The Evolution of Jazz Standards - An Avant-Garde Experience

The N'Namdi Center welcomes Ernest Dawkins and the New Horizon Quartet to close out Black History Month through the celebration of jazz. The doors will open at 6:00 PM; the soul food buffet with a cash bar will open at 6:30 PM; and the concert will begin at 7:00 PM.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ernest Dawkins is recognized as one of the world's top saxophonists and composers. His music reflects the ongoing story of the African American experience. Some of his recent major works are Great Black Music (2025), created for the 60th anniversary of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM); Paul Robeson: Man of the People (2024); Tim Black, Blacker Than Black (2022); Refound Connections (2021); and Redefining Frederick Douglass (2020). Dawkins has worked with artists around the world, including on the MacArthur-funded Englewood to Soweto project in South Africa in 2019. He also created Quantum Englewood, which won the 2016 Joyce Award. Dawkins is the Executive Director of Live the Spirit Residency, a former Chairman of the AACM, performs internationally, and leads a weekly jam session at Norman's Bistro in Chicago.

Dawkins stands out as one of Chicago's most creative and dedicated saxophonists. With decades of experience in both traditional and experimental jazz, he brings a unique perspective to every performance. Through his work with the AACM and as leader of the Ernest Dawkins New Horizons Ensemble, he connects jazz's rich history with its exciting future.

This performance explores how jazz standards have changed from their beginnings to today's fresh interpretations. Dawkins treats these well-known songs as living music, open to bold new ideas and creative changes. The concert starts with familiar versions of classic jazz standards, helping the audience connect with well-known tunes and harmonies.

As the show goes on, Dawkins breaks these songs apart, using new techniques, creative structures, and plenty of improvisation. Dawkins' style reflects the AACM's belief that jazz must continue to evolve to remain meaningful. This concert shows how classic songs can inspire endless creativity while staying true to jazz's spirit of innovation and personal expression.

Listeners will hear familiar songs transformed into new and unexpected sounds. This experience invites everyone to keep an open mind and enjoy jazz as an art form that is always growing and never limited by old rules. The performance pushes the boundaries of melody, rhythm, and form, while showing how jazz standards can still spark fresh musical possibilities.

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Host or Publisher The N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art