Yesterday the Jazz Institute of Chicago announced that Heather Ireland Robinson, director of the Beverly Arts Center from 2014 till 2017, will take the helm of the venerable jazz-advocacy organization on Thursday, March 1. She replaces outgoing JIC executive director Lauren Deutsch, who’s held the position since 1996.

Tomeka Reid:

       She later gave me an opportunity to intern at the Jazz Institute when I had just finished college.  There wasn’t a formal internship program, but she worked with me to create a position in the education department of JIC to work under Diane Chandler-Marshall.  I was a part of the team for four more years as a part-time education associate. In those five years as a staff member, I had a chance to get to know Lauren as a collaborative leader.  She listens to students, to educators, to staff, to musicians, and she allowed the mission of JIC to adapt and grow in accordance with the needs of our jazz community. Even as an intern, Lauren made me feel like an important member of her team.

       Lauren’s support for the jazz community is radically holistic. She’s championed both the elder statesmen and women of Chicago jazz and the youngest students of the music. She cares about jazz education and the people who teach jazz. She brings the music to venues all over Chicago. She connects generations of musicians to one another. She documents the evolving jazz scene. That kind of full-picture advocacy for jazz has strongly impacted my personal trajectory as a musician and educator. Lauren models for me what it looks like to be involved in the next generation of this music as well as cherish and celebrate the legacy of the music that has come before me.


 She initiated the Made in Chicago festival in Poznan, which brought Chicago jazz artists each year to Poland, and then helped initiated Made in Chicago in Millennium Park. JIC’s action never stops all year round, and Lauren has been right in the middle of it!  She’s been a great friend, mentor, and for myself and many artists, a dream facilitator.  I don’t know anyone who loves the music more than Lauren or who listens wider.  Wherever the music be/was—whether at the Jazz Showcase, the Velvet Lounge, Constellation, Green Mill, with the AACM, Asian Improv Arts Midwest—Lauren is listening, photographing, celebrating right there with you.

Today’s playlist: