Saturday night live in Chicago; music swings, rocks and jams from the lakefront to the neighborhoods

Ebony, May, 1990

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE IN CHICAGO

IF it's Saturday night in Chicago, then music is alive and thriving. At no time is that more evident than in spring and summer. From South Side supper clubs and North Side pubs, blues wail in Chicago, its legendary Midwestern capital. Jazz also bops at downtown nightclubs. Gospel rings from church choir lofts. And Bach and Bird move from concert halls to outdoor amphitheaters.

"It has the best in culture and music," says a not-unbiased Joe Williams, a Chicago-born singer. But he and non-native musicians alike count the Windy City as one of their favorite performance stops for a number of other reasons. Whether they're on stage at the new Regal Theater or at Grant Park for one of Chicago's famous music festivals, musicians say they return to the Windy City time and time again because Chicago audiences respond with warmth and a sincere appreciation for good music.

Attended by more than 4 million people during each of the last two years, Chicago blues, jazz and gospel music festivals are among the largest of such events in the world. In addition to the regular lineup of festivals and other events, a number of new activities are planned this year as part of baseball's All-Star Game.

Kicking off what the city is calling an "All-Star Summer" is the Gospel Festival, which will be held in June on the lakefront in Grant Park. The event, which previously showcased the talents of such stars as Shirley Caesar, Clifton Davis, The Winans and Jennifer Holliday, will again feature some of the most notable names in gospel music. Also in June, the popular Chicago Blues Festival will be held in Grant Park. As free music fills the air during each event, the aroma of barbecue, pizza and other local delicacies available at nearby food and beverage stands will waft through the park.

Later in June, and through Independence Day weekend, Grant Park hosts the Taste of Chicago food fest. With more than 70 restaurants participating, and an abundance of activities for children, the festival presents an excellent opportunity for a family outing as well as for a gathering of friends. A children's circus, chili cookoff, live broadcasts by local radio stations and free concerts by stars such as Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder and Valerie Wellington add exciting dimensions to the event. Tourists and residents will have a moment to catch their breath after the Taste before the All-Star Game celebration, during which a number of events, including a River Serenade Festival along the Chicago River, will be held in July.

The skies along Chicago's lakefront will be aglow with lights and fireworks during the Sky Nights Festival in August. This two-day spectacle features a light show along the lakefront, a Grant Park Symphony concert and the colorful Venetian Night aquatic festival, during which lighted sailboats parade through the Lake Michigan waters. But one of the biggest events of the warm-weather season is the Chicago Jazz Festival over Labor Day weekend. The festival will feature major artists, including legendary trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Horace Silver.

Chicago's wealth of festivals and concerts is an outgrowth of the city's rich music tradition. Among its major musical institutions are the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta and Grant Park Symphony. Blues, which traveled from the South up the Mississippi to the Midwest, found its way into the heart of Chicago's culture and is celebrated by young local musicians as well as world-renowned blues artists. "Chicago has always been a hot music town, especially for the blues," says B.B. King, a Mississippi-born blues singer and guitarist. "Chicago continues to be a hub for music in the United States."

Much of the modern movement in gospel is also rooted in Chicago, where stars such as Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson and the Rev. James Cleveland first found fame.

"Before I was influenced by the blues, I was influenced by gospel," says Ramsey Lewis, the Chicago jazz pianist who played piano in church from age 9 to 15. Adds Lewis, who is opening a nightclub in the city: "When you think about Chicago, a variety of music comes to mind. Chicago musicians stand out in the world because of the influence of the various ethnic groups here, the blues and pop, and because of their desire to communicate with the audience. If you give just a little of yourself, they'll give you twice as much back."

In addition to the city-sponsored festivals and live nightclub acts, there are other events promoting music, such as the Charlie Parker Festival in August, Weekend Jazz Parties and jazz matinees in which children under age 12 can enjoy music for free at the Jazz Showcase on South Michigan Avenue. Tourists may want to take a break from the music festivals for a side trip to the DuSable Museum of African-American History. Named for Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, the Black founder of Chicago, the museum has exhibits on the city's music tradition.