"The Orbert Davis residency demonstrates the Jazz Institute’s commitment to provide support and opportunities for Chicago’s jazz musicians,” said Lauren Deutsch, the Jazz Institute’s executive director. “It not only incorporates Mr. Davis’ musical talent, but also recognizes, honors, and explores the contributions he has made to the whole community, including his dedication to using jazz as a vehicle for strengthening the academic and cultural foundation of our city’s youth.”

The Davis residency will consist of four festival performances at three different venues, including the world premiere of a commissioned composition on the main stage of the Chicago Jazz Festival, which the Jazz Institute organizes every year during Labor Day weekend.

The Joyce grant will also help the Jazz Institute launch an endowment fund campaign, expand board leadership, build its individual donor base, and support its popular young musicians program, Jazz Links.

The Jazz Institute was founded in 1969 by jazz fans, writers, club owners, and musicians who came together to preserve the historical roots of Chicago’s jazz music. It supports the creation of new music through commissions, sustains active artists by supporting performances, and nurtures emerging talents.

The Jazz Institute also develops new audiences for jazz through its jazz education programs in Chicago Public Schools. And it continues to serve as a central resource for Chicago’s jazz community. For more than 30 years, the Institute has programmed the Chicago Jazz Festival and co-curates the Joyce-supported “Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz,” a summer concert series in Millennium Park.

More information on Joyce’s Culture Program.