The Price of Keeping Jazz Alive in Chicago

The Price of Keeping Jazz Alive in Chicago

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When it comes to jazz, Chicago pretty much has it all! We’ve got a rich jazz history, lots of great musicians, some well-known clubs – not to mention a large annual jazz festival. Still our jazz scene hasn’t avoided the financial troubles hitting most of the music industry. So what is it like to be a working jazz musician in this city? Do the clubs and the city and – dare we say it – the media do right by our jazz legacy? We talk with two people on the scene. Steven Saltzman is the former President of the Jazz Institute of Chicago and currently serves on the board, and Kevin Nabors fronts several local jazz ensembles.