ayanacontreras
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Ladies Ring Shout: performance as a way to community
The Ladies Ring Shout as a Performance was born of a weekly workshop, dialoguing space, and “jam session” for women. Participants talked, wrote and moved in the spirit of collaborative experimentation and explored what an urban feminine discourse looks and feels like. What are our notions of an Urban Feminine? What is her legacy to/for…
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Oscar Brown, Jr.’s Work Song
I love the breadth and depth of Oscar Brown Jr.’s work. A prolific singer, songwriter, playwright, and activist, he was also a born and bred Chicagoan. The cut below “Work Song”, is from his first LP, 1960’s “Sin and Soul” which he recorded in his mid-thirties. He was a father of five at the time…
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Curtis Mayfield wanted to get a little bit.
This 1976 record by Chicago’s own Curtis Mayfield used to be a favorite spin in my College Radio days. It’s been back on my radar in recent days. “Give a little bit, Get a little bit, Take a little bit” picks up on the theme of the classic “Give Me Your Love” with an…
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One Day I Was Walking: Soulful Gospel from the Swan Mellarks
Just to give you some warning… Lynnell Harris (misspelled as Lindell Harris on the label) has an amazing tone and vocals that are SOOOOO bananas. This record was recorded for tiny Valberst Records in the 70s here in Chicago at Pervis Staples’ (of the Staple Singers) Studio. “One Day I Was Walking” has been in my head…
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Dance Dorchester!
dance locally to vintage sounds culled from Dorchester Projects’ Dr. Wax Collection heavily leaning on music that ‘jus grew’ out of our community: this friday, june 24th, 7pm til 10pm. bring your favorite summertime dish to share with friends 100% wax spun by dj ayana
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Do it Like Mama: Simtec and Wylie give us a cut that makes me want to break out my hotpants.
Simtec (Simmons) and Wylie (Dixon) were a homegrown Sam & Dave styled duo on Syl Johnson’s Shama label when this scorcher came out in 1970. Both Simtec and Wylie had scuffled about on the Chicago Scene in a variety of acts before this release: Simtec actually put out a track in 1967 on tiny Maurci Records credited to “Simtec Simmons…
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Mark Bradford at the MCA: exercises in community, texture, and collaboration
So, I am totally late on this one… which is inexcusable really, because I was at the Opening of the exhibition. Least I could have done is pub it. But, alas…. Mark Bradford‘s Exhibition currently on view at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art is a Retrospective that really gives a sense of the artist’s use of layers…
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Dorchester Projects June 2011
Visit us at Theaster Gates’ Dorchester Projects (recently featured in the Chicago Reader) this Friday Night (June 3rd from 7p-9p), as well as on Sunday, June 12th, from 3p-5p. Come with a story about how music has impacted your life…. About the Dorchester Projects: Dorchester Projects seeks to explore the ways in which thoughtful spaces…
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