For the past twenty-five years with five albums as a leader, several studio projects as a side man, and countless worldwide performances, saxophonist, vocalist and composer Juli Wood has established herself as a solid, swinging, lyrical and entertaining performer on Chicago’s music scene. Juli has played many jazz clubs and festivals nationally and internationally; Chicago Jazz Fest, Hyde Park Jazz Fest, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, Chicago’s main jazz clubs – Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Andy’s and Katerina’s. Skansen Jazz and Blues (Stockholm , Sweden), Pori Jazz Fest (Finland), Bent J’s club (Aarhus, Denmark), Storyville (Helsinki Finland), Arlandia Jazz Fest (Aaland Islands, Finland) and the ” Made in Chicago ” jazz festival in Poznan Poland to name a few. Juli is in the tradition of saxophonists who were also great vocalists; Cleanhead Vincent, Eddie Harris, and Louis Jordan.
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Jazz Therapy Sessions at the Nash
Juli Wood-sax, Mike Kocour-B3 organ, Jeff Libman-guitar, Dom Moio-drums
Chicago-based Juli Wood is an accomplished alto, tenor, and baritone saxophonist who loves to sing! She has entertained around the world at jazz festivals and clubs and has performed extensively throughout the Midwest. “(Juli) Wood…owns a big and burly tone on tenor, her husky sound, deep rhythmic accents and prolific phrase making consistently commanding attention.”– HOWARD REICH, CHICAGO TRIBUNE. This show is one of a few joyous musical reunions with fellow-Chicagoan Mike Kocour, aided and abetted by swinging bandmates Libman and Moio.
Little Rootie Tootie Rides Again!
Fulton Street Collective is proud to team up with WDCB Radio to present Juli Wood’s LITTLE ROOTIE TOOTIE Thelonious Monk Tribute on Monday, January 18th.
Reviews
Local saxophonist Juli Wood pays homage to her Finnish roots on her new album
Chicago saxophonist Juli Wood is clearly a fan of that Farmer album as well. Today is the release date of an impressive quartet album called Synkkä Metsä(OA2)—the title is Finnish for “dark forest”—which was inspired by the Farmer album. The mixture of Finnish, Karelian, and Aland Islands traditional songs are probably more ingrained in Wood’s makeup than those Swedish melodies were for Farmer, though—her grandparents were all Finnish immigrants.
Juli Wood Quartet: Synkka Metsa (Dark Forest)
Chicago’s Juli Wood—who plays multiple reeds, but sticks to the tenor saxophone here—explores her Finnish heritage on Synkka Metsa, a collection of Finnish folk songs. Inspired by trumpeter Art Farmer’s Scandinavian foray, To Sweden with Love (Atlantic Records, 1964), that featured quartet with Jim Hall on guitar, Wood employes her own quartet here, with bassist Clark Sommers sitting in on bass, Alejandro Urzagaste on guitar and Mike Schlick on drums.