Chicago’s reputation in the Jazz world is indisputable. Often considered the nursery of jazz, many of the greats came here, called it home and nursed and rehearsed the polyphonic sound of early New Orleans jazz into the hot style of the ’20s and ultimately swing in the ’30s. And similarly during the renaissance of the Dixieland years of the ’50s and ’60s, many groups in Chicago came forth proving to the world that Chicago’s jazz is hot, sweet, and alive.
As the twenty-first century dawned, so too did a new generation of jazz musicians in Chicago and they had a passion for music as it had been played in the earliest days. Helping to bridge this gap were longtime favorites such as The Salty Dogs and The West End Jazz Band. A few youngsters started hanging out, asking questions—and they brought instruments to play. One of them was was a young fellow named Andy Schumm, who brought his cornet down from Milwaukee. He was excited about the music. And he was there to learn.
“I first sat in with a Dixieland band when I was 16 years old,” says Schumm, “but I heard the stuff ’way before that. I just didn’t know what to call it.”
Not long after another Wisconsonite, Dave Bock—a trombone player, showed up. Together the two began a musical adventure that started a “New Guard” in Chicago trad jazz. The two started playing anywhere they were welcome between Ma
