On Saturday night I went downtown to check out the Velvet Lounge. Jabari Liu, a six-piece jazz ensemble, were playing that night. Here is a picture I stole from the web:

The bloke playing sax on the right wasn't there but the other two were. The fellow in the white shirt introduced all the members but I couldn't really hear their names. All up there was a trumpet, a bigger trumpet (maybe it was a cornet?), sax, electric guitar, double bass, and drums.

The songs were great and really energetic and there were plenty of wailing crescendos and harmonies which split apart into cacophonic improvised melodies which then merged together again. After a little while a second guitarist arrived and played a solo. He was young but quite good and the band members were giving him lots of encouragement. There was one song where the two guitarists improvised against each other while the wind players took a break at the bar. Also later on the drummer played a mesmerising solo. The saxophonist in the white shirt then came on to play some jazzy Christmas song which I really liked. However he didn't seem to rate his performance and the drummer called out "if you don't know it, then don't play it." They finished off the session with a loud and bold piece with everybody playing, but I can't remember what it was.

I decided not to stay for the second session since hardly anyone was there (maybe because it was Xmas eve). In fact by that time I think it was just myself, the band, the barman, and the manager.

So this I think was a successful first stop on my musical tour of Chicago. Unfortunately it's a solo tour because I can't find anyone interested in going out. Nonetheless, tomorrow I am going to see Mustard Plug at the MIDWEST SKAFEST 2005.