Velvet Lounge

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The Velvet Lounge was a nightclub in the South Loop of Chicago. [1] It started as a jazz club and was called the "dusty epicenter of the Midwest's free form jazz scene." [2] It was located at 2128 1/2 S. Indiana Avenue before moving to 67 E. Cermak when the original building was scheduled for demolition. It closed permanently in 2019.

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Coordinates: 41°53′N87°38′W / 41.883°N 87.633°W / 41.883; -87.633

History

The club was established in 1983 by jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson [3] who owned the business until his death in 2010. Many live albums were recorded at the club, including a series of performances featuring Anderson himself, on the Delmark label, and 1998's Live at the Velvet Lounge with Anderson, Peter Kowald, and Hamid Drake. Many prominent musicians played the Velvet Lounge early in their careers, particularly in Sunday night jam sessions. [4] The club's standard lineup of the early 1990s featured trumpeter Billy Brimfield, saxophonist Art Taylor, pianist Jim Baker, bassist Mike Cristol, and drummer Gerald Donovan. From the mid 1990s, the "Velvet Graduates" house band included tenor saxophonist David Boykin, baritone saxophonist Aaron Getsug, alto saxophonist Greg Ward II, bassist Karl E. H. Seigfried, and drummer Isaiah Spencer. After Anderson's death, the club was purchased by a neighboring business which ended the jazz performances and instead presented DJs, hip hop music, and comedians.

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Constellation is a jazz club in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2013 by Mike Reed, a Chicago-based drummer and composer. Reed was originally Constellation's for-profit (nominally) owner and then, from 2018, its nonprofit organization president. Constellation has replaced, and expanded upon, the now-closed Velvet Lounge as a hub of avant garde jazz and improvised music in Chicago. Musicians who have played at Constellation include Fred Hersch, Bobby Broom, Ari Brown, Josh Berman, and many others.

<i>Fred Anderson Quartet Volume One</i> 1999 live album by Fred Anderson

Fred Anderson Quartet Volume One is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson which was recorded live during the 1998 season at the Chicago club owned by Anderson, the Velvet Lounge, and released on the Asian Improv label. The Anderson's Quartet features longtime partner trumpeter Bill Brimfield, drummer Chad Taylor and Asian American bassist Tatsu Aoki.

<i>Fred Anderson Quartet Volume Two</i> 2000 live album by Fred Anderson

Fred Anderson Quartet Volume Two is a double album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson which was recorded live during the 1999 season at the Chicago club owned by Anderson, the Velvet Lounge, and released on the Asian Improv label. Anderson's Quartet features longtime partner drummer Hamid Drake, guitarist Jeff Parker and Asian American bassist Tatsu Aoki.

<i>Live in Wels & Chicago, 1998</i> 1999 live album by DKV Trio

Live in Wels & Chicago, 1998 is a double album by the DKV Trio, composed of drummer Hamid Drake, bassist Kent Kessler and reedist Ken Vandermark. The first CD was recorded live at the "Music Unlimited 98" Festival in Wels, while the second was recorded a few days later at the Velvet Lounge, the Chicago club owned by saxophonist Fred Anderson. The album was released on Okka Disk. All the music is improvised but the first disc is a six pieces suite based on Don Cherry's "Complete Communion'".

<i>On the Run, Live at the Velvet Lounge</i> 2001 live album by Fred Anderson

On the Run, Live at the Velvet Lounge is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson, which was recorded in 2000 at his Chicago club, the Velvet Lounge, and released on Delmark. He's backed by his regular rhythm section of bassist Tatsu Aoki and drummer Hamid Drake.

<i>Back at the Velvet Lounge</i> 2003 live album by Fred Anderson

Back at the Velvet Lounge is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson, which was recorded in 2002 and released on Delmark. This second installment on Bob Koester's label of live recordings made at Fred's own club, the Velvet Lounge, features the young trumpeter Maurice Brown making his first appearance on CD, Chicago Underground's guitarist Jeff Parker and drummer Chad Taylor, and bassists Tatsu Aoki and Harrison Bankhead.

<i>Timeless, Live at the Velvet Lounge</i> 2006 live album by Fred Anderson

Timeless, Live at the Velvet Lounge is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson, which was recorded in 2005 and released on Delmark. It was the third live recording on Bob Koester's label made at Fred's own club, the Velvet Lounge, shortly before the original venue's demolition and a month after Anderson was honored at the 2005 Vision Festival. He's backed by long-time associates, bassist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Hamid Drake. The event was also filmed and issued on DVD.

<i>21st Century Chase</i> 2009 live album by Fred Anderson

21st Century Chase is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson, which was recorded in 2009 and released on Delmark. This fourth live recording on Bob Koester's label made at Fred's own club, the Velvet Lounge, documents the finale to a week of concerts honoring Anderson's 80th birthday. He is joined by New Orleans saxophonist Kidd Jordan, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Chad Taylor. The last piece is dedicated to the AACM drummer Alvin Fielder. The event was also filmed and issued on DVD with a bonus track, “Gone But Not Forgotten”, with guess bassist Henry Grimes.

<i>A Night at the Velvet Lounge Made in Chicago 2007</i> 2009 live album by Fred Anderson

A Night at the Velvet Lounge Made in Chicago 2007 is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson which, despite its title, was recorded live in Poznań, Poland, at the second Made in Chicago Festival, and released by Estrada Poznańska, a small Polish cultural arts agency. Anderson is accompanied by bassist Harrison Bankhead and 8 Bold Souls drummer Dushun Mosley.

<i>Live at the Velvet Lounge Volume III</i> 2008 live album by Fred Anderson

Live at the Velvet Lounge Volume Three is an album by American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson which was recorded during the 2007 Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival at the club owned by Anderson, the Velvet Lounge, and released on the Asian Improv label. Anderson's Quartet features San Franciscan saxophonist Francis Wong, drummer Chad Taylor and bassist Tatsu Aoki.

<i>The Secret Escapades of Velvet Anderson</i> 2014 studio album by Nicole Mitchell

The Secret Escapades of Velvet Anderson is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell, which was recorded in 2013 and released on the French RogueArt label. It was the second recording by Sonic Projections, a quartet featuring pianist Craig Taborn, saxophonist David Boykin and drummer Chad Taylor. The album title is a tribute to Chicago saxophonist Fred Anderson and his Velvet Lounge club.

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<i>Velvet Songs</i> 2011 live album by Chicago Trio

Velvet Songs, is a double album by Chicago Trio, a collective jazz group consisting of saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, bassist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Hamid Drake. It was recorded live in 2008 at the Velvet Lounge, the club owned by saxophonist Fred Anderson, and released on the French RogueArt label.

Harrison Bankhead is an American jazz double-bassist.

References

  1. Datcher, Mary L. (May 2016). "Fair or Foul: Chicago's Black Nightlife Owners Speak Out". Chicago Defender. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  2. Ruby, Jeff (October 2001). The Official Chicago Bar Guide. Buckingham Books. ISBN   0963889311.
  3. Loehrke, Mark (June 29, 2010). "Chicago Says Goodbye to Velvet Lounge Owner and Jazz Icon Fred Anderson". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  4. Margasak, Peter (April 26, 2017). "Trumpeter Jaimie Branch finally spreads her wings". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved 13 May 2017.

See also