Bassist Linda May Han Oh performed this past Saturday night at the Reva and David Logan Center for the arts with a group of top-flight jazz musicians. Here are my thoughts about and images about the evening.
All in Performance
Charlie Kirk
Tonight I headed to the UIC Campus for a student demonstration opposing Far Right Firebrand Charlie Kirk’s and his right to speak. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Aldana
Saxophonist Melissa Aldama looked to the stars for inspiration during her performance tonight, keeping evil Clotho at bay. Here are my thoughts about and images from the performance.
Columbus Day
I stop to photograph this year’s Columbus Day Parade on my way to my annual physical. The parade is a shadow of the one staged for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; although the film did not identify the parade as the Columbus Day Parade. I ended up racing around so much that the doctor had to wait 20 minutes before taking my blood pressure because I was dripping with sweat when I arrived in his office—112/78.
Here are my thoughts about what I saw and the images I captured.
HPJF 2022 (Day 2)
The Sixteenth Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival is held over two days. Here are my thoughts about and images from the second day.
HPJF 2022 (Day 1)
Day 1 of the Sixteenth Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival was spectacular, with a wide variety of music to be heard. Here are my thoughts and some of the many images I captured.
Chicago Jazzfest (IV)
Today, I attended the fourth day of the 2022 Chicago Jazzfest. While I was not thrilled with closing act Donald Harrison, there was still plenty of excellent music, including performances by Kris Davis, Nick Mazzarella, Denise Thimes, and Dee Alexander. Here are my thoughts all the music I heard over a nine-hour period, together with my images.
Chicago Jazzfest (III)
Today, I attended the third day of the 2022 Chicago Jazzfest. The high school students who played on the Harris Rooftop were one of the highlights of the day, while bassist William Parker wins the award for the most invigorating performance of the day. Here are my thoughts on the high schoolers, Parker and the other music I heard over a nine-hour period, together with my images.
Chicago Jazzfest (II)
Today, I attended the second day of the 2022 Chicago Jazzfest. Bill Frisell’s closing set was the highlight of the day. Here are my thoughts on that set and the other music I heard over a nine-hour period, together with my images.
Chicago Jazzfest (I)
The 2022 Chicago Jazzfest kicked off on Thursday September 1, with a diverse lineup that included Henry Threadgill’s Zooid, Mike Allemana’s Vonology, a group of terrific high school students, bassist Marlene Rosenberg’s Quartet, the Toyoaki Ensemble, some great soul jazz from the early Eighties, and a group that played jazz classics from the early years of jazz. Here are my thoughts and observations on Day 1.
The Invasion
A Saturday Afternoon Clash in the Loop. Pro-Lifers gathered in Federal Plaza for a rally and march, while a large contingent of agitated and angry counter demonstrators responded with taunts, signs, and geers. Here are my thoughts and images from today’s festivities.
Chicago Bluesfest (Day 4)
Day 4 of the Chicago Bluesfest was the final day. I limited my activity today, but still managed to catch several great performances. Here are my thoughts, together with my images.
Bluesfest (Day 2)
Day 2 of the 2022 Chicago Blues Festival topped Day 1, with a wide variety of Blues offered up. Here are my thoughts about and images from the second day of this four-day festival, which attracts visitors from around the country and the world.
Bluesfest (Day 1)
The 2022 Chicago Bluesfest kicked off today, with an all-star lineup of Chicago Blues artists. Here are my thoughts about and my images from the first day of this four-day festival that attracts visitors from around the country and the world.
Alito's Leak II
Today, somewhere around 5,000 abortion-rights advocates gather in Chicago’s Federal Plaza, and they then marched through the Loop, ending at the Ida B. Wells Memorial. Here are my thoughts about what I witnessed, together with my images.
Vijay Iyer
Pianist Vijay Iyer brought his friends to the Logan Center for the Performing Arts to perform Ghosts of Everywhere I Go, a commissioned piece of music intended to reflect the Black Experience in Chicago. I was fortunate to be in the audience with camera in had. Here are my thoughts and images.
Red, Green, and Black
Toward the end of my walk celebrating the first nice day of the year, I encountered a demonstration by Palestinians in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel. Here are my thoughts and images.
Polkadots and Jazz
Gary Bartz appeared at the Chicago’s Jazz Showcase over Labor Day weekend. He is an outstanding alto and soprano saxophone player, with a fluid sound. Here are Jack Siegel’s thoughts about the set, together with his images.