Wednesday, August 20
7:30 pm
Doors 6:30 pm
All Ages
7:30 pm
Doors 6:30 pm
All Ages
Metropolitan Jazz Octet presents: “Jazz Unearthed”
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All sales are final; no refunds
About the Artist
Metropolitan Jazz Octet presents: “Jazz Unearthed” a set of miniature masterpieces that shine light on long-lost styles of Jazz from the 1950s.
The Project
The Metropolitan Jazz Octet is a musical group, originally started in the 1950’s by Tom Hilliard, a saxophonist, composer and arranger whose music and mentorship inspired many Jazz musicians in Chicago. We are happy to present his unreleased music that was the beginning the Metropolitan Jazz Octet vision and mission.
“Jazz Unearthed” will engage in musical archeology, presenting a set of miniature masterpieces that shine light on long-lost styles of Jazz from the 1950s, each composition embodies playful elegance, brilliant craftsmanship, and authentic personality.
Metropolitan Jazz Octet: The Band
The current-day octet, also known as MJO, started exploring Hilliard’s library of music in 2014, led by his former student, Jim Gailloreto. With support of the non-profit Jazz Artists Resource, they have since composed and recorded three albums:
A self-released: “The Road To Your Place”, a Delmark Records release: “It’s Too Hot For Words” and the Origin Records release: “The Bowie Project. And now, our current and upcoming instrumental album is called “Jazz Unearthed”.
MJO is made up of the most talented musicians active in jazz and music education in Chicago. Together, they have created a unique and fresh contribution to the ongoing spirit of Hilliard’s legacy and vision. Their unique arrangements are described as a “big small band” and a “small big band”, creating a sound that offers something new for both traditional and modern jazz audiences.
Tom Hilliard
From the late 1950’s through the mid 1980’s, Hilliard wrote many of the octet’s arrangements and original compositions. He also collaborated with Chicago’s first call arrangers and studio musicians; together, they created a library of more than 150 charts.
In 1959, they recorded an album on the Argo label titled “The Legend of Bix”, featuring Hilliard’s arrangements in tribute to famed 1920’s cornetist and composer, Bix Beiderbecke.
As a professor at De Paul University School of Music, Hilliard taught three members of the current day incarnation of the octet, to whom he bequeathed his complete library, passing the torch to the next generation.
MJO Today:
The current-day octet, also known as MJO, started exploring Hilliard’s library of music in 2014, led by his former student, Jim Gailloreto. With support of the non-profit Jazz Artists Resource, they have since composed and recorded three albums: “The Road To Your Place” (self released), “It’s Too Hot For Words” (Delmark Records), “The Bowie Project” (Origin Records), and now, our upcoming album “Jazz Unearthed”.
MJO is made up of the most talented musicians active in jazz and music education in Chicago. Together, they have created a unique and fresh contribution to the ongoing spirit of Hilliard’s legacy and vision. Their unique arrangements are described as a “big small band” and a “small big band”, creating a sound that offers something new for both traditional and modern jazz audiences.
MJO’s appearances at festivals, renowned jazz clubs and concert halls has brought sold-out houses, enthusiastic crowds, in addition to critical acclaim from Jazz Times, Downbeat and Chicago Jazz Magazine and others.