  You can get a full schedule of events at http://chicagoween.us .

SPOOKY ZOO SPECTACULAR at Lincoln Park Zoo
BOO! AT THE ZOO at Brookfield Zoo

The local zoos make sure to get in the act with activities for kids.  They are both happening on the weekend.  The Lincoln Park Zoo has some family entertainment planned, some arts and crafts, and a fairly tame haunted house with trick or treating (Forget about what the fox says-- what kind of candy does he give out for Halloween?)
At the Brookfield Zoo (in the western suburbs) they are doing the Boo! at the Zoo, which includes pumpkin carving, performances by local high school bands, a Halloween themed carousel, a Haunted Hay Ride (extra charge) and you also get to watch some animals enjoy their own pumpkins.

More information about Spooky Zoo Spectacular: LINCOLN PARK ZOO
More information about Boo! At the Zoo: BROOKFIELD ZOO

HALLOWEEN IN THE PARKS
Chicago Park District

The Chicago Park District has tons of Halloween events going on at many of their parks.  It looks like there are a number of haunted houses, halloween parties, costume parades, pumpkin patches, and lots of other stuff.  There's almost certainly a park within walking or travel distance to you if you live in Chicago.  So you should definitely check them out! More information at their website:  http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/halloween/

There are a number of other events going on, far too many to list, including stuff going on at Navy Pier (which includes a Zombie themed haunted house, a masquerade ball, and trick-or-treating sponsored by a candy company!) and lots of safe trick or treating events and costume parades at many various neighborhoods, including Lincoln Square, Roscoe Village and Andersonville , to name just a couple.

If you can't figure out what to do from this list, you should just stay home!