This Saturday marked the fourth annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and it’s amazing to think that this event has only been happening for the past four years–it seems like a natural fit for the neighborhood, and it gets a great turnout.

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It was really great to check out local jazz in my (new) ‘hood, and we were treated to a smorgasbord of local artists, including Chicago jazz great Larry Gray. Larry is a giant in the world of jazz, especially here in Chicago, and he’s fantastic both as an accompanist (awesome and sensitive bass lines) and soloist. He tore it up this Saturday with Willie Pickens at the Hyde Park Union Church, which was packed to capacity (we were stuck up against the back wall with some grumpy Brits who couldn’t get a good view).

If you haven’t seen Larry play before, you really should–here’s a video of him playing at Room 43 in the North Kenwood/Oakland neighborhood (I live about seven blocks south of here in South Kenwood). Check him out live if you get a chance–he’s one heck of a bassist:

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