All in Performance
On Sunday, January 21, 2023, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community celebrated Ukraine Unity Day, as well as the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America—Illinois Division with a banquet at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
On December 30, 2023, a group of Palestinian advocates held a press conference in Chicago announcing the expansion of their #AbandonBiden campaign to all 50 states. The group hopes to build a coalition to defeat President Biden in 2024. I attended the press conference. While the imagery is not dynamic, the event could be a watershed in the 2024 Presidential Election. Here are my thoughts and images, including ones from the annual Muslim American Society-Islamic Circle of North America Convention that was held at McCormick Place, drawing 30,000 attendees.
Tonight, I attended the Chicago Ukrainian Community’s annual Holodomor memorial in Jane Byrne Plaza and Holy Name Cathedral. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
On November 3, 2023, Theon Cross brought his electrified tuba to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. It was quite a night of innovative jazz fusion, with some hip hop added to the voodoo. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening’s performance.
On October 21, 2023, tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel brought his quintet to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, together with visual artist Xuan. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
Last Sunday, following the Ukrainian demonstration outside the Wrigley Building, members of Chicago’s Russian Community marked the 1000th day Russian dissident Alexei Navalny’s captivity at the hands of Vladimir Putin. Here are my thoughts about and images from this demonstration.
No surprise here: Chicago’s Palestinian Community was out again last night. I covered the demonstration, so here are my thoughts about it and my images.
Last Friday night I had the pleasure of attending a world premiere performance by Alarm Will Sound at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center, where the ensemble had been recording an album since Tuesday. The live performance was also recorded. Here are my impressions, together with images from this historic performance.
The Four-day 2023 Chicago Jazz Festival came to an end this evening. The temperatures soared, but the relaxed informal vibe and great music kept everyone cool. Here are my thought and photographs about the festival’s final day.
South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini gave a breakout performance during Day 3 of the 2023 Chicago Jazz Festival. If you are fan of Abdullah Ibrahim or McCoy Tyner, Makhathini is your man. For my thoughts about and images of Makhathini and all the other musicians who performed today, click on the following link:
Day 2 of the 2023 Chicago Jazz Festival is now in the history books. There were many excellent performances, including ones by the Ari Brown Quintet, and singer Kurt Elling, with Charlie Hunter on guitar. Here are my thoughts about and images from Day 2.
Day 1 of the 2023 Chicago Jazzfest is now history. Some great players took part, including Ron Carter, Chico Freeman, George Freeman, Ernest Dawkins, Marlene Rosenberg, and Oscar Evely. Here are my thoughts and images from this extraordinary day.
Acclaimed saxophonist Gary Bartz is in Chicago this weekend at the famed Jazz Showcase. I caught his first set tonight, which was stellar. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
Vladimir Putin made a surprise appearance on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue today. The Russian community was holding a demonstration to commemorate the third anniversary of Putin’s assassination attempt on the life of Alexei Navalny. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
I had the opportunity to see and hear alto saxophonist Charles McPherson three times over the last month. Here are my thoughts about what I heard and the accompanying images.
The Money Shot. My thoughts about and images from the Duck Derby
Chicago paid homage to World Refugee Day with a noon-time celebration in Daley Plaza. Unfortunately, the event was poorly attended, which is too bad. Here are my brief thoughts and some images from the festivities.
Tonight, the 2023 Chicago Bluesfest kicked off its four-day run in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The night included a centennial tribute to Albert King, as well as spell-bounding performances from 89-year old Bobby Rush and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Here are my thoughts about and images from a delightful evening of music.
On Saturday, i attended a early May Day celebration in Chicago’s Union Park on the near Westside. It rained early on, but the demonstrators were still spirited. Here are my thoughts on and images from the rally and march.
Today I attended an abortion-rights march organized by Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
