Kurt Elling/Photo: Ravinia Festival
During the early 1990s, Kurt Elling was in the final stages of the University of Chicago’s graduate program in divinity studies. He arrived looking for answers from “the great minds of the West,” but still had questions. Instead, Elling found them in jazz—specifically at the jam sessions at the South Side’s New Apartment Lounge, where the philosophy of Von Freeman won out over those of Kant and Kierkegaard. The rest, of course, is history. With a voice capable of reaching four octaves, and a repertoire that includes everything from dedicated covers of jazz standards to scatting that dazzles like a fireworks finale, Elling has gone on to become, as stated in the New York Times, “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time.”
Just some of his accolades include two Grammy Awards, fifteen Grammy nominations, fourteen consecutive top male vocalist honors in the DownBeat Readers Poll, appearances with the New York Philharmonic and BBC Symphony as well as the Count Basie Band, and worldwide recognition from the Academie du Jazz de Paris and similar institutions throughout Europe.
Elling will be appearing at the Ravinia Festival on June 15, where he’ll be celebrating the music of jazz greats Weather Report. Taking a break from his extensive tour of Europe, Elling talks about coming home and shares memories of his days at the New Apartment Lounge, the Green Mill and in Hyde Park.
“I was born in Chicago at what is now Northwestern Hospital, and we moved to Arlington Heights and then Rockford. I came back in around ’89 or so, specifically to go to the University of Chicago Divinity School,” Elling says as he prepares for a performance in Ermatingen, Switzerland. “My father was a church musician (a Lutheran Kapellmeister), so music was around, but it was all Bach, motets, four-part harmony. For a while, the example my dad set as a musician and a father really only led me to doing that type of music. But I needed to figure out my own lane—what I thought of things and which road I was going to go down.”
Elling attended Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where he sang in the choir and studied history and religion. After graduation, Elling still sought answers.
“I went to the University of Chicago to investigate hard philosophy,” Elling says. “I really wanted to know what the best minds of the West had figured out, and I needed a context, I needed a map. To some extent, I found it, but I realized that the mystery and questions are more germane and more fascinating than anybody’s answers.”
Elling sought relief from the task of term papers by attending local watering holes. But instead of “singles bars,” Elling’s curiosity led him to the now-closed New Apartment Lounge at 504 East 75th Street, where legendary Chicago saxman Von Freeman held court.
“I would go down and hit Von’s place as often as I could, and try to absorb the energy or at least be a part of it,” Elling says. “I found another great place for jazz called Alexander’s Steakhouse [formerly at 3010 East 79th Street]. That was on Wednesday nights, and Eddie Johnson would play there with Paul Serrano, George Hughes, Eddie de Haas. In both cases, I was awestruck by the innate generosity of the players and their musical nobility and wisdom. It was so appealing to me. ”
Elling had developed a passing interest in jazz in college, listening to the vocals of the Mills Brothers or the piano of Dave Brubeck, but the young Elling saw that many major figures like Count Basie and Charlie Parker had passed away. However, when he came to Chicago he began to see jazz as a living art form, and after many nights watching “Vonski” decided on his life’s path.
“It didn’t happen all at once, but I do remember one day, after I had been at Von Freeman’s place until two or three in the morning,” Elling says. “The next day the professor calls me into his office and says, [speaking in a faux German accent] ‘Mr. Ellink, I have read your papers many times, and I have come to the conclusion that you do not know vat you are talkink about.'”
Although he never received formal musical training, Elling’s dedication to studying and honoring the jazz greats, combined with his perfectionist nature, led to a quick rise to—what is for the jazz world—stardom. In 1995, Elling recorded a demo with Laurence Hobgood, Dave Onderdonk, Eric Hochberg, Rob Amster and Paul Wertico. Within months, Elling was not only signed to a deal with Blue Note, but his debut album, “Close Your Eyes,” was nominated for a Grammy Award for best jazz vocal performance. His career continued to soar as fast and high as his high-wire scatting. Elling’s Green Mill shows went from Monday nights to sold-out weekend shows. A short time later, he was traveling the world, performing at festivals and major symphonies on five continents. As his career rose, so did his domicile, as the now-married Elling purchased a Hyde Park condominium from Barack Obama.
“He was my state senator at the time and his books were taking off, so he was moving on,” Elling says. “My wife and I were expecting so we moved in, but we noticed there were some signals left behind and we said, ‘was this their apartment?’”
Elling’s success lies mainly in his religious devotion to jazz traditions, but his image did not hurt. Often sporting a double-breasted jacket with a silk handkerchief in the pocket, paired with casual slacks or even jeans, Elling has cast his own modern take on the traditional tuxedo-wearing jazz crooner. Combine this with a square jaw, slicked back hair and eyes that can change from a thoughtful gaze to intense scare, and there is nary a Hollywood actor that could better portray the “cool jazz guy.”
But Elling often winks at both his own persona and the sometimes elitist expectations of jazz audiences. His group, SuperBlue, occasionally throws in songs by ZZ Top or AC/DC, and Elling once opened a show in the Netherlands with Eddie Money’s “Baby Hold On To Me.” The audience registered a look of shock and surprise, like a retriever looking back at an owner who had only pretended to toss a ball.
Weather Report Live at Shinjuku Kosei Nenkin Hall, June 11 1981/Photo: Jun Tendo
For his show at Ravinia on June 15, Elling will be visiting another one of his musical holy grails, the work of Weather Report. Known for their groundbreaking sound in the 1960s and seventies, the band’s combination of free jazz, electronic funk and virtuoso solos by members like Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and Jaco Pastorius presents a daunting challenge for a vocalist.
“I have recorded some of their compositions in past interactions so I have had some of their better-known compositions in my book,” says Elling, who will be joined by former Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine for the show. “So now it’s just a matter of ramping up, essentially—getting some of the faster tempo stuff. Weather Report is such an iconic group, and it is kind of a thing for a singer to take that stuff on. I am happy to be the guy who puts his neck out.”
But it may be Elling’s modesty, respect and devotion to his art that will transform Weather Report’s repertoire into another of Elling’s memorable performances at Ravinia.
“It’s preposterous that I get to do this with my life, given my expectations,” Elling says. “So I embrace it with every effort that I can—to do the best work that I can. Every minute of this work is filled with gratitude and respect for the people who came before me.”
Kurt Elling performs on June 15, featuring Peter Erskine, with special guests Steans Jazz Fellows, at Ravinia Festival, 201 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park. Event begins at 6:30pm. For more information and tickets, visit ravinia.org.
