For the love of jazz A musician, promoter and fans share their passion for the genre
New
Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and the undisputed jazz capital of the world, but the hot and cool music runs deep in Chicago too. The Second City boasts a rich jazz history that’s second to none, dating back into the early 20th century.
Chicago was one of the major cities to which African Americans moved during the Great Migration, bringing with them jazz and blues. Eventually, jazz clubs opened on the city’s South Side. Jazz musicians from the South such as King Oliver, and New Orleans natives Jelly Roll Morton and Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, moved to Chicago to become part of the fledgling local jazz scene — as well as to make records and be heard on the radio during the Roaring ’20s. The first radio broadcasts of jazz music originated in Chicago.
The city also experienced a post-World War II jazz renaissance buoyed by legendary musicians who were born in the city — among them Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa and Ramsey Lewis.
Fast-forward to 2021, and Chicago remains a hotspot for jazz. After over a year of not performing in front of live audiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic, musicians and singers locally, and from across the county, are again entertaining their fans at jazz venues throughout Chicago and the suburbs.
Tony Cazeau III is one of those musicians. His band, New Black Renaissance, has been together for eight years and plays a variety of jazz and fusion music, which combines two different styles of music to create something new. Since the state reopened, Cazeau says he’s been averaging five gigs a week playing with his band, as well as solo and with other musicians.
“Nothing compares to playing in front of a live audience,” he says.
Falling in love
Interestingly, Cazeau, a keyboard player, didn’t start listening to jazz until he was 18 and in college. He purchased an album by Joe Sample, a jazz star in the 1960s and ‘70s who was one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders and went on to record with the likes of Miles Davis, B.B. King and George Benson. Cazeau also lists George Duke, a solo artist, and The Yellowjackets, a jazz fusion band, as early influences.
Then he asked himself, “Who did they learn from?” So, he says he started “digging into all the famous players” —Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Shirley Scott (a jazz organist) and Keith Jarrett (a jazz and classical music pianist and composer).
“I fell in love with it,” says Cazeau, who lists Nat King Cole as his current favorite jazz artist. “For me, jazz is like a beautiful combination of a mathematical equation. No two jazz musicians will play the same tune the same way. Jazz provides such a level of individuality, and it allows us to show the creative spirit of the human spirit.”
Recently, Cazeau’s band headlined a live Sunday evening jazz show coordinated by
Finding the best place
There are many communities to be explored in Arizona. Some are restricted to people 55 and older but others are open to all ages. Ellie Farkas notes that her community includes people of all ages.
“Research the communities,” suggests Ed. He looked for nearby services including churches, hospitals and shopping areas. “Know what your interests are and choose a community that provides opportunities and activities you know you will enjoy.” If golf is not one of your interests but you love to swim, look for a community that will provide that unique combination.
Ellie is pleased with their decision to move to Arizona. “We look out at the mountains every day and get a little rain. True, it is hot in the summers, but no humidity which makes it tolerable. It is so different than Chicagoland.”
Even though they are far from Illinois, Arizona residents find many of the same shopping opportunities. “We even have a Portillo’s,” says Deasy. “I have stopped telling people I am from Chicago because it seems like everyone I meet is from Chicago.”