Goldstar

Omar Sosa is one of the most versatile jazz artists on the scene today. He fuses world music and electronic elements with his native Afro-Cuban roots to create a fresh and original urban sound--all with a Latin jazz heart. On stage, Sosa's a charismatic figure, inspiring fellow musicians with his dynamic approach full of raw emotional power and humor, invariably inspiring audiences to stand and join him in chorus vocals with spontaneity and connection. Learn more...

Haale was born in New York City, of Iranian descent and grew up as many first generation kids do: with two cultures. Haale's music emerges from this early sonic landscape, drawing from both 60's psychedelic rock and traditional Sufi music. Whether singing her own lyrics in English, or those of mystical Iranian poets in Persian, Haale's cinematic music is woven through a trance-inducing tapestry of percussion, strings and shimmering electric guitars. Learn more...

Guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque enjoys a career that spans the spectrum of musical styles. Moving easily between jazz and classical guitar, Fareed's versatility has created a demand for him with prominent jazz and classical artists. He is also noted as a band leader, having released seven albums. His most recent, the critically acclaimed Cosmic Hug, is available on Magnatude Records. Learn more...

Sones de México is Chicago's premier Mexican folk music group. The group formed in 1994 to keep the tradition of Mexican music and dance alive, and current and fresh at the same time. For their 13th Anniversary Celebration at HotHouse, the group will be joined by the Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble (CALJE) horn section. Learn more...

Benin's explosive and colorful Gangbé Brass Band explores the rich voodoo culture and ancient songs of their native country. This exotic ensemble is inspired by traditional songs and rhythms featuring saxophones and trumpets, fused with euphonium, African percussion and warm, melodic vocals. Their energetic and vibrant performances create trance-inducing rhythms that resonate on the dance floor. Learn more...

A witty entertainer and inventive explorer of the commonalities between African-rooted music and the music of Japan, jazz/blues band leader, singer, pianist, and chanteuse Yoko Noge and her amiable, soulful band, Jazz Me Blues, are known for their ability to belt out a boogie and fill a dance floor! Jazz Me Blues members include former Count Basie Band member John Watson, legendary Chicago musician Jimmy Ellis, Chicago Tribune's 2001 Man of the Year Tatsu Aoki, sweet and swinging Clark Dean, and the wonderful Avreeayl Ra. Learn more...

Danny Hoch, a two-time Obie Award-winning hip-hop theater pioneer and the founder of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival in NYC, joins Marc Bamuthi Joseph in The Spoken World, an evening-length examination of the impact of hip hop on contemporary theater. Both are considered masters in the spoken word, poetry and hip-hop worlds, and will both present poetry and moderate a discussion. Learn more...

This 80th Birthday Celebration tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane will showcase the work of two of jazz's most significant icons. "The Latin Side Of..." features a multi-Grammy-nominated, power-packed septet composed of some of today's most formidable Latin jazz players, with co-leaders Conrad Herwig and Brian Lynch. Learn more...

Let the rhythm move you at Noche Tropical, a night of sizzling live music and dancing--including free dance lessons! Papo Santiago started his musical journey in Ponce, the birthplace of some of the most celebrated musicians in Latin music history. He has performed with the upper brass of Afro-Caribbean music, including Fania All-Stars, La Sonora Ponceña, Ismael Miranda, Marvin Santiago, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez and more. Learn more...

The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, led by Nicaraguan-born pianist Darwin Noguera and Mexican-born trumpeter Victor Garcia, spotlights the diverse music of Latin America, while also providing a platform to spotlight the passion and skill of some of Chicago's most talented interpreters of Jazz and Latin music. Learn more...

DJ Le Spam and the Spam Allstars blend improvisational electronic elements and turntables with latin, funk, hip hop and dub to create a sound that is unique - an electronic descarga. In the last year, the band had the privilege of performing and recording with legendary saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, and they were also invited to appear with superstar Daddy Yankee for his MTV $2 Bill show. Learn more...

Combining the dynamism and energy of Japanese and Korean drumming with jazz bass and improvisation, Tatsu Aoki and his award-winning Miyumi Project combine the distinct music of the East and West in a way that explores each musical tradition's unique nature--and amplifies their brilliance. Learn more...

Close your eyes and you'll think that you're in the tropics when you hear the Brazilian sounds of Chicago Samba. Open them and you'll probably make a beeline for the dance floor. Want to learn some new moves? Edilson Lima will offer free lessons at intermission. Learn more...

Let the rhythm move you at Noche Tropical, a night of sizzling live music and dancing. Bassist Richie Pillot's Havana is one of Chicago's best representations of Afro Cuban music. Add another local treasure, Costa Rican Sonero Franklin Paz, and you have a combo ready to jump-start any dance floor with rumba grooves, jam solos and improvisational singing. Free dance lessons start at 9:30. Learn more...

Chicago salsero Wille Gomez is the leader of one of the hottest local classic Latin orchestras, playing modern arrangements of salsa and mambo music with an emphasis on African rhythms. Experience yesterday's sounds today as the band transforms the dance floor into a tropical paradise. Learn more...

With its superbly performed arrangements of tango classics, Tiempo Tango Chicago performs with originality and style. Their repertoire is unique and flexible. While their mission is to perform tangos, milongas and waltzes, they also offer jazz standards (Cole Porter, Duke Ellington), Brazilian music (bossa nova, samba, choro) and even classical and holiday music, as cortinas, full dance sets or as a mixture. Prior to the performance, there will be free tango dance lessons for audience members. Learn more...

One of Chicago's premier dance bands, Ghanatta Internationale mingles the sounds of reggae, Hi-Life, sokous and jazz to create an international cuisine of sounds. Leader Dan Boadi, Ghana's longtime favorite, is committed to establishing African music not only as a source for, but also an important fixture in contemporary world music. There will also be DJ's spinning vintage African, Hi-Life and soukous throughout the night. Learn more...

Jazz instrumentalist and composer Corey Wilkes comes to Hothouse for a soothing, soulful concert. Wilkes' sophisticated sound has been winning favor with audiences at some of the most renowned clubs and festivals in the world, and can be found on numerous projects ranging from jazz to hip-hop. Learn more...

It's a night of Afro-Cuban classics and Latin rhythms that's sure to get audiences dancing! Samuel Del Real's salsa roots run deep. At the age of 16 he began his career as a pianist for The legendary Pacho Galan Orchestra. In 1979 Samuel joined La Dimension Latina, a famous Venezuelan Latin-salsa band. Samuel became arranger for people as Oscar D' Leon, Andy Montanez and other giants of the Latin America musical scene. Learn more...

Hothouse presents the Occidental Brothers' Dance Band International in concert. The group plays classic African popular and dance music of the 1960's, including Congolese rumba and "dry guitar," West African Highlife, S. African Marabi, some Chimurenga and other gems from the great continent. The band brings their experience as jazz players to this idiom in rousing and faithful renditions of great songs from Mwenda Jean Bosco, Nicolas "Dr. Nico" Kasanda, Franco and more - the Golden Age of the Guitar. Also appearing on the bill will be Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls, led by acclaimed local drummer-composer Sirota. Learn more...

Hothouse presents a screening of the acclaimed documentary Darfur Diaries, about the tragedy currently taking place in the African nation of Sudan. The film will be followed by a fundraiser, featuring music provided by DJ Eric Williams of Silver Room. Learn more...

Chicago Samba, a seven-piece band, plays the most authentic Brazilian dance music in the Midwest including Samba, Bossa Nova, Olodum, Forro, Choro, Pagode and Batucada. Energetic and creative, the music of Chicago Samba transports you to the tropics, where you'll find it difficult to resist dancing. Wild dance lessons by Edilson Lima will be given at intermission. Learn more...

The New York Times compared the arrival of cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto in the U.S. to the landing of an asteroid. His groundbreaking drumming techniques have had a powerful impact on the Latin and jazz music scenes both locally and internationally. Now his red-hot quintet is performing at Hothouse. Learn more...

A third generation member of music's great Valdes family, Chuchito Valdes will give a solo piano concert and lecture on the history of Afro-Cuban Jazz piano and the legacy of his family's role on the genre. The program will be in Spanish (translated into English), and will be enjoyed by both music students and fans of all ages. Learn more...

Timbales player Bobby Matos brings his experimental brand of Afro-Cuban jazz to HotHouse with the New York Latin Jazz All-Stars. From playing bohemian cafes in the '60s to touring with artists like Bette Midler and Jim Croce, Matos developed his own style, blending Afro-Cuban music with influences from artists like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Tito Puente. Aguzate.org DJs will also be spinning classic salsa and Latin jazz tunes throughout the evening. Learn more...

Thanks to Buena Vista Social Club and other recent events, Toronto knows that Cuba is home to an incredibly rich musical tradition. Toronto soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader Jane Bunnett has built her career at the crossroads between Cuban music and jazz. Twice nominated for Grammy awards and a fixture of the nominations for Canada's Juno awards, she has turned her bands into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the United States, and Cuba. Learn more...

The freshness of these beautiful, open melodies, both from the traditional Mongolian repertoire as well as new compositions by Roswell Rudd, provides a unique acoustical flavor. Their music is very accessible, old yet modern in its sound. The Mongolian instruments and the trombone create a sound that is the ideal acoustic realization of these Central Asian colors. Their music will remind the listener of American folk and aspects of the blues. Learn more...

Azucena Vega of Spain brings her brilliant flamenco to Hothouse for a night full of the spirit of Spain. Some of her memorable performances include those with Charles Mingus at Carnegie Hall (1976) Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas (1979), the performances on The Ed Sullivan Show (1963 - 1965) and also those with Jose Greco. Learn more...

Hothouse presents a CD release party for Frequency, a new quartet showcasing the improvisational talents of four longtime members of Chicago's storied underground jazz scene. Featuring Nicole Mitchell, Edward Wilkerson, Harrison Bankhead, and Avreeayl Ra. Their debut album is out on Thrill Jockey this month. Learn more...

Roscoe Mitchell is one of the most significant musicians of his generation. One of the founders of the legendary Art Ensemble of Chicago, Roscoe Mitchell is a strong and consistently adventurous improviser. He has recorded 87 albums and has written more than 250 compositions ranging from classical to contemporary, from free jazz to ornate chamber music. In this special Jazz Fest Aftersets show, he is accompanied by his Chicago quartet--Corey Wilkes, Harrison Bankhead, and Vincent Davis. Learn more...

The Jazz Institute's Jazz Club Tour, for the 22nd year, kicks off the Chicago Jazz Festival by giving audiences an opportunity to sample a wide range of music. Featuring the Paul Wertico Trio and Goran Ivanovic Group. Paul Wertico is a world-class, all-around drummer who put in two decades with the celebrated guitar hero Pat Metheny (resulting in 10 memorable recordings and seven Grammy Awards). 26-year-old Goran Ivanovic was a child prodigy in his native town of Osijek, near the Hungarian border in Croatia, and is now one of the foremost guitarists of his generation. Learn more...

Led by the venerable pianist/composer/arranger Chuchito Valdes, the Afro-Cuban Ensemble performs contemporary Afro-Cuban originals along with arrangements of classic Cuban standards written by his esteemed father, the legendary Cuban pianist Jesus "Chucho" Valdes. The ensemble peppers their sets with Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz standards, intelligent originals and infectious dance classics. Learn more...

Coming out of the L.A. Underground, Very Be Careful is a fresh, hot group that plays what they call "Vallenato Fury." Led by a classic Columbian accordion, driven by percussion and bass, their music is original, energetic and incredibly danceable. Also performing will be Carpacho y su Supercombo, with a Cumbia DJ spinning after the set. Learn more...