Concerts & Events

For the first time at Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago bassist and composer Kitt Lyles brings a new project to life bridging his distinctive jazz aesthetic with his Lebanese roots.Together with expert collaborators Ronnie Malley - oud, percussion Bryan Pardo - clarinet, Joaquin Garcia - piano, and Yuri Hevia - drums/percussion, Lyles will explore a bold repertoire of traditional songs from the Middle East, contemporary Arabic jazz, and new original works. Drawing on the unique expertise and musical experiences of his band members, from Arabic and Turkish Maqam to Chilean folkloric music, the band will together explore rhythms and melodies from across the Arabic speaking world and join those sounds with contemporary jazz, Afro-latin jazz, and South American folkloric music. Join us for this very special evening as we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, and wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a blessed Eid.

https://www.kittlylesmusic.com/bio

More About Kitt Lyles

Kitt Lyles is one of Chicago's most distinctive bassists and composers. Born and raised in South Carolina, Lyles has cultivated an aesthetic that synthesizes his love for Southern roots music with imaginative contemporary jazz. Unafraid to channel romance and grit alike and unwilling to sacrifice the centrality of melody, Lyles draws out the bass' most vocal personality. Through his lyrical compositional style, inspired by the musical lineage of Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington, he seeks to highlight his musicians' unique voices as well. His musical voice is prominently featured on his two albums of original music, Real Talk and Wake Before Dawn.

A graduate of Northwestern University (BM Jazz Studies, 2013), Kitt Lyles is an active performer, composer, and educator in the Chicago jazz community. He has been featured on 40+ studio recordings and toured and taught masterclasses across the US, Latin America, and Asia, including festivals and venues such as The Chicago Jazz Festival, The Hyde Park Jazz Festival, The Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, The Blue Note in Beijing and Shanghai, Blu Jazz Singapore, Zinco Jazz Club in Mexico City, Snug Harbor in New Orleans, and ShapeShifter Lab in NYC.