Mike Reed’s Chicago Inspirations

Friday, May 1, 2026

The Magic Box: Music inspired by the Chicago bassist Fred Hopkins Drummer-composer Mike Reed explores the legacy of Chicago bassist and AACM member Fred Hopkins with new works, including a commission by Henry Threadgill. Performed by a powerhouse ensemble of fellow Chicago improvisers, the program reflects Hopkins’ deep influence on avant-garde jazz. The City Was Yellow: Chicago Jazz & Improvised Music 1980-2010 Saxophonist Geof Bradfield and talented high-school jazz musicians open the concert with music composed in Chicago between 1980 and 2010, a transformative era of risk-taking within the city’s jazz scene. Curated by Mike Reed, Owner and Director, Chicago’s Constellation and Hungry Brain