The 7th Annual Chicago Jazz String Summit

2021 Chicago Jazz String Summit, April 30 & May 1, 2021

Tomeka Reid’s 7th Chicago Jazz String Summit

CHICAGO (March 31, 2021) – On Friday April 30 and Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (CST), the 7th Chicago Jazz String Summit (CJSS) will present live-stream and pre-recorded performances showcasing jazz, improvised, and experimental music by internationally celebrated string players. Founded by critically acclaimed cellist and composer, Tomeka Reid, CJSS is open to the public and will take place in collaboration with Experimental Sound Studio.

The 2021 Artist Line-up includes: Biliana Voutchkova, violin; Brandee Younger, harp; Judith Insell, viola; Endris Hassen, masinqo; Artyom Manukyan, cello;Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, 5-string electric violin; Leyla McCalla, cello; and Sam Bardfeld,violin. To watch it live, visit https://www.chicagojazzstringsummit.com.

With a lens on the future of creative string players, CJSS is offering a workshop series Saturday, May 1, 2021 that includes Stand Up and Take A Solo, at 11:00 a.m. (CST) and Recycle, Re-imagine, and Re-invent, 12:30p.m. (CST), led by violinist/educator Gwen Laster; Workin’ the Changes, 1:30 p.m. (CST) led by Akua Dixon; and Intro to Ethiopian Music for String Players, 3:00 p.m. (CST) led by Kaethe Hostetter. Workshop details and registration are available at https://www.chicagojazzstringsummit.com/workshop-materials.

First conceived in 2013 by Reid, the Chicago Jazz String Summit is the only BIPOC-founded, curated and produced string summit of its kind, and one of the few festivals in Chicago dedicated to presenting ensembles led and comprised solely of string players.

“The purpose of this project is to bring more exposure and support to string players who are forging paths and boldly basing their musical life, outside of the prevailing classical path, in the area of jazz, improvised and creative music,” says Reid.

Speaking about her expectations for CJSS 2021, Reid remarks, “I am excited about our line-up of artists from Ethiopia, Armenia, Bulgaria and the U.S. CJSS is dedicating 2021 to cellist and composer Diedre Murray.

Having performed with a who’s who in jazz and soul music, Murray currently works as a composer for musical theater. I first encountered her playing in the ensembles of Henry Threadgill and through her duo recordings with bassist Fred Hopkins. Her cello playing has been influential to generations of improvising cellists.”

Chicago Jazz String Summit is pleased to partner with Experimental Sound Studio, Hyde Park Suzuki Program, Make Music NOLA and Blue Mountain Music Festival. Please contact [email protected] for more details.

Website: https://www.chicagojazzstringsummit.com/