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The CHIRP Blog
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesJazz on a Saturday (and Sunday) Afternoon
I wasn’t planning to go to this year’s Chicago Jazz Festival, but fate allowed me the opportunity to head downtown to catch at least some of it. And I’m very glad I did – I enjoyed it so much I went back the next day. Chicago’s free summer music festivals are a critical part of the city’s cultural life. I’ve never been disappointed going to one, and this was no exception. The weather was great and the vibe was chill. No lines to wait in, no worrying about tickets or not being allowed back in. Just come on down, have a seat (or throw down a blanket) and listen.
Starting this year the festival had relocated to the north side of Millennium Park, with the headliners performing in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion/Great Lawn space. The sound quality was outstanding, and thanks to a giant LCD screen there were no problems seeing the performers as well as hearing them.
Unfortunately, I missed a couple of outstanding artists who have appeared on CHIRP Radio, the Chicago Underground Duo on Saturday and Jason Adasiewicz’s Sun Rooms on Sunday. Such is the nature of having too much quality music to enjoy in just so many days. But I did see a group of stunningly talented musicians including as the Ari Brown Quintet, vibraphonist Gary Burton, the Bobby Broom trio, Miguel Zenon Quartet, and brilliant young vocalist Cécile McLorin.
And I’m glad I stuck around for the festival’s closing performers, the Sun Ra Arkestra, who put on an electrifying performance. Although he passed away 21 years ago, the prolific Avant-Garde composer and bandleader left behind mountains of material along with a philosophy of using music to explore new horizons while keeping rooted firmly in the structures of Blues and Jazz. “Space is the Place!” the band declared, and they made it impossible not to agree with them.
Here are some pictures from the weekend:
The Great Lawn, Millenuim Park, Chicago
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesEarly Warning: WHY? and Dessa are at Lincoln Hall Sept. 27-28!
WHY? is coming to Lincoln Hall with special guests Dessa for a 21+ show on Sept. 27th and an all ages show on Sept. 28th. It’s gonna be sweet…see you there!
Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesTop Five: Child Ballads Recorded By Unexpected Artists
When they were originally collected in the 1850s by folklorist Francis James Child, the 305 songs of the Child Ballads codified English and Scottish oral folk traditions dating as far back as the 1400s. In the 1960s, they helped folk revivalists like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Fairport Convention add authentic dashes of ghostly romance and gratuitous swordplay to their setlists. Today, they're still creeping up on records, often assuming the shape of an artist's own musical vision. This week, I tracked down five contemporary acts who weren't afraid to add their own spin to songs that are older than all of their ages combined.
1) Ween - "Cold Blows The Wind" (1997)
Based on: "The Unquiet Grave"
Ballad synopsis: A girl cries on her lover's grave hard enough to wake him up. Fearing increased traffic in the cemetery, he asks her to let him stay dead.
How they made it their own: Surrounding it with weirdness. "Cold Blows The Wind" appears on the second half of The Mollusk, Dean and Gene Ween's woozy nautical send-up of '70s Hobbit-prog excesses. By the time listeners get there, they'll have heard a warped vaudeville pump-up track ("Dancing In The Show Tonight"), a nihilistic Irish drinking song ("The Blarney Stone"), and a song about a mystical conch ("The Mollusk"). Amid these musical tricks, a 600-year-old sea ballad about an undead lover seems downright relatable.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesIn Rotation: King Louie
A mainstay of the Chicago Drill scene for years, King Louie has a new album on Lawless Inc., Tony, and you can hear tracks from it on CHIRP Radio!
SKaiser writesGet your ride on at this Sunday’s Active Transportation Alliance Four Star Bike & Chow!
There's still time to join CHIRP at the Active Transportation Alliance Four Star Bike & Chow this Sunday, September 7!
You can choose from 12-, 22-, 43-, or 62-mile rides on Chicago's South Side. If you're not too comfortable riding in traffic, 12-mile riders can sign up for Safe City Cycling and learn how to ride safely in the streets.
Each rider also receives a punch card to redeem three delicious samples along their route. There will be vegetarian options at each stop. Some vendors include: Lou Malnati's, nana, Pierogi Wagon, New Furama, Phoenix, and more!
To top it off a post-ride festival will be held at Circle Memorial Grove on the UIC campus (Taylor & Morgan St.) Active Trans will keep an eye out for your bike with a free bike valet, so you can enjoy the music.
Cause, come on. We LOVE music!!
To purchase tickets, click here. If you're interested in bike or hotel rentals, click here.