Best of Chicago 2020: Culture/Nightlife
Edited by Scoop Jackson & Tara Betts
October 29, 2020
Best Innovative Use of Space by a Music Event
Back Alley Jazz
This year’s Back Alley Jazz was a smaller happening, with Sam Trump and Radius and other acts playing on the 7300 block of Paxton, or Isaiah Collier and The Chosen Few kicking it out on 79th Street. But it continues a tradition that goes back to fifties, sixties, and seventies jazz alley jams. Revitalized three years ago by Norman Teague and Fo Wilson, founders of design studio BLKHaUS, it’s co-organized by Jonita and Jeannine Sharpe with Gail Mangrum. “We thought it would just be neighborhood folks or folks on the block and that’s not what happened,” says Mangrum, who saw attendees flock to the revived event, and anticipates it growing. “Next year, we want to add more hosts to what we have now.” (Michael Workman)