All in Performance
Today, Jack B. Siegel made his second pilgrimage to the Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wisconsin. The Chicago Wise Guys were the feature attraction, bringing colorful cars, crews, carts, tools, and trailers for a day of nitro racing. The roar of the engines were ever present, at times deafening. These guys know how to haul ass down the quarter-mile track, sometimes reaching speeds close to or exceeding 200 miles per hour.
Jazz is back in Chicago. It is great to hear and photograph live music in the clubs. I’ve been to Andy’s Jazz Club, the Jazz Showcase, and Winter’s Jazz Club, as well as to several street festivals, including Summer on State and the Wicker Park Street Festival. All the musicians are enthusiastic about performing before audiences again. And who wouldn’t be if it means getting out of the house?
I headed up to Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wisconsin today to checkout the races and the surrounding scene.
The award winning Russian Renaissance appeared In Chicago today to exhibit their virtuosity. The quartet performs using traditional Russian folk instruments, including the balalaika, the button accordion, the domra, and a contrabass balalaika. They played a variety of world music, including works by Béla Fleck, Tchaikovsky, Django Reinhardt, Galliano, and De Abreu. It is obvious why they have played in major concert halls throughout the world, and won the 2017 Prize Competition
Aaron Diehl and Warren Wolf teamed up at the University of Chicago to take on the Modern Jazz Quartet's legacy. Here are Jack Siegel’s thoughts and images from the concert.
Kris Davis and Craig Taborn, two of the top pianists in jazz today, perform together at the UChicago Presents series earlier this year.
Jack B. Siegel’s images from the 2019 Boystown Halloween parade in Chicago
Fred Hersch and Julian Lage perform at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts as part of the University of Chicago’s Jazz Series.
Ed Ruscha discusses his work and career during an event hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago’s Woman’s Board.
Sunday saw some great music and dancing on Day 2 of the 2019 Hyde Park Jazz Festival.
The final day of the 2019 Chicago Jazzfest ended with performances by Eddie Palmieri, Miguel Zenon, Melissa Aldana, and Camila Meza in a salute to Latin Jazz. During the day, Ben LaMar Gay and Will Faber offered an extraordinary performance mixing the Art of Ensemble of Chicago with electronics, and folk sensibilities. Also performing were pianist Ben Sidran, Joan Collaso, and Sharel Cassity.
The Art Ensemble of Chicago closed Day 2 of the 2019 Chicago Jazz Festival with an exuberant performance that features somewhere around 20 musicians. Preceding them on the main stage, were George Freeman and Billy Branch, vibist Joel Ross, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. Earlier in the day, Chicago vocalist Dee Alexander performed with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, and Rob Mazurek played a set of relatively free jazz.
Freddy Cole pays tribute to his brother Nat King Cole on the first day of the 2019 Chicago Jazz Festival.
Click on the image to enlarge the image and for Jack Siegel’s commentary and additional images
Click on the photograph to enlarge it, and for Jack B. Siegel’s photographs and commentary.
Click on the photograph to enlarge it, and for Jack B. Siegel’s photographs and commentary.
Click on the photograph to enlarge it, and for Jack B. Siegel’s commentary and additional photographs.
