Since the 1950s, Chicago has hosted a succession of visionary Black musical groups and societies. They’re best known as purveyors of avant-garde jazz, but that characterization sells short Sun Ra and his Arkestra, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), and Phil Cohran’s Artistic Heritage Ensemble. Each was—and in some cases still is—a […]
Tag: Phil Cohran
Posted inMusic
Bless the Mad pay homage to Black music history—and to Chicago—on their self-titled debut
Chicago natives and lifelong hip-hop heads Ibrahem Hasan and Matthew Rivera met decades ago while crate digging at a flea market. Their new self-titled debut as Bless the Mad, released by their own Stay the Course label, exudes a collector’s care for music history and a producer’s ear for finding overlooked diamonds and giving them […]
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The making of Chaka Khan
All kinds of Chicago music—AM radio pop, free-spirited R&B, bold Afrocentric jazz, soulful funk—came together to shape her incredible voice.
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Phil Cohran shaped the Black Arts Movement with his vision and discipline
Secret History pays tribute to its first subject, the late Phil Cohran, who cofounded the AACM, formed the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, and launched the Affro-Arts Theater.
Posted inBlogs
Revisit the soulful hypnosis of the late Kelan Phil Cohran’s Artistic Heritage Ensemble
Phil Cohran recorded the Artistic Heritage Ensemble’s dazzling, multifaceted debut with some of the most important musicians in Chicago history.
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Soul percussionist “Master” Henry Gibson played on hundreds of records—including Curtis Mayfield’s “Pusherman”
Henry Gibson’s bongo and conga wizardry made generations of stars sound better, but he never found fame as the main attraction.
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Celebrating the Chicago roots of Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White
Maurice White carried the influence of Chicago avant-garde elder Phil Cohran into the mainstream with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Posted inFilm
Artist on Artist: Chaka Khan talks to Jake Austen of the Goblins
Chaka Khan talks to Jake Austen of the Goblins and Chic-a-Go-Go.
Posted inBlogs
The progeny of Phil Cohran mesmerize in Brothers Hypnotic
WTTW screens a vibrant documentary about the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble on Monday evening.
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Chicago guitar genius Pete Cosey dead at 68
Guitar genius Pete Cosey, best known from Miles Davis’s electric albums, has reportedly passed away at 68
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Jake Austen, unsurprisingly, has more on Dancin’ Man
Jake Austen shares Tito Jackson’s Dancin’ Man testimonial and a pic with George Clinton and crew.
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Photo Pit: Record Store Day, April 16
Customers flip through records at Dusty Groove AmericaCredit: Robert Loerzel Candy Golde at Laurie’s Planet of SoundCredit: Robert Loerzel Silver Abuse at Permanent RecordsCredit: Robert Loerzel Cairo Gang at Reckless RecordsCredit: Robert Loerzel Customers shop at Numero Group’s pop-up store in Wicker ParkCredit: Robert Loerzel Phil CohranCredit: Robert Loerzel
Posted inMusic
Gossip Wolf: Feed the Animals
Girl Talk gorges at Graham Elliot, the Electrical Audio forum’s annual sausage party, and more
Posted inBlogs
Getting Less Secret Every Day
The Museum of Contemporary Art hosts the Secret History of Chicago Music in May.
Posted inBlogs
Phil Cohran’s living legacy
Chicago fixture Phil Cohran pays tribute to his first great mentor, Sun Ra, but his sons may steal the show.