Debut of Chicago Creative Music Workshop: An Institute for Improvised Music

Source: Michael Ricci
July 31, 2009
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Chicago, IL - September 2nd and 3rd the Chicago Jazz Festival, a partnership between the Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, presents the Chicago Creative Music Workshop (CCMW), under the direction of Nicole Mitchell and Renee Baker. Sponsored by the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, the CCMW will offer a unique opportunity to learn from master improvisers and perform with them in a variety of settings.

Why start a Creative Music workshop in Chicago? Co-Director

Nicole Mitchell

flute
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicole Mitchell explains: “Creative music is one of Chicago's greatest cultural strengths. It's a local secret that has long been praised internationally. Perhaps the seed was the early work of

Sun Ra

piano
1914 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sun Ra, and later, the inception of the AACM, with its great trailblazers including

Muhal Richard Abrams

piano
1930 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Muhal Richard Abrams,

Roscoe Mitchell

saxophone
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Roscoe Mitchell,

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton,

George Lewis

trombone
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">George Lewis and many more. Chicago is the perfect home for this endeavor. Creative music is now more vital than ever here; it incubates at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge, Elastic Arts and the Hungry Brain and reverberates throughout the world. We owe it to Chicago to provide a place and time where international and local Chicago musicians of this distinct, high level music can study, talk about and develop this music, in an accessible educational environment."

2009 CCMW faculty includes internationally renowned artists such as Art Ensemble of Chicago saxophonist, composer, and Mills College Distinguished Milhaud Professor Roscoe Mitchell, master bassist William Parker, flutist, AACM President and CCMW Artistic co- director Nicole Mitchell, percussionist Michael Zerang, saxophonist and educator David Boykin, professor of music and flutist Ellen Waterman, and violinist and CCMW Artistic co- director Renee Baker.

The two day schedule will include classes in both creative improvisation and improvisation oriented composition, chances to play in large group settings, as well as lectures by faculty and faculty performances.

Held at the facilities of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, CCMW will offer unprecedented access to these master musicians in a format that distinguishes itself from other jazz workshops with its focus on creative improvised music.

Nicole Mitchell, Artistic Co-Director of CCMW, President of AACM defines Creative Music as “...an improvised music that goes beyond expectation, by creating new musical ideas and languages, embracing the global history of sound, and celebrating authenticity."

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