Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 7-14

14 CHICAGO TRIBUNE ONTHETOWN SECTION7 By Howard Reich Tribune arts critic not difficult to guess where the center of gravity for sophisticatedbut accessiblemusic- making is going to be this summer: Millennium Park. With the in jazz series swinging into its third season and the Without world-music series doubling in size from last year, the Pritzker Pavilion will be humming (and then some). The in jazz lineup in particular will unfurl events available nowhere else in the country. World premieres, daring repertoire, newly conceived ensembles, unusual artistic in will traffic in the unexpected. The only shortcoming of the venture may be this subtitle: Cooked an innocuous but lightweight description that belies the intellectual heft of the programming.

Last subtitle, Class better alluded to the artistic breadth and ambition of the lineup. Even so, the in Michael Orlove of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Lauren Deutsch of the nonprofit Jazz Institute of partnered with Millennium Park executive director Helen Doria to prove that summertime music need not be trivial. In so doing, redefining the nature of outdoor concerts, proving that such offerings can be every whit as substantial as the indoor fare we hear the rest of the year. Following is a guide through the in series. Each event will take place at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, near Randolph Drive and Michigan Avenue; all the concerts are free and will begin at 6:30 p.m.

In addition, each concert will be preceded at 6 p.m. by a short set from young Chicago jazz artists. For more information, phone 312-742-1168 or visit millenniumpark.org. July 26: Great Black Music Ensemble: to Fletcher Jazz listeners know that Henderson was a primary architect of big-band swing, and that the Great Black Music Ensemble represents the avant- garde philosophies of the Chicago-based Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). The two worlds converge when the Great Black Music Ensemble takes on Henderson classics and newer repertoire.

Aug. 2: Dave Summit Chicago Jazz and blues genres are intimately intertwined, a point that blues guitarist Specter will underscore by partnering with a contingent of Chicago blues and jazz musicians that will include Sharon Lewis, Billy Branch, Ari Brown, Jimmy Johnson and Chris Foreman. Aug. 9: Nicole Black Earth Orchestra: to Alice with special guest Myra Melford. Mitchell, a jazz- flute virtuoso and rapidly developing composer, has penned new works for this evening, in which front a large ensemble and collaborate with pianist Melford (a former Chicagoan).

This could be the most musically adventurous evening in the series. Aug. 16: and Lions: Ragtime and In the most unorthodox pairing of the summer, in will present the ragtime-piano wizard Reginald Robinson on a double-bill with AACM innovator Muhal Richard Abrams. Moreover, Robinson will play orchestral versions of his original ragtime compositions with the Fulcrum Point New Ragtime Chamber Group, while Abrams will play visionary musician on a huge stage, alone with his art. Aug.

23: of Song: Dee Tribute to Nina Simone and Dinah Chicago vocalist Alexander ought to be more famous than she is, but this evening should go a long way toward extending her popularity. Leading her Evolution Quartet, she will draw upon the repertoire and sensibilities of two singers who have influenced her profoundly. Aug. 27: Jazz Philharmonic On Tap: Songs from the Chicago Trumpeter Orbert Chicago Jazz Philharmonic typically merges classical and jazz impulses, but on this occasion the ensemble will stretch into the world of vocals and dance: Singers Maggie Brown, Jackie Allen and Terisa Griffin will share the spotlight with tap dancers from Lane Chicago Human Rhythm Project. Finally, the lineup for Without also free at 6:30 p.m.

on selected evenings at the Pritzker Pavilion: June 24: Enzo Avitabile Bottari. American jazz meets Italian percussion. June 27: Carlinhos Palacio The Garifuna Collective. Music of Brazil and Belize. June 28: Seun Kuti Egypt 80, with special guest DJ Rich Medina.

Jazz, funk and Afro-centric music embrace. July 12: Toumani Diabate The Symmetric Orchestra, with Vieux Farka Toure. West African musicians with Chicago jazz players. July 23: SambaSunda. United States debut of groundbreaking Indonesian orchestra.

July 29: Gerardo Nunez Flamenco Ensemble, featuring Simon Shaheen and Nishat Khan. Flamenco music in partnership with Arabic and Indian expressions. Outdoor concerts feature more than breezy fare Tribune photo by Terrence Antonio James Flutist Nicole Mitchell performs to Alice with special guest Myra Melford in Millennium Park Aug. 9. Millennium Park hosts in series SUMMER MUSIC PREVIEW By John von Rhein Tribune music critic It looks as if summer concert options for local classical music lovers are coming down to a choice between at Ravinia and world music at Grant Park.

By why make it an situation? Certainly plenty of worthwhile music to satisfy every listening taste at both the Ravinia and Grant Park music festivals this year. With more than 130 events running through Sept. 17, got the more extensive the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in residence for 17 concerts. But Grant Park, nestled within the splendors of downtown classy new playground, Millennium Park, has got location, location, location. Ravinia, North oldest music festival, is marketing its classical schedule around a by of Alexander Zemlinsky, the featured the composer.

The aqueous fare ranges from to Music director James Conlon also will con- duct mainstream programs, including Fifth and Sixth symphonies; a concert version of the conclusion of his Mozart piano concerto cycle; and a rare concert appearance by tenor Placido Domingo, who headlines the Gala Benefit Evening in August. Zemlinsky events will include such esoterica as the gorgeous and the compelling opera Florentine Ravinia-presented Chicago premieres include dancer-choreographer Mark (at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park); composer Jake vocal- orchestral work Hell and starring Patti LuPone; and Philip and Leonard of Audiences seeking to escape the noisy drone of the 17-year cicadas that have invaded the Ravinia grounds need only step into the Martin Theatre for such treats as violinist Sarah Chang playing Four with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; singers Deborah Voigt and Stephanie Blythe; early music master Jordi Savall and his Hesperion XXI group; and tenor Nikolai Schukoff in recital with pianist Christoph Eschenbach. Add to this concert versions of Side and Most Happy and got a Ravinia season to make the customers chirp right along with the cicadas. Down at Millennium Park, the Grant Park festival folks know they compete with Ravinia in star power, so they are again banking on the populist allure of free, eclectic concerts in one of the most spectacular outdoor concert settings in the world. And the world is what the season (June 13 to Aug.

18 in the state-of-the-art Jay Pritzker Pavilion) will celebrate. Check out a program titled that includes music by Tan Dun. Or concerts of Latin music featuring Uruguayan guitarist Eduardo Fernandez. Or the fiery Hungarian fiddler Roby Lokatos turning up the heat in classical, jazz and traditional Gypsy music genres. As is his wont, principal conductor Carlos Kalmar will mix standard symphonic and choral fare with unusual repertory.

His concerts include the Grant Park debut of the acclaimed Argentine pianist Ingrid Fliter, and a terrific season-finale that combines Vaughan rarely-heard Nobis with works by Benjamin Britten and John Adams. Good alfresco listening to all. A classical summer from Grant Park to Highland Park Ravinia will present the Chicago-area premiere of Hell and starring Patti LuPone. SUMMER MUSIC PREVIEW Product: CTOTT PubDate: 06-01-2007 Zone: NS Edition: FRI Page: 7-14 User: cci Time: Color:.