Strayhorn Centennial celebrations continue with a major three-month festival that kicks off this week in Chicago, the hometown of his niece Alyce Claerbaut, President of Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc. Tonight, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Jazz Institute of Chicago join the Auditorium Theatre to throw a 100th birthday party for Strayhorn at the 37th annual Chicago Jazz Festival. The Chicago Jazz Orchestra will perform many of Strayhorn’s classic works.

Other upcoming events include The Life and Music of Billy Strayhorn, a discussion of Strayhorn’s life, with musical performance and recordings on October 4th and the Chicago Human Rhythm Project which will mix Strayhorn’s music with dance in a special production at Jazz Showcase on November 2nd among many other tributes.

Strayhorn Centennial celebrations have been ongoing since the initial kick off in January. Check out this recent performance of “Take The A Train” by the New York Jazzharmonic in Washington Square Park earlier this summer: