Ravinia 2021 - Issue 2

PREVIOUS PAGE AND THIS PAGE: RAVINIA/PATRICK GIPSON It was definitely the most complicated year to program in my career. JUST SOLVING THE IMMEDIATE challenges Haydon faced when he began his duties, including helping to formulate a reopening plan for 2021, would have been more than enough to keep anyone busy. But as he accomplished those tasks, with the festival announcing in March its return to live music this summer, he managed to begin putting at least a lit- tle of his own imprint on the festival’s programming as well, starting with a renewed emphasis on jazz, a diversi- fication of the festival’s offerings, and the unveiling of a new series. He made a point to add the July 25 performance featuring the Jazz at Lin- coln Center Orchestra with Branford Marsalis, the renowned saxophonist who gained widespread fame as the leader of The Tonight Show band in 1992–95. (Marsalis’s brother Wynton, the trumpeter and composer who serves as artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, was originally sched- uled to appear with the orchestra, but he had to bow out because of schedul- ing conflicts.) “Despite the pandemic and despite everyone’s complicated schedules, it worked out beautifully,” Haydon said of the ensemble’s visit, “so I’m thrilled that they are coming here.” The Lincoln Center Orchestra has appeared five times previously at Ravinia, including most recently in 2016, but don’t be surprised if it makes more frequent visits under the new president’s leadership. At the same time, Haydon also tapped into the local scene with Chicago-based Kurt Elling, an in- ternationally known jazz singer who took the Carousel Stage July 13 with guitarist Charlie Hunter. “Chicago has a very deep history of jazz, so since we’re in the Chicagoland community, jazz should have a strong footprint,” Haydon said. He noted Ravinia’s history with Ramsey Lewis, a lifelong Chicagoan and Grammy-winning pianist, who first appeared at the fes- tival in 1966 and served as its artistic director of jazz from 1993 through 2017. The two have spoken about ideas for jazz presentations going forward. “Personally, I’ve had a long history with jazz,” Haydon said, “and it’s been an art form that has inspired me. Jazz is decidedly unique, and it is very American art form, and there are not RAVINIA MAGAZINE • JULY 24 – AUGUST 15, 2021 14