The 58th Morgan Park Summer Music Festival

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The Morgan Park Summer Music Festival is celebrating it’s 58th season this year.

Each summer, the volunteer committee raises money through donations to put on the free concert series adored by the community. This year, the series opened with Swingtime Big Band, a 20-piece swing era jazz ensemble. Led by Steve Shaiman with vocalists Jerry Costanzo and Bobbie Ruth, Swingtime presents hits from the Great American Songbook, as made famous by Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton and other big band icons.

A highlight of Swingtime Big Band’s Morgan Park opening concert was a salute to Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Rich, each of whom would be celebrating a 100th birthday this year if they were still alive. Vocalists Costanzo and Ruth also payed tribute to the late Ella Fitzgerald and late Dean Martin, each of whom would have been 100 this year.

The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. every Sunday in July and August. For more information visit http://www.morganparkmusic.org.