“Maybe it’s… I am a seeker in search of a dreamer…” All for Love- B. Oliver
When I found out that Bilal Oliver was coming through Chicago for an intimate listening party I envisioned myself in a sea of “like eared” music lovers getting a soulful sample of his Sept. 14th release, “Air Tight’s Revenge”. Last year was a phenomenal year for the eclectic singer with him receiving a Grammy nod for his appearance on Robert Glasper’s “All Matter”, guest appearances on projects from Terence Blanchard and Shafiq Husayn, while continuing to tour with music from Love for Sale (still some of the best unreleased music some folks have yet to hear). The self proclaimed jazz junkie has been so busy that I just couldn’t wait to indulge in the goodness he surely would be serving up for his first studio release in nearly 10 years. The listening party was to be held at Rumba, a venue known for shutting down acts that aren’t centered in Latin music, so the listening party was going to be blazing, right?
“I figured that I’d stop by; I stood in your doorway…” Make Me Over-B. Oliver
I’m not disillusioned about my city or the pallet that dictates the musical tastes of a good number of people here; Chicago is a blues/steppers/old school jazz kinda town. No matter how many soul/new jazz/electronic artists book gigs here, if the artist doesn’t have at least one radio hit from the aforementioned genres, the masses are less likely to be receptive. WOAH! LIGHT BULB MOMENT: Maybe Bilal’s 2001 single “Soul Sista” (still played here as a stepper’s cut) prompted the crowd of unimpressed club goers to show up! Chicago is known for being very laid back, but maybe if those anti-crowd participating folks had just stuck to one of their more favored “model call/industry events” those who actually came to partake of the music could have filled those seats and spaces at the bar. Yeah…it was like that.
“Sometimes…I wish I saw the exit sign first…” Sometimes- B. Oliver
It’s probably my own fault. I’ve had the opportunity to engage in some truly intimate events with a few of my favorite artists, including Bilal. That’s probably why I felt the venue to be of inadequate size to hold all the under-whelmed, important folks passing out their business cards in the dimly lit space. I also know some badazz DJs. That would explain why it was so apparent that the quality of the sound system was garbled and static filled, like when you used to record radio songs on your tape player back in the day. (Ack like you didn't do it, too.) It probably also explains why the selections and placement of new and old Bilal songs seemed so contrived and uninspired. I’m a music fan first, so that probably accounts for my discontent with one of the seemingly out of touch, but well known emcees for the evening getting up on the stage and telling the crowd how Chicago is about R&B, Blues and Jazz and not “that hip hop stuff”. Eh hem…no disrespect to what a certain record store may have done for “R-uh”, but do a little research before grabbing the mic. See the collective known as the Soulquarians. Yes…that’s Bilal’s name all up and through the various projects. Bilal with Guru? Bilal and J. Dilla? Any of this registering? (Ay, soundman...Cut his mic, please…) That same emcee later started talking about one of their other events featuring performances by the 1990s light-skinned superfriends, Al B. Sure and Christopher Williams. Pfft! Maybe they got that event right…
“There’s got to be more levels…” Levels- Bilal Oliver
Even for some true fans, it is not so much the CD recordings of Bilal’s music that bring them out, as it is his animated personality and complex performances. After all, he did hone his skills by studying jazz in high school, at the University level and on the Philadelphia club scene. I tell people that his performances are a bit like snowflakes in that no two are exactly the same. On a regular tour I’ve seen Bilal accompanied by some truly gifted individuals who take their time to bring out the beauty and concepts of his colorful compositions. He’s been backed by the legendary Roots Crew for goodness sake! Alas, a listening party is a far cry from a tour and the few songs that were performed were…played by the band that got the gig. Again...
“The whole thing has got me searchin…” Love Poems- B. Oliver
Yeah, I sprinkled in some lyrics from a few of my favorite Bilal songs. That’s always been a part of the enchantment I’ve found with his performances. When fans are in the building you’d think they were in the studio with him when he recorded those songs. What truly amazes me is when people close their eyes, throw one hand in the air and sing songs from an album (Love for Sale) that was never released by his former label. The label may not have known what to do with the album, but I (along with countless other fans) certainly knew what to do with it: Burn, baby, burn! The album itself may not have earned him any sound scans, but those concerts where both men and women can be seen swaying and singing:
“I played the fool before…stared at the sun ‘til it burned out my eyesight; Blind, but a man must move on…no time for regrets; who lives to rehearse?”
PRICELESS! Hearing the old faves from any artist will usually get those ears open for the offering of new music. Sadly, this was hardly the scene for the listening party. People seemed too occupied with their drink orders and buzzing conversations to even clap, let alone recite lyrics. It’s situations like this that make me fear that performers who don’t get radio play in the city will stop scheduling Chicago as a stop during their tour dates altogether. Really, who could blame them? These artists make a good deal of their money from touring and if the “fans” are unreceptive AND the marketing group promotes and hosts a lack luster event, well…guess I may eventually have to start tacking air fare on to the cost of my concert tickets. Sigh…
“I’m saying this because I love ya and I wanna grow witcha baby…but you wanna run in the other direction…” Sometimes- B.Oliver
I may be considered a music snob, but I am certainly not alone in my sentiments about that listening party. I can only hope that those who actually wanted to hear the new material got a chance through some other method. I found some beautifully produced video footage by a cat named Mikael Colombu called “Sessions in tiny tent”. Check it out and hear how a badazz, take- no- prisoners band gets down on some of the new music. HEAT! Not surprisingly, my always trusted, favorite free station (National Public Radio) also has the entire release available (temporarily) for a first listen. In case you haven’t heard, take a listen at NPR.Org-Music First Listen. I’m hoping that by the time Bilal announces his official tour dates, those of us here in the city who actually WANT to attend the show won’t have to miss out because of the mishandling of a few.
Yeah...I already know what some folks will say about this, but as always...
Read me. Reply to me. Repost me. Repeat.
-Heatseeker
