“I’ve been on this journey to be able to present within the jazz community. . . . To be a union of creative beauty.”
Tag: Duke Ellington
Posted inMusic
This collective trio gives jazz school a good name
When the word “academic” is applied to jazz, it’s not necessarily a compliment. But these three players, all of whom teach at universities, make music that could keep you at school till the sun comes up. The success of General Semantics, the debut album by Northern Illinois University’s Geof Bradfield (tenor and soprano saxophones, bass […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Sophisticated Ladies means all the things at Porchlight
The Duke Ellington revue is pure fire and joy.
Posted inBlogs
New York’s Slavic Soul Party! reimagine Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite
Wild Balkan brass band Slavic Soul Party! add their distinctive flavor to Ellington’s late-60s Eastern-inspired masterpiece.
Posted inBlogs
Paris’s spry Umlaut Big Band celebrates the early days of jazz in Europe
The Umlaut Big Band’s Euro Swing Vol. 2 examines the work of American composers and musicians working in Europe in the 20s and 30s—and Dusty Groove celebrates its 20th anniversary with a block party.
Posted inBlogs
A classic document of early South African jazz finally gets a wide reissue
British label Jazzman has reissued a dynamic 1963 big-band album led by pianist Chris McGregor and featuring players from influential group the Blue Notes.
Posted inMusic
Jim Dorling of the Pillowhammer on a kinder, gentler sort of earworm
Current musical obsessions of the Reader’s Peter Margasak, the Pillowhammer’s Jim Dorling, and the Father Costume’s Sam Wagster
Posted inBlogs
Guitarist Mary Halvorson personalizes her favorites on a new solo album
On Meltframe she uses the compositions of others to say plenty about herself.
Posted inFilm
Our favorite movies of 2014
The best films of the year, according to J.R. Jones and Ben Sachs
Posted inBlogs
Queenie Pie and the ladies’ man, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington’s Queenie Pie, Chicago Opera Theater’s last production of the season, draws on his own life as well as that of Madam C. J. Walker.
Posted inBlogs
Reader’s Agenda Thu 3/20: Literary Rock and Roll, High School Hockey Championships, and Queenie Pie
What’s on the Reader‘s Agenda for Thursday, March 20
Posted inBlogs
Reader’s Agenda Sat 2/15: Winter Bike Swap, Hump! Film Festival, and “Queenie Pie”
What’s on the Reader‘s Agenda for Saturday, February 15
Posted inArts & Culture
A new Staple Singers biography doesn’t quite take you there
In I’ll Take You There, Tribune critic Greg Kot tracks the Staple Singers’ march toward freedom.
Posted inMusic
The Secret History of Chicago Music: Captain Walter Dyett
DuSable High School band director Captain Walter Dyett taught generations of future stars.
Posted inBlogs
Jazz movies under the open skies
Chicago Film Archives presents a free program of jazz films.