City of Chicago Unveils Headliners For 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival With World-Renowned Artists And Local Treasures

May 12, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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The Labor Day Weekend Tradition, Produced by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Celebrates All Forms of Jazz at the Chicago Cultural Center and in Millennium Park

CHICAGO—Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced today the headliners performing at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion for the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival, taking place Thursday, August 28 through Sunday, August 31. 

The Chicago Jazz Festival, a Labor Day weekend tradition, returns to Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center to celebrate all forms of jazz through free, high-quality music programming. Over the course of four days, the festival continues its legacy of showcasing Chicago’s vibrant jazz community alongside national and international artists to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city’s most beloved art forms—all completely free to the public. 

“Chicago’s jazz legacy runs deep – from Bronzeville basements to global stages,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This festival represents our city’s enduring creativity, cultural excellence, and commitment to bringing people together through the universal language of music.” 

Produced by DCASE and programmed by the Jazz Institute of Chicago (JIC), the world’s largest free jazz festival returns with a powerhouse lineup of global icons and rising stars—honoring Chicago’s legacy as one of the top jazz capitals in the world. This year’s festival presents an extraordinary gathering of genre-defining artists. Headliners include the boundary-pushing bassist and vocalist esperanza spalding, piano legend Monty Alexander, charismatic trumpeter and vocalist Kermit Ruffins, Afro-Cuban guitar virtuoso Eliades Ochoa of Buena Vista Social Club, and the visionary saxophonist Gary Bartz with his revolutionary ensemble NTU Troop.  

“The Chicago Jazz Festival stands as a vibrant testament to our city’s deep-rooted cultural legacy and our unwavering dedication to artistic innovation,” said DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth. “More than just a celebration of jazz, this iconic festival honors the genre’s storied past while spotlighting emerging talents and diverse voices shaping its future. It reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing the creative community and ensuring that the transformative power of music and the arts remains accessible to every Chicagoan, regardless of background or neighborhood.” 

The Jay Pritzker Pavillion will also spotlight an impressive roster of Chicago’s finest jazz treasures and talents, including Patricia Barber, Ari Brown, Ernest Dawkins, Sarah Marie Young, Ava Logan, G. Thomas Allen, the Natalie Scharf Quintet featuring Paul Asaro, and Silvia Manrique & Marcel Bonfim.  

The Jazz Institute of Chicago celebrates 56 years of promoting and nurturing Chicago’s world class jazz community. Founded in 1969, this not-for-profit organization works to provide education, develop and support musicians, build audiences and foster a thriving jazz scene in Chicago. As the programming partner for the Chicago Jazz Festival since 1979, Jazz Institute of Chicago collaborates with DCASE to help ensure audiences experience the highest quality international, national, local, and young future jazz artists. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate this 45-plus-year relationship with the City of Chicago,” said Heather Ireland Robinson, executive director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago. “As always, the festival will include a strong showing of Chicago jazz artists. The Harris Rooftop stage will also feature the vibrancy and diversity of talent from the Jazz Institute’s Jazz Links program with local school bands on Saturday plus the rising stars of our city’s jazz scene on Sunday. We are looking forward to audiences experiencing the foundations and the future of jazz!”  

The full lineup for the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival will be announced in the coming weeks. The festival will also include daytime programming at the Chicago Cultural Center on opening day, August 28, from 11a.m.-5p.m., with additional concerts at the Von Freemam Pavilion stage (Fri-Sun, 11:30a.m.-4p.m.), WDCB Jazz Lounge (noon-7:45p.m.), and a spotlight on the next generation of jazz artists and youth with daytime concerts at the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace stage (Sat-Sun, 11a.m.-4p.m.).  

As in previous years, outside alcohol is not allowed for the Chicago Jazz Festival, but alcohol may be purchased inside the venue. Before visiting, please be advised of other Prohibited Items at MillenniumPark.org.   

For Millennium Park safety and security information, visit the Plan Your Visit page of MillenniumPark.org.  

2025 Chicago Jazz Festival Schedule – Jay Pritzker Pavilion 

All performances are free and open to the public. Schedule subject to change. 

Thursday, August 28 – Opening Night 

Millennium Park – Jay Pritzker Pavilion  
201 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601 
Programming 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. 
Free and all ages 

• 6:30–7:30 p.m. – Henry Johnson
• 7:45–9 p.m. – esperanza spalding

Friday, August 29

• 4–4:45 p.m. – Sarah Marie Young   
• 5:05–5:50 p.m. – Silvia Manrique and Marcel Bonfim
• 6:10–7:25 p.m. – Patricia Barber
• 7:45–9 p.m. – Monty Alexander 

Saturday, August 30  

• 4–4:45 p.m. – Ava Logan Quintet
• 5:05–6:05 p.m. – Ernest Dawkins Ensemble New Horizon Redux
• 6:25–7:25 p.m. – Gary Bartz & NTU Troop
• 7:45–9 p.m. – Kermit Ruffins 

Sunday, August 31  

• 4–4:45 p.m. – Natalie Scharf Quintet featuring Paul Asaro   
• 5:05–6:05 p.m. – G. Thomas Allen
• 6:25–7:25 p.m. – Ari Brown Quintet 
• 7:45–9 p.m. – Eliades Ochoa 

The Chicago Jazz Festival programming is generously supported by the following sponsors: 90.9fm WDCB, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Jazz Magazine, DownBeat Magazine, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Millennium Garages, and Millennium Park Foundation. 

For more information, please visit ChicagoJazzFestival.us and Chicago.gov/DCASE. 

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events 

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago.

Millennium Park 
Millennium Park is the #1 attraction in the Midwest and among the top 10 most-visited sites in the U.S. It is also the anchor of an urban cultural campus (Millennium Park Campus) that includes the Chicago Cultural Center, Maggie Daley Park and The Art Institute of Chicago. Millennium Park is located on Michigan Avenue, bordered by Randolph St. to the north, Columbus Dr. to the east and Monroe St. to the south. The Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Plan your visit at MillenniumPark.org; follow us on Facebook (@MillenniumParkChicago), Twitter and Instagram (@Millennium_Park); and join the conversation on social media using #MillenniumPark. 

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• City of Chicago, DCASE, Jazz Festival, Labor Day Weekend

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