Kenwood’s Journey

a documentary chronicling tragedy & triumph 

In 2014, Howard and Tribune photographer Zbigniew Bzdak began chronicling the Kenwood Academy Jazz Band, which was learning a work penned for it by eminent jazz pianist and MacArthur Fellow Jason Moran. The piece, “Looks of a Lot,” would explore the violence confronting youths on Chicago’s South Side, among other issues. Less than two weeks before the premiere at Symphony Center, 15-year-old band member Aaron Rushing was shot and killed. The newspaper story evolved into the Emmy Award-winning documentary “Kenwood’s Journey,” which editor John Owens created with Howard and Bzdak.