Saxophonist Chico Freeman, a third-generation Chicago jazzman, live-streams his new international band from Zurich on Saturday 2/27 at 2:30 pm ET, and I moderated their Zoom talk of coming together for the first time in person -- a rarity over the past 10 months -- with Carine Zuber, artistic director of Moods Digital, as part of their three-day residency. The perspective and genuine high spirits at getting to collaborate in physical proximity of these extraordinary musicians -- besides Freeman, the UK-born four-mallet vibes/marimba … [Read more...]
Boogie-man Helfer bounces back from covid-depression
Erwin Helfer, the 84-year-young Chicago pianist of heartfelt blues, boogie, rootsy American swing and utterly personal compositions, has told his tale of covid-19-related profound depression, hospitalization, treatment and recovery to the Chicago Sun Times. I'm a longtime friend, ardent fan and two-time record producer of Erwin's, and had lunch with him soon after the article ran. He was in fine fettle -- a great relief to me and the rest of the large, devoted community that's been deeply concerned about his health since April, when his … [Read more...]
Digging Our Roots videos, speakers inspire engagement
Nearly 100 Chicagoans (maybe some visitors?) watched Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and other heroes of the blues on videos at the Cultural Center Thursday night (5/23/19), with harmonica star Billy Branch and WDCB program host Leslie Keros telling stories and participated in lively interplay with knowing attendees. It was the fifth Digging Our Roots: Chicago's Greatest Hits "listening session" this spring, co-presented by the Jazz Institute of Chicago and Jazz Journalists Association. Full disclosure: I sit on the JIC … [Read more...]
Gospel (not my usual bag) keyboards revelations
I'll never be an avid fan, much less an aficionado, of gospel music -- but Lift Me Up, Chicago Gospel Keyboard Masters, new from The Sirens, a local independent label, is clearly full of joy and inspiration. It also is notable for documenting a seldom spot-lit but obviously thriving American roots music scene. Art arising from or meant to beget religious transcendence makes me uncomfortable, but many others aren't so biased, and all kudos go to Steven Dolins, The Sirens producer and my co-religionist, who says, "[G]oing back to Thomas Dorsey … [Read more...]