“The great composer/bandleader Duke Ellington died in the summer of 1974. Just a few weeks later, several dozen Chicago musicians held a festival to honor him, at the old bandshell at the south end of Grant Park. Ten thousand music lovers came, marking the first of what would become annual memorial concerts that drew crowds of up to 30,000.”

Decades later, this grassroots gesture continues to hold true to its basic tradition of honoring new and old jazz musicians. Held every Labor day weekend since its debut appearance, this year’s events will begin on September 2nd and continue its chorus until September 5th. Chicago’s Jazz Festival has become such a spectacle it has expanded to two additional locations at Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center to the original Grand Park venue. Aside from the amazing music, the quaint appeal is that this  festival is free to all participants.

As a spectator, you will be able to enjoy music in the comfort of your own selection of grass, accompanied by the freedom to dance and eat where ever your heart desires.  The beauty of jazz is that any person, at any age can enjoy its instrumental translation of the human soul through the trumpet, the saxophone, drums, piano with the occasional interruption of vocals. This year you can jazz up your mundane Labor Day plans and enjoy renditions of John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong and many more, at no cost. To compose your own plans during this event, visit http://www.chicagofestivals.net/category/city-of-chicago-festivals/jazz-festival to view the daily schedule of artists and musicians who will be performing.