David Berkman

As part of the New Millennium / New Music series the Dave Berkman Quartet will perform on Monday, April 30, 7 pm the Chicago Cultural Center, Cassidy Theater - 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago - adminssion is free! You can also hear the David Berkman Quartet at the Green Mill jazz club on Friday, April 27 starting at 9 pm on Saturday, April 28th starting at 8 pm. Each evening the cover charge is $12.

Esbjorn Svensson © Andrea Canter

Known by the initials of their pianist/leader(Esbjorn Svensson Trio), the popular European jazz ensemble E.S.T. tours the US this spring, with upcoming stops at Merkin Hall in New York (April 14); World Café Live in Philadelphia (April 15), Blues Alley in Washington, DC (April 17), the Dakota in Minneapolis (April 19), the Hot House in Chicago (April 20), and The Ark in Ann Arbor (April 22); the trio will be playing west coast venues in May 2007.

Von Freeman © Andrea Canter

Chicago saxophonist Von Freeman created a unique and captivating tenor style in the 1940s and 50s. He played steadily, recording with  Charlie Parker and Andrew Hill.  He made his first recording as a leader in 1972 at the age of 49, a couple more in the next several years, and then nothing more for a decade, them, in his 70s he a  began a series of albums that have made the world rediscover him, DownBeat Magazine had him on their cover in 2001). Von is now a much-demanded performer at festivals the world over, and the recipient of a mayoral proclamation (with a street named for him), as well as a doctorate from Northwestern University, at the age of 80. This year he will turn 85 and he is still going strong.

Born Earl Lavon Freeman on October 2, 1922, on the South Side of Chicago, Von grew up with his musical younger brothers George, a well-known Chicago guitarist, and drummer Bruz. At age 16 Von played tenor in Horace Henderson's big band for a year.