HotHouse (jazz club)

Jazz pianist Misha Mengelberg performing with the ICP Orchestra at the HotHouse in Chicago, November 2004

The HotHouse was a celebrated cultural center last located in the South Loop, Chicago, United States, and known for its program of innovative jazz and world music concerts and as a central meeting place for a variety of community groups. It closed in July 2007.

The HotHouse, formally called CIPEX, the Center for International Performance and Exhibition, was founded by Marguerite Horberg in 1987 at 1565 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago. In 1995, following the gentrification of the locality, Wicker Park, the venue, with support from the MacArthur Foundation, moved to a 9,000 sq ft (840 m2) second floor space at 31 E. Balbo Ave.[1][2] The venue had a large main room with booths and dance floor with a room for catered events and art shows and put on a varied and inclusive programme of music.[3] Performers at the Hothouse included Roscoe Mitchell, Gil Scott-Heron, Maria Rita, Henry Threadgill, Susie Ibarra, Savina Yannatou, Dewey Redman and Olu Dara.

The HotHouse was also a forum for social issues and would host a benefit or offer support on issues such as the rights of undocumented workers or hurricane Katrina. In 2006, founder and executive director, Horberg, was ousted by the not-for-profit board of the HotHouse.

References

  1. ↑ Sachs, Lloyd (July 30, 1995). "Chicago Jazz on the Move: Key Clubs Hit the Bricks". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  2. ↑ Houlihan, Mary (May 10, 2002). "Weekend pick". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  3. ↑ Jackson, Michael (April 2008). "This Month: Hothouse, Chicago". Jazzwise (Jazzwise Publications Ltd).