Tatsu Aoki and Jamie Kempkers set

Saturday May 9 at 8:30~9PM CDT

The Chicago Jazz String Summit highlights the achievements of accomplished string players locally, nationally and internationally who make bold statements in jazz, improvised and creative music today. Players who are pushing the boundaries, stretching traditions and increasing possibilities particularly on viola, cello and violin. The CJSS highlights these achievements in the hopes of increasing the awareness of these talented artists, fostering a network and community amongst these players while hoping to inspire other string players to consider improvising as another vehicle of artistic musical expression. There are few festivals that make a point to focus purely on presenting groups where string players are the leader of the ensemble. Each musical ensemble of the CJSS is led by a string player, specifically a violist, cellist and/or violinist, or stringed instrument of the diaspora, as bass and guitar players are common in the jazz world. CJSS 2020 will feature the talents Marika Hughes, Jacqui Kerrod, Jesse Zubot, Christopher Hoffman, Kaethe Hostetter, Tatsu Aoki and Jamie Kempkers, Sarah Bernstein and Stuart Popejoy and Melanie Dyer joined by Gwen Laster and KenFiliano.