Bringing the joys of superlative music to appreciative audiences for over 100 years, Chicago’s Symphony Center has long been a place to enjoy wonder. During a recent visit to the landmark venue, that awe was delivered through the voices of the young. Uniting Voices Chicago (UVC), formerly the Chicago Children’s Choir, boasts a long history …
Sometimes the Best Part of the Season Arrives in Song Read More »
Constantly striving to embrace the full scope of who Chicagoans are, Millennium Park’s Summer Music Series curatorial board has been known to make daring artistic choices. A recent Thursday night performance at the Pritzker Pavilion was particularly special. Bounce, an underground music form that blossomed in New Orleans housing projects went mainstream partially through the …
Big Freedia Brings Tidings of Summer’s Freedom to Millennium Park Read More »
You rarely remember musicians for their disarming charm. But Marcus Roberts’ opening for his trio’s concert over the weekend was so winning, it heightened the audience’s already palpable anticipation. Often referred to as a genius of jazz improvisation, Roberts enjoys a sparkling reputation among fellow musicians and jazz enthusiasts alike for his extraordinary range of …
The Marcus Roberts Trio Takes Excellence to New Heights Read More »
Even though our culture seems deluged with music megastars, we can only wait and see how many will maintain their resonance decades after they’ve taken their last bow. A half century after her death in 1975, the singularity of Mahalia Jackson’s voice and influence still course through our musical universe. Vocalist Tammy McCann, who usually …
Yes, Mahalia! Brilliantly Fuses Two Musical Forms Read More »
If you’ve been around long enough to remember the shock of 9/11, you recall; and may still recoil at, how much things changed in its aftermath. Heightened security might have made us feel more safe boarding an airplane, but the precautions implemented after that fateful day also served to erode our sense of who we …
Irrepressible and Matchless – The Chicago Jazz Festival Read More »
Perfect evenings of entertainment can come in many forms. The Music Institute of Chicago’s jazz tribute to guitarist Les Paul easily qualifies as one of them. With Russell Malone on guitar, Eric Hochberg on bass, the drum talent of Samuel Jewell and Tom Vaitsas’s impressive piano versatility, the building blocks for a memorable performance were …
Music Institute of Chicago Celebrates Guitar Legend Read More »
According to writer and director Bill Barclay, he was consciously trying to right a wrong when he conceived and created, The Chevalier. The wrong was the near universal ignorance of an exceptional person who failed to receive the historical prominence he deserves due, in large part, to the color of his skin. The Chevalier, Barclay’s …
Dour seems a fitting description of Chicago’s cultural scene these days. More and more theatrical productions are postponing performances. Museums are open but there a few new exhibitions. With Gregory Porter cancelling his big show at the Chicago Theater earlier this month, musical options lean toward smaller venues where the city’s army of excellent musicians …
Using photography, videos, rare poster art, walls of album covers and music, Chicago’s South Asia Institute (SAI) has mounted an exquisite retrospective on one of the world’s great musicians. Ravi Shankar: Ragamala to Rockstar reminds us of the phenomenal achievements one person can realize through the arts. It also showcases the impact Indian classical music …
Last Saturday night’s installment of the Third Logan Center Blues Fest came dabbed with surprises. Headlined by a legend, and opening with a rising star; the show was an amazing study in contrasts. And there was something about how the performances unfolded that exposed a seismic shift in what we call the blues. From most …
Glass Half-Full Second Night of Logan Center BluesFest Read More »