Recorded at the House of Blues here in Chicago a few days back. It’s Mos Def, and his homage to the gloved one: a fresh interpretation of “Billie Jean”. Somehow, it works. Invention isn’t dead, after all. Jive on!
Category Archives: Live Music
Constant Surprises… Little Dragon in Chicago!
The Swedish electro-soul combo Little Dragon is here in Chicago (for the first time), performing at the famed Kinetic Playground. Yukimi Nagano, by way of Swell Session and Koop, provides bouyant, yet keen lead vocals in this group that worships glitch as fervently as groove. Above, the video for one of my favorite songs from their self-titled debut, released in 2007. Good Business. Jive on.
Kinetic Playground–Tonight!
1113 W. Lawrence, Chicago (across the Street from the Aragon Ballroom)
Tickets are $15
Show starts 8:00pm
Curumin: like summer on record
Japan Pop Show (Quannum, 2008) was an album I first really heard in winter. A smart blend of samba and turntablism, with a smattering of funk and soulful hooks, I realized then that Curumin’s sound was built for summer. According to the New York Daily News: “It’s to Curumin’s credit that he kneaded this thick sonic dough into something not just digestible but delicious.” I think it’s more akin to a refreshing cocktail than a hunk of dough, but point taken.
A Brazilian of Spanish and Japanese lineage, Curumin performs his signature blend of Samba Soul in Chicago this Thursday. Check it out. Jive on.
Thursday, July 16
10PM – doors 9PM
Rumba
351 W. Hubbard
$12 advance tickets/$15 DOS cash only
Click here for “Sambito”, from the album “Japan Pop Show”.
Into Africa: 1 to check out… Les Nubians at Green Dolphin Street
The world-renowned French-Cameroonian sisters will be in Chicago this Thursday, ready to share their fusion of traditional African rhythms, jazz, and future-sonic soul. Not to be missed.
| Start Time: |
Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 9:00pm
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| Location: |
Green Dolphin Street
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| Street: |
2200 N Ashland Ave
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| City/Town: |
Chicago, IL
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www.lesnubians.com
$25 Adv. $30 DOS
(Brown Paper Tickets)
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/69712
Hosted by WHPK’s Mario
In collaboration with:
HotHouse | hothouse.net
Swank Society | swanksociety.com
Arte y Vida Chicago | arteyvidachicago.com
Ratio Nation | rationation.com
Into Africa: 1 Must Do
mark your calendars for Ron and Sonia’s 5th Anniversary Party for Africa Hi-Fi, that afro-funk-highlife-house-shindig…. Saturday, July 11th at Sonotheque…
Sonotheque
1444 W. Chicago Ave.
AFRICA HI-FI SUPPORTS
NEXTAID , an LA based non-profit that uses music events to raise money for children in South Africa orphaned by the horrendous AIDS EPIDEMIC, and AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, working diligently to raise awareness and action against Human Rights Violations all over the world.
Tonight. Tango on Chicago Avenue with the A.R.O.M.A. crew…
This month A.R.O.M.A. presents “Passions of Argentina” featuring the music, dance and culture of Argentina. Djs Shannon Harris and Joe Bryl along with Argentinean natives, DJs David and Abel Pardo will play Tango and South American influenced rhythms. Live Tango performances by Tango Eclectique’s Maria Alferov and Humberto Decima. Live VJ show by Galina Shevchenko, and more….
Argentine tango is a social dance and a musical genre that originated in the lower-class European immigrant districts of Buenos Aires, and moved to the rest of the world. The modern Tango has a large African influence that was shaped by the candombe ceremonies of former slaves.
Black Slang at the Shrine… and it’s all good
Chicago’s own young, vivrant, soulful, jazz ensemble Black Slang (featuring Corey Wilkes on trumpet and Yaw on vocals) performed this past weekend at new South Loop Venue The Shrine. The group draws as much influence from Herbie Hancock as Mos Def, and pushes the boundaries of musical genres til barely a shred remain. Black Slang has held a residency at Andy’s for over a year now, and I was excited to see the group on the new, state of the art stage of The Shrine. If you have yet to visit the new nightclub, highlights include: cocktails named after dictators, like the Noriega, Sadat, and Qaddafi; and the Shrine Dancers (an in-house troupe).
Black Slang is:
vocalz: Yaw
trumpet: Corey Wilkes
bass: Junius Paul
keyz: William Kurk
mC: Phenom
You can catch Black Slang this Friday and Saturday Night (the 19th & 20th) at:
| Location: |
Andy’s Jazz Club
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| Street: |
11 E. Hubbard
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| City/Town: |
Chicago, IL
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The Shrine is Here!
Just what the doctor ordered, as far as I’m concerned… It’s the long awaited club, The Shrine. Tonight, a star is born in the South Loop. Created by Joe Russo (the man that brought us nightlife legend The Funky Buddah Lounge), The Shrine combines top shelf live entertainment, dancers, and music, like the clubs in the days of old.
See you there!
The Shrine
2109 S. Wabash Ave. 60616
Chicago
photos by Doug Fogelson
A.R.O.M.A. of Summer
Looking for some way to take full advantage of this amazing (if fleeting) weather? Anika Ellison of A.R.O.M.A. says: “Tonight’s the night, lovely people! Fashion, art, tasty global rhythms and YOU. It’s only $5, so ladies breakout those short shorts you’ve been dying to wear, fellas take some time to stretch, ’cause we’re DANCING TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A.R.O.M.A. @ Sonotheque (1444 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago)
“A Rhythmic Organic Musical Affair” Hosted by Anika Tene
DJ’s: Shannon Harris & Joe Bryl
Live percussion by Jim Bruno
Fashion show directed by Agnieszka Kulon featuring STRUT CHICAGO’s men’s collection
Digital photography exhibit featuring Robin Rios and Seth Kammueller
Video DJ performance by MFChicago
Doors open 9pm – 2am $5 Cover (Free before 11PM with RSVP) EARLY ARRIVAL IS SUGGESTED Call: (312)409-2657 or email: aroma2009@gmail.com for RSVP.
NOTE: The folks at A.R.O.M.A. want you to know…. In Cameroon, the National Day is May 20th, and it indicates honor and pride. Complete Independence was not granted to a largely colonized Cameroon till 1972. The wonderful sounds of Makossa are most popular in the urban areas of Cameroon. It’s origins are from a type of Duala dance called kossa, with significant influences from jazz, ambasse bey, Latin music, highlife and rumba. While the makossa style began in the 1950′s, the first recordings were not seen until a decade later. Artists such as Eboa Lotin, Misse Ngoh and especially Manu Dibango popularized the style outside of Cameroon in the later 1960s. This month we will celebrate Cameroon Independence Day with Makossa and its other worldly influences. 
Cameroonian dancers from the Mabeas tribe
Apparently, Nightlife in Chicago is Getting Eclectic.
This Thursday and Friday both have Events scheduled that both trumpet their “eclectic” nature:
“Eclectic Relaxation” at Simones in Pilsen/Bridgeport (featuring my guy Tapedek and Sotipop on the tables)
and the “Eclectic After Work Session” at Cuatro in the South Loop (a weekly Friday event featuring the legendary Vick Lavender)
I don’t know. To me, “eclectic” is akin to “eccentric” in its sheer ambiguity and code-wordiness. That does not mean I don’t support these events (I do). Maybe, my real issue is that I just don’t want another situation where a word becomes over-used (remember “extreme”? Or, how many storefronts in the 80s & 90s on the South Side either had “Express” or “Factory” in their name….). Just as long as Eclectic doesn’t become the new “grown & sexy”.
More on the events:
“Eclectic Relaxation” at Simone’s in Pilsen/Bridgeport (featuring my guy Tapedek and Sotipop on the tables)
Pilsen’s newest, freshest bar teams up with The Chicago Art Department to bring you a night of food, drinks, and eclectic music.
| Host: |
Simone’s Bar x Afters Cool Society x The Chicago Art Department
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| Type: | |
| Network: |
Global
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| Start Time: |
Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 10:00pm
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| End Time: |
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 2:00am
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| Location: |
Simone’s Bar
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| Street: |
960 W. 18th st
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| City/Town: |
Chicago, IL
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the “Eclectic After Work Session” at the Latin Fusion Nightspot Cuatro
Sophisticado Recordings and Cuatro night club presents “Eclectic Fridays Afterwork Sessions” with Sophisticado Recording artist Vick Lavender playing some of the worlds best in afro cuban jazz, soul, world, and of course, house.
| Host: |
Sophisticado Recordings and Cuatro
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| Type: | |
| Date: |
Friday, May 15, 2009
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| Time: |
6:00pm – 10:00pm
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| Location: |
Cuatro night club
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| Street: |
2030 S.Wabash
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| City/Town: |
Chicago, IL
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