Tickets go on sale for Cantigny Jazz & Wine Fest
Plans are set for the first signature event of Cantigny Park's summer schedule.
The Jazz & Wine Fest will spread throughout the Cantigny gardens and grounds, with five musical acts performing on two stages from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 18.
Ten wine tasting stations will accompany the entertainment, headlined by the legendary Count Basie Orchestra.
"We can't wait to share this event with our visitors," said Matt LaFond, Cantigny Park executive director. "Putting jazz and wine together makes perfect sense for a venue like ours, and the gardens will be in full bloom. We've been envisioning a festival like this for several years."
Jazz fans are in for a treat. In partnership with Media Sponsor WDCB Public Radio, "Chicago's Home for Jazz," an exciting lineup is in place.
In the history of jazz music, American icon William James "Count" Basie is the only bandleader with the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold-out concerts around the world more than 30 years after his passing.
The Count Basie Orchestra, directed today by Scotty Barnhart, holds 18 Grammy Awards and has played at every major jazz festival and concert hall in the world.
As an added treat, the orchestra's Cantigny appearance will include guest vocalist Vanessa Rubin, a jazz legend in her own right. The Cleveland native is revered for her diverse vocal talents, delivered with emotional depth and sometimes a playful sass.
The Count Basie Orchestra and Rubin will close out Jazz & Wine Fest with a performance beginning at 4:45 p.m.
Four other acts will precede them:
• Thaddeus Tukes (noon) - The Chicago Tribune said this musician and composer "brings poetry to the vibraphone." A graduate of Northwestern University, where he pioneered the first degree in jazz vibraphone studies, Tukes currently performs as a bandleader and special guest with various ensembles throughout the country.
• Victor Garcia (1:30 p.m.) - This acclaimed young trumpeter from Chicago released his debut album, "The Grind/The Groove," in 2018. He has recorded on dozens of other albums, three of them Grammy Award-nominated.
• Frank Catalano (3 p.m.) - A world-class tenor saxophonist, this Grammy Award-winning Chicagoan has shared stage or studio with the likes of Miles Davis, Randy Brecker, David Sanborn and Jimmy Chamberlin.
• Big Shoulders Brass Band (4:15 p.m.) - The festival calls for a New Orleans-style street parade and BSBB will give us one! They'll play a short set, too, showcasing their jazzy Dixieland funk.
As the jazz notes waft through Cantigny, oenophiles can sample an interesting selection of wines of different varietals and styles. In partnership with Romano Beverage of Elmhurst and Regal Wine Company of Santa Rosa, California, Cantigny's food and beverage team has curated a high-quality menu of reds and whites for easy summer sipping.
The 10 tasting stations will feature international and domestic selections, including the very best of California winemaking.
Gates open at 11 a.m. with music beginning at noon, rain or shine.
Food trucks will offer a wide variety of meals and snacks, plus beer and soft drinks. Coolers and outside alcohol are prohibited.
Tickets for the Cantigny Jazz & Wine Fest recently went on sale at cantigny.org/event/jazz-and-wine-fest/.
Tickets are $60 per person, or $40 for a music-only ticket without wine tastings. Guests under age 21 are $20.
An early bird 20% discount is offered through May 26 (use code JAZZE at checkout on Cantigny.org). Limited on-site parking is available for $15; off-site parking is $5.