Friday, March 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
WALT PARAZAIDER and a group of friends crowded into his tiny Chicago apartment to plan their future. ... It was February 1967. ... Their long-range goal was to become a rock band with horns as an integral part of its sound. ... The result was rock-pop with horns. ... They soon were good enough to merit tours opening with Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.
In 1969, the band released its first album, "Chicago Transit Authority," which included a hit single, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" ... The album title created confusion as to the band's real name. ... Was it Chicago Transit Authority, CTA or Chicago?
The answer was right there in the liner notes: "If you must call them something, speak of the city where all but one of them was born, where all of them were bred and schooled. Call them Chicago." ... "Chicago II" was released the next year with two hit singles on the charts.
From then on
In the ensuing three decades, Chicago has garnered numerous Grammy Awards plus 20 Top 10 singles and 12 Top 10 albums, five of which went to No. 1 on the best-sellers charts, with sales to date of more than 100 million units. ... Today, its Las Vegas home is Caesars Palace, where they are in residence through Sunday.
Back in 1974, the group was honored when the late Duke Ellington invited them to appear on his TV special "We Love You Madly," along with Count Basie, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. ... When they tried to thank Ellington for asking them, Duke told Chicago that it was he who was honored by their presence.
In 1995, Chicago paid tribute to Ellington and the other big-band greats of the past with an album, "Night and Day (Big Band)," not as a rehash of the past but as statements for the future.
In Parazaider's words, "Making the big-band album was one of those magic moments. At the time, it seemed that the spirits of all those big-band musicians were in the studio with us. I certainly hope they enjoyed what we were doing." ... Ellington told Chicago they were "the next Duke Ellington." ... Enough said.
Jazz happenings
Marv Koral's All-Stars play four different shows, three days a week: Carollo's, 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays with a noon Jazz Brunch on Sundays; Sonia's, 6-10 p.m. Saturdays; and 4-8 p.m. Sundays at the Manhattan Restaurant. ... The Jazz Organ-ization, noon-3 p.m., is another Sunday treat, in the Santa Fe Pavilion.
Tom Ferguson's Sextet will be sax man Don Menza's special guest Monday at the Riviera. ... Tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards will trade fours with Menza at the Riviera on March 17.
Friday addenda
Erstwhile drummer and current Municipal Court Judge Seymour Brown will be roasted by the Saints and Sinners at 6 p.m. Monday in the Olympic Gardens Executive Men's Club. ... Pat Cooper leads a banner group of roast-meisters. ... This will be one for the books. ... Lounge best bet: The Treniers at the Aladdin. ... See you next Thursday.
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