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All in Musicians
René Marie
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Earlier today, I listened to René Marie's new album Sound of Red in anticipation of tonight's concert at the University of Chicago's Logan Center. Last year, Marie was scheduled to appear at the Logan Center, but had to cancel.
Roy Hargrove
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Butterfield Blues Reunion
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Mark Naftalin, who added high octane playing to one of the original incarnations of the Butterfield Blues Band, offered a dazzling two-hour solo piano recital. Why this guy has not issued albums of his great blues piano playing is totally beyond me, particularly because runs an independent record label.
Mwata at the MCA
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Mwata Bowden, a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), brought his band, One Foot In, One Foot Out, to the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art for a Tuesdays on the Terrace performance. Bowden is not to be missed, particularly when he brings Ari Brown (tenor saxophone), Avreeayl Ra (drums), and Harrison Bankhead (bass), all AACM members, with him. Let's not forget Phil Q. on trumpet and Bowden's son, Khari B., who added poetry and rap to the mix.
HPJF
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The 11th Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival is just three months away, which is why the annual benefit gathering was held tonight. About 175 people showed up at the Promontory Restaurant, Bar, and Performance Space to celebrate what has become one of the top jazz festivals in the country and certainly the top one in Chicago.
Ellis
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Tonight, Chicago's jazz community staged a benefit concert at the University of Chicago's Logan Center to help Ellis cover medical and rehab bills. That community loves her so much that the organizers had to turn away musicians who wanted to participate in the 2.5 hour concert.
The Tale Dragger
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Whatever. Today, with towel in hand, Tail Dragger gave a mesmerizing performance. On the surface, it was rooted deep in Chicago blues traditions that many others have sucessfully mined over the years. Yet, Tail Dragger is the real deal. There are not too many veterans like him around any more. I am glad I dragged myself out of bed into the heat.