jimi089

I will be there. Looking forward the music. Also not to be missed will be the Muhal solo set at the Cultural Center at 3 PM on Friday. If you really want to see it I'd recommend getting there early. It's a small room.

They are also playing the Velvet Lounge in Chicago on 10/1.

Chicago native and trumpeter Maurice Brown is her musical director.

It appears to be back on sale new at Dusty Groove for those who are interested.

Von will be playing a concert with Barry Harris in Chicago on October 3rd of this year. Mark your calendars.

I wish he'd consider playing a venue other than the Empty Bottle in Chicago, like any of them that support jazz and improvised music the other 364 days of the year. Oh well.

Barry Harris will be coming to Chicago in October to play a concert with Von Freeman. I'm looking forward to it.

John Murphy is a great writer and interesting guy - I've corresponded with him on several occasions. He's currently working on a book about Ronald Shannon Jackson.

It was

More bureaucratic entities won't help the arts. More funding through existing entities would be great!

http://www.intaktrec.ch/interbraxton-a.htm

I'm a fan of both Loose Assembly records - a band led by drummer Mike Reed, and featuring Josh Abrams, Jason Adasiewicz, Tomeka Reid, and Greg Ward. I think the newer of the two is a superior effort, FWIW.

Thanks for the suggestions! I will investigate and report back....

Greetings all - I was hoping someone could make some recommendations for some good South African music - stuff with emphasis on vocals and harmonies. A friend made me a copy of an old LP entitled Sotho Vocal Jive that's absolutely fantastic and I want more in that vein. Any guidance is greatly appreciated! -D.

Great post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Larry.

Unfortunately I'm going to be out of town or else I'd definitely be there. Hope Andy's treats you well. What other clubs in Chicago have you guys played?

FYI, there will be a Matana Roberts Chicago Project CD release party at the Velvet Lounge the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. The first night will be Matana Roberts, Jeff Parker, Josh Abrams and Frank Rosaly, and the second night will also include Fred Anderson.

We've been lucky to have him in Chicago a number of times in the last few years. First at Millennium Park with Ernest Dawkins. This year he came and sat in with Fred Anderson and William Parker at the Velvet Lounge while he was in town to play Orbert Davis' tribute to Nelson Mandela. A great player and a very interesting guy to talk to.

Great shot!

Hoping to make it down to the New Apartment Lounge on Tuesday for his yearly birthday celebration at his weekly gig which is always a joyous occasion. There are a few musicians that I can honestly say changed my life and Von Freeman is definitely one of them.

Whenever I hear about the MacArthur Grants, I think of this sketch by Stephen Colbert.

Larry pretty much nailed it based on my knowledge. FWIW, the Detroit budget dwarfs Chicago's, and they have a cushion of a multi million dollar endowment, something neither the Jazz Institute of Chicago nor the City of Chicago can boast. The interest earned on that alone is probably more than the Chicago festival's budget.

You know you've got an airtight business plan when the last step is "keep your fingers crossed."

I only own the duet with Hamid Drake but I really enjoy it. I'd consider picking up some more of his stuff based on what I heard there.

Ernest Dawkins, Harrison Bankhead and Hamid Drake tonight and tomorrow at the Velvet Lounge here in Chicago.