Travel

So we were lucky to be attending a concert by Riccardo Muti. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) opened the 2023/24 Season with two pieces by Muti capturing the fairy-tale splendor of Russian music. #riccardomuti #chicagosymphonyorchestra pic.twitter.com/zEiUSE8flM

— Notintown (@notintownlive) October 14, 2023

All that Jazz

A night before the larger-than-life Muti concert, I experienced something more intimate at the Winter’s Jazz Club- a performance by Andy Brown & Friends.

Andy Brown on guitar, Andy Pratt on vocal and guitar, Denis Luxion on piano, and Phil Gratteau on drums turned the small venue into some classy jazz hotspot.

Andy Brown on guitar, Andy Pratt on vocal and guitar, Denis Luxion on piano, and Phil Gratteau on drums turned the small venue into some classy jazz hotspot. Photo by the author.

I loved their gig and gathered more details about the performers. Andy Brown is a guitarist based in Chicago. Born in New York in 1975, he has played professionally for over twenty five years.  These discoveries about musicians in a foreign land are a part of my culturally enriching journeys across the world.

Since coming to Chicago in 2003, Andy has been performing at many of the area's finest jazz venues with his own bands, as well as playing his unique brand of solo jazz guitar.

So you can find him not just at Winter's Jazz Club, where in an intimate setting you quietly sip a glass of beer and watch him perform (1-Drink minimum purchase of $10/person). Look for him at places like The Jazz Showcase, Ravinia and the Harris Theater. He also plays solo guitar every Thursday at The Green Mill in Uptown and leads his quartet every Wednesday at Andy's Jazz Club.

Chicago, which is the birthplace of house music and Chicago-style jazz, knows how to keep the party going. While during my three-day stay this September I could experience a memorable Muti concert and an intimate jazz performance, I found some other neighbourhood details from the Choose Chicago website for visitors to pick.

Other music hotspots

In the culturally diverse Uptown, which has been an entertainment hotspot since the Roaring Twenties, some of the city’s most beloved music venues are located. It also boasts of one of Chicago’s oldest jazz clubs.

Green Mill, a Prohibition-era hideaway and a favorite of Al Capone, is here. Al Capone who? Known as "Scarface", he was an American gangster who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit, an organised Italian-American crime syndicate of the 1910-20s.

Locals love the Green Mill for its nightly jazz shows that keep the music going till late into the night.

Just around the corner, the Riviera Theatre is billed as a great place to catch popular national acts and indie bands.

Photo by Clayton Hauck/Choose Chicago

Wicker Park is another haven for artists and musicians, according to the website. You’ll find music venues all around the six corners (the heart of the neighborhood at the spot where North, Milwaukee, and Damen Avenues intersect), where you can see well-known acts or discover some of the latest local talent.

Logan Square is also a hipster hangout that locals love for its dive bars, art galleries, coffee shops, and cocktail lounges.

Then you have Lincoln Park, home to amazing music venues, all within a few blocks of each other near Halsted Street.

Pilsen is another spot known for its miles of colourful murals, rich Latino culture, and authentic Mexican cuisine. It’s also home to a vibrant nightlife, including the ultimate destination for music lovers — Thalia Hall, a landmark building that’s home to some of the city’s hottest bars and venues.

That magnificent Chicago night view

The vibrant music scene apart, Chicago of dizzying heights also energises visitors. From the  94th floor of a Chicago tower that night with a glass of Chardonnay wine at the bar, the feeling was fizzy, unreal and "life-is-good". So besides soulful music, if you want a real feel good time with your own glass of spirits and a magical city all around you, 360 CHICAGO is the place to head. After sundown, this top-of-the-world spot is not just touristy, but also classy.

The sweeping night view of the Windy City from 360 Chicago. Photo by the author.

At 360 CHICAGO, the guest experience begins at the ground floor with a walk-through exhibition celebrating Chicago’s history and three of its 77 culturally rich neighborhoods. Then take the elevators to the 94th floor where you’ll be greeted by breathtaking 360-degree views of Chicago’s famous skyline and majestic lakefront (it looks eerie during night) from the 17,000-square foot observation deck.