Selected picks from the park
Some of the must-see gigs at this year’s Jazz Fest:
Roosevelt University — Ganz Hall, 430 S. Michigan, 7th floor
5 p.m. | Ken Vandermark and Joe McPhee
The first of two duo sets from artist in residence Ken Vandermark, this one pits him with mentor McPhee. A generation older than Vandermark but uncannily young in spirit, McPhee will likely focus on his pocket trumpet for impromptu interplay with Vandermark’s various woodwind options. Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park 6:30 p.m. | Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble
This ambitious 17-piece group played the Green Mill in the past year and blew the roof off. The horn section alone must be the deadliest around, including altoist Greg Ward, explosive tenorist Rocky Yera and trumpeter Tito Carillo. Co-led by Nicaraguan pianist Darwin Noguera, in from NYC, and hometown trumpeter Victor Garcia, this band “send eggs,” to reference the opening track from their Chicago Sessions debut “Blueprint”; in the Spanish vernacular, that’s a demand to “manda huevos” or “bring it”!
8 p.m. | Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth 1:10 p.m. | Jason Stein Quartet Bass clarinet specialist Stein put out one of the best records of the year in 2011 with “The Story This Time” (Delmark), a superbly listenable thawing of Konitz-Tristano cool-school values that features telepathic tenor from Keefe Jackson and the crack rhythm team of bassist Josh Abrams and drummer Frank Rosaly. 2:20 p.m. | Frank D’Rone On his new big band CD, Frank D’Rone (age 80) shares an unrequited ode, “The One I Love,” and during that and “Dancing on the Ceiling,” his voice sounds cavernous and youthful. D’Rone, possessed of iron lungs like Tony Bennett, almost brags with the length he can hold notes; he also plays lovely guitar.
3:30 p.m. | Ambrose Akinmusire
Vandermark and Oslo based drummer Nilssen-Love have recorded a raft of records together, starting with Dual Pleasure a decade ago and now their latest, “Letter to a Stranger,” on Norway’s STS label. Though they are practically joined at the hip, playing in diverse situations all over the world together, they strive to duck potential sonic clichés during their long-running duo, Nilssen-Love’s thunderous bounce eliciting the best from Vandermark’s energy tenor. 3:30 p.m. | Marlene Rosenberg Quartet Another recommended local release this year was bass-ace Rosenberg’s “Bassprint” (Origin), which features her originals and lovely melodies from Kenny Barron. Making that CD extra special are the kicking beats of Makaya McCraven and superb soprano saxophone from Geoff Bradfield, who’ll join guitarist Scott Hesse in Rosenberg’s group. Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park 5 p.m. | Billy Hart This supergroup celebrate their recent release “All Our Reasons” (ECM). Ethan Iverson moonlights from The Bad Plus to parlay pellucid piano ECM style, although the way he amps the drama on “Song For