ANDERSONVILLE — After seeing a rapid-rise in requests at food pantries several years ago, Catholic priest John Moulder decided to use his love for performing jazz to help raise money by creating the Chi-Town Jazz Festival.
"In 2010, we were experiencing a major downturn in the economy," said Moulder, of St. Gregory the Great Church, at 5545 N. Paulina St. "It was really bringing those two aspects together."
The festival, now in its seventh year, runs in various locations March 6-12 and will visit the Green Mill, at 4802 N. Broadway, Saturday. The schedule includes the Tammy McCann Quartet at 8 p.m., Steve Million and Sara Marie Young Quintet at 9:30 p.m. and John Moulder and Friends at 11 p.m. Tickets for the show are $20 and available for purchase here.
Moulder said he based the festival on the JVC Jazz Festival, which held jazz performances in big names cities in the US and overseas from 1984-2008.
The festival "has been a catalyst for raising awareness and funding agencies committed to Chicago-area hunger relief." Last year's festival raised $46,000 and in total the festival has raised $178,000, according to a press release.
This year, the festival hopes to exceed $200,000 in total donations, considering the economic need in Chicago, Moulder said.
"In Illinois, the budget impasse is causing a growing funding crisis for numerous not-for-profit organizations trying to help those in need," the release said, adding that neither the venues nor the performers are being paid.
Last year, the festival donated 86 percent of the proceeds to hunger-relief organizations. The remaining funds are used to expand "the next festival and its revenue potential for continued charitable contributions," the release said.
Moulder played jazz music through high school and college or "for much of my life." While the festival has received a lot of support from the congregation at St. Gregory the Great, "a lot of people are not aware I'm a priest" when Moulder plays, but the response is almost always positive, he said.
"When I'm a jazz musician, I'm just trying to play and take in the merits of that," said Moulder.
McCann "is an internationally recognized Jazz Vocalist who’s powerful, sultry, and emotionally charged voice paints pictures and tells stories by merging Classical vocal technique and Gospel esthetic with Jazz to create a sound that is completely her own." She has been named Best Jazz Vocal Performer several times by the Tribune, according to her website.
Million is a jazz pianist and composer, who's live in Chicago since 1988, according to his website. Young is a jazz and soul vocalist from Indianapolis.
The festival takes place at seven different venues including: Jazz Showcase, Symphony Center, Andy's Jazz Club and PianoForte. Headliners include: Howard Levy, Bruce Barth, Bobby Broom, Eric Schneider, Frank Cantalano, Jim Gailoreto and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Reginald Robinson.
For the full schedule of venues and artist click here.
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