AIRMW Presents the 31st Annual Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival!

Please join us as we welcome back the Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival to Elastic Arts, curated by our friends at Asian Improv aRts Midwest! Night one will include a set from Seiji “Wabi” Yuguchi, followed by a set from the MIYUMI Reduction Quintet.

Wabi is a blues harp player that’s been living in Chicago since 1989. His first real blues influence, Sonny Blake (Vo & Harp), introduced him to how to play blues harp in Memphis 1989. He learned about rhythm and blues basics from musician Phineas Newborn (played piano on Big Walter "Mouth Harp Maestro" album) who at that time was the organ player in Sonny Blake's band. After moving to Chicago he sat-in and played with many Blues musicians like the Aces (Louis & Dave Myers on Chicago's south side) and Billy Branch & Sons of Blues band. As a result, he was influenced by musicians such as Junior Wells, Lefty Dizz, James Cotton and Billy Branch.

Tatsu Aoki originally conceived Reduction as a creative response to the popular taiko drumming stripped of its musical elements. Reduction argues for upholding the beauty in taiko performance and for its connectivity to aesthetics and musicality. The Reduction Quartet is the musical extension of this philosophy, members from the current Miyumi Project: Tatsu Aoki(Bass), Mwata Bowden(Winds), Jamie Kempkers(Cello), Robbie Hunsinger (winds), and Kioto Aoki(Taiko, Percussion) , synthesize and weave their vibe with their ‘by popular demand’ appearance at the 31st Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival.

$20 / $10 w/ Student ID - Tickets Available at the Door