Yaw
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The Ones: SDYL
I catch Khari Lemuel (pictured below) and Yaw (top, right) all over the place (the Library, 75th street, Red Kiva), and recently, I heard them performing at the Brown Sugar Bakery to celebrate owner Stephanie Hart’s birthday. I dug them both separately, but as a duo (calling themselves “The Ones”), they are beyond belief. Both…
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In the Blood: susan lori parks’ remix of “scarlet letter” in chicago
“My life’s my own fault. I know that. But the world don’t help.” — Hester La Negrita “In the Blood”, the “bold re-imagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter, embraces the yearning for love, family, and the price of moral absolutes” according to the UIC Performing Arts website. The rework centers on Hester La…
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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…
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Peter Hadar Invades Chicago….
Peter Hadar is in town, folk. His dusky voice oozes soul and charisma. The edginess of his productions promises freshness in an oft stale musical landscape. Catch the Jersey native at Lava Wednesday Nite with The Twilite Tone (whom I love and have missed in the Chi) and the Primeridian. He’s doing an in-store…
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Come With Khari Lemuel
Local artist/instrumentalist Khari Lemuel performing his song “Come With Me” with Yaw (video by Bobby Rocwell)….Super talented brother who I’ve seen perform live multiple times. His voice combines some of the best elements of Chicago Soul’s legacy: rootsiness, spirituality, truth, and beauty. Below, Khari’s composition “Good Morning Love” summons the power of Curtis Mayfield (and…
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Yaw: 100% Juice, 100% Soul
According to Yaw, he is “100% juice to do what [he does] – no high fructose corn syrup… But really, [he’s] just a b-boy trapped deep inside a soul singer”. And he’s got one of the most masterful voices to ever come out of Chicago. Often found gigging across town, he is just as likely…
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