Umbrella Music Festival

Joe McPhee

It’s not getting any easier for artists to enter this country. Recent gig cancellations from international acts like the Very Best and Australia’s Roger Knox are only the latest examples of musicians denied entry. So we’re relieved to welcome back this intimate multivenue jazz fest, in its fourth year, presented by the trusty Umbrella Music collective.

The cross-cultural program kicks off with a bang, taking over the Chicago Cultural Center (Thursday 5) with a free program of six concerts, including sets from Swiss reedist Hans Koch and Swedish guitarist David Stackenäs, splashing sound around with local scene standbys (see Listings for complete lineups). A solo set from Radian percussionist Martin Brandlmayr precedes the unrestrained trio of Germany’s Frank Gratkowski (reeds), Achim Kaufmann (piano) and brilliant Dutch bassist Wilbert de Joode, swimming in amorphous sound.

Avant-garde pianist Matthew Shipp stretches out at Elastic (Friday 6), before sax heavy Roscoe Mitchell, filling in for Bobby Bradford, fronts a quartet of local players. A high-energy set at the Hideout (Saturday 7) welcomes a special edition of Mike Reed’s People, Places and Things, featuring Mitchell on the front line. Japanese alto-sax warrior Akira Sakata follows in his Chicago debut, supported by Tortoise’s Jeff Parker and John Herndon, anchored by bassist Nate McBride.

Arguably the most ambitious and anticipated lineups appear at the Hungry Brain (Sunday 8), beginning with Chikamorachi, the mind-bending trio of Sakata, former Dazzling Killmen bassist Darin Gray and drummer Chris Corsano, who’s lent his considerable skills to Björk and members of Sonic Youth. The improv proceedings peak with Topology, a nine-piece big band playing tunes by Joe McPhee arranged by Ken Vandermark, both of whom blow hard in this fierce face-off.

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