The second section of the night featured groups made up of some of the most talented young musicians in Chicago. Saxophonist Aaron Getsug was featured along with bassist Darius Savage and drummer Marcus Evans. Alto saxophonist Greg Ward performed in a quartet with drummer Isaiah Spencer, bassist Josh Abrams and pianist Justin Dillard. Trumpeter Corey Wilkes then led a quartet with the same rhythm section, and Greg Ward joined the group again for the last set making a quintet. Each group and musician showcased a unique approach different from each of their peers. The different combinations allowed for a multitude of exciting, new, creative music from some of Chicago's most talented musicians.

            The highlight and main event of the evening was the performance of Ernest Dawkins and the Chicago 12. The 12 included Abrams, Spencer, Ward, Getsug, Wilkes, Dillard, Evans as well as trombonist Norman Palm III, bassist Harrison Bankhead and tenor saxophonist Kevin Nabors. The group performed Dawkins' multi-sectional composition Misconceptions of a Delusion and Shades of a Charade, which (in this performance) lasted for almost two hours. This composition was written to celebrate the 35 th anniversary of the 1969 Chicago 7 conspiracy trial. Along with the poetry written and performed with the band by Discopoet Khari B, the piece confronted, discussed, examined and celebrated the famous trial. The music of the group was high energy, extremely focused and relentless; capturing the intensity of the times being chronicled within the piece. Dawkins was able to expand and contract the form of the piece at will in order to create space for musician's improvisation while maintaining the character, integrity and overall breadth of the larger composition. The composition and the group sit firmly within the creative orchestra tradition of Great Black Music while still managing to   securely build upon it.