Must Own Music: Coultrain's "While She Was Sleeping"

There are some artistic endeavors which make me appreciate the sanction-free format of The Best You Never Heard of. I can take my time, receive the creative gift being offered and (hopefully) present the true beauty and integrity of the artist’s project so that you, too, will be eager to receive that gift. I admittedly have not been so moved for a minute, but suddenly- independently gift wrapped and humbly hand delivered at a recent ‘We Love Soul’ event at Chicago’s Darkroom- came Coultrain’s “While She Was Sleeping”. A moment, please, for me to properly reflect on this latest muse...

*Sigh.*

“While She Was Sleeping” is the latest musical mile marker in the Adventures of Seymour Liberty, Coultrain’s alter ego moniker and the title for the St. Louis native’s 2008 full length indie release. Marrying the performer’s rich, throw back vocals and skillfully penned poetry with DJ Limelight’s carefully constructed blends, “While She Was Sleeping” is a soulful mélange of music from past projects, designed to give listeners an ample sample of what Coultrain’s sound is all about. This must-own mix-tape consists of 17 tracks with subject matter that runs the gamut from affectionate (“Love…Meaning”, “Green”) to introspective (“Playin’ Catch Up”, “The Wanderer”). Even the more courtship driven tracks are too cashmere cool to be sappy sweet. For those of you who join me in standing unashamedly outside of the traditional soul box looking in, you will be pleased to know that this entire project is groove heavy, so no simple, soft ballad curve balls to skip past. Another moment…and a toast, please…to filler-free projects!

At the heart of it all rests my reverence for Coultrain, not just as an artist, but as a lover of art, including (apparently) antiquities because seriously…NO ONE is writing songs like this anymore. His lyrics tell stories with elements so imaginative that they seem ready for stage or screen accompaniment. Flat out: if Coultrain rhymed on the mic, he would be in a class amongst the very best rewind emcees. Peruse the lyrics for his songs at http://seymourliberty.tumblr.com/ and see for yourself. His descript wording, accompanied by vivid, timeless images not only make it easy to get lost in the allure of his work, but to empathize. Check out this verse from his song “1st Steps”, also found on his previous mix-tape, GodMustBeABoogieMan:

I used 2 think my prayers went unanswered,

cuz I couldn’t find a way 2 decipher

between my wants & needs,

all the while I could feel my light dimming,

like a flawless diamond

still trapped inside the coal, black & bold,

my soul is growin’ old,

but adventure stubbornly calls my name,

its different but the same,

ain’t it all significant?…

I wanna see a lighter in the air from anyone who has ever felt themselves to be on the verge of grasping ANYTHING elusive. Lyrics like this are what make Coultrain that dude for me.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that Coultrain’s appeal does not simply rest with him being a gifted word-smith or possessing a decadent voice; the plus is in the presentation. Indie artists…take NOTE:

I received the cleverly packaged merchandise set which consists of one Coultrain t-shirt, the “While She Was Sleeping” mix-tape, a digital download card for additional music and an autograph, for $20. His manager was hard at work MOVING THAT MERCHANDISE, not moving through the room convinced of his own omnipotence. Coultrain wasn’t putting the finishing touches on his disc with a Sharpie at the venue before asking for my hard earned dollars to purchase said disc (Yes…it was professionally PRE-PACKAGED). The band (even with stand-in members) knew the music before hitting the stage. My point is, even as an indie artist, he put his best professional foot forward. In these lean, mean times it can be difficult to get folks to come out of their pocket for a show, and as for merchandise…fuhgetaboutit! Coultrain’s name may be drifting in the air amidst indie soul/hip-hop circles for now, but if the dedication I witnessed is any indication of Mr. Seymour Liberty’s forthcoming endeavors, I look forward to seeing the potency his name will develop in the next stages of his journey.

Stay tuned as the adventure continues…

Bilal Oliver's Chicago Listening Party: Why "Air Tight's Revenge" might actually be against my city

“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

Smart Art on a Budget

I consider myself to be an old school Hyde Park lover. As a child I jumped and mastered (let us not forget mastered) double dutch with my friends until the street lights came up. Before the Obama’s made the community even more of a destination spot for folks breezing through the windy city, my sneakers traversed the terrain and took in every cultural delight Hyde Park had to offer. Rich with cafes, a beautiful lakefront, boutiques and even the Museum of Science and Industry, I thought I’d experienced every enriching inch of the neighborhood. That is, until I happened upon The David and Alfred Smart Museum on The University of Chicago campus and fell in love all over again.

Tucked into an enclave of residential commons and an athletic field house on the north campus, The Smart Museum at 5550 S. Greenwood Avenue is an unassuming, artistic example of what the University of Chicago offers to the part of the city where they own the vast majority of commercial land. First opened in 1974 as a resource for the university’s art history department, the museum has been open and FREE (my favorite price point) to the public since the early 80s. Even before perusing the art collection, the location is inviting with the natural, open space of the Elden Sculpture garden as the functional courtyard. Once inside, light from the full wall of windows facing the courtyard gives the pristine reception area an almost ethereal, light essence. It makes perfect sense that this space was named as one of the ten best museums for a wedding. No worries for anyone without nuptials on the horizon; the space is available for a variety of events, with a private tour and catering services as a part of the rental package.

Though the museum is a modest size, it has the same amenities of other museums: a gift shop that carries books and unique jewelry, as well as a café serving food from some of area’s most popular restaurants. Special care was given to include vegetarian selections beyond simple side dishes, so vegetarians can forego the forced French fry lunch. The café seating is perfect for a quiet afternoon alone sipping espresso or for academic discussions with a group. Speaking as both a foodie and an artistic geek, that sounds like my kind of care free afternoon.

The art work within the gallery is based on four central themes: Asian art, European art, Modern art and Design. The intimate setup of the galleries allows visitors to thoroughly peruse the rotating collection without the hustle and bustle typically seen in larger museums. In fact, I became so comfortable viewing the exhibits that I had the audacity to take out a pen when my pencil tip broke. Gasp! One of several Men In Black type attendants quickly swooped down upon me, gently scolding while handing me a new pencil. Although I got checked with that “respect my house” move, I was reminded that the beautiful pieces must be protected just as with any other museum. Particular standouts from the exhibits include the delicate Asian scrolls and pottery from various dynasties and the solid, groundbreaking work of design pioneer Frank Lloyd Wright. The museum currently holds the furniture designed by Wright for the nearby Robie House.

The Smart Museum extends its cultural contribution beyond visual art by hosting free afternoon performances as a part of the annual Passport to Jazz series. Passport to Jazz allows visitors to take part in a number of jazz related events, workshops and performances while redeeming prizes and merchandise leading up to the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, being held this year on September 25th, 2010. While it is too late to take in the sculpture garden performances for this year, The Smart Museum takes part in these events annually, holding fast to the museum’s commitment to cultural enrichment for the entire community. The Smart Museum is currently open Tuesday through Friday, 10am-4pm and Saturday, 11am-5pm. Grab a friend or the family and uncover the hidden gems of this artistic treasure today. Make a day of it! Your stimulated and enlightened senses will thank me later.

-Heat Seeker

DJ, Bring Dat Beat Back!

Although I have a passion for the written word and the many fantastic journeys one can enjoy when words meet a brilliant idea, my first love is music. I need it. Daily. You put me in a room with some headphones, sounds and a stack of tasks and you’ll barely know I’m there. Just ask my co- workers…

The thing is I’m what folks often classify as a music snob. I like what I like and I reject any mainstream box the commercial broadcast bullies would try to confine me to. Blame it on the radio. Even if I DID enjoy listening to Drake, Beyonce and Nikki Minaj, I don’t want to hear their songs all day, everyday!

Just for snits and giggles, listen to the radio (doesn’t matter what station) on your ride in to work and take notice of the songs you hear before getting out of the car to start your day. On the ride home turn the same station on and I’ll bet that you hear the same songs, sometimes in the same order! What’s that you say?

“But, Heatseeker…I was at work for 8 hours!”

I’ll see your 8 hours and raise you with some figures of my own:

The average American song is 4 minutes long. That would allow for 120 songs to be played in that 8 hour (480 minutes) time span. Factor in 12 minutes of every hour that is set aside for sponsors and commercial advertisement and that eliminates 96 minutes from those 8 hours. That leaves 384 minutes for music or 96 average length songs.

I’m no mathematician, but with the limited number of artists they rotate on the radio, they’re either spinning these artists’ entire catalogs or they’re repeating music every time a new DJ starts his or her show.

Outside of listening to National Public Radio, I pretty much turned a deaf ear to the “big” stations years ago. It’s not that I don’t want to keep hearing about how thick and juicy some unknown woman’s body is or that I’m unconcerned about how much crack one sold before getting signed, but…wait…that IS a part of why I don’t listen to the radio! The other reason is just what I was getting at before: there’s so much more out there than what the program projectors (eh hem…directors) choose to offer to the listeners.

I started rolling with podcasts and internet radio years ago and I haven’t looked back. Not only can I get full from a smorgasbord of fiery hot music, but it’s a chance to discover new music and talent that might not otherwise get any play outside of their specific region. I told you all, heat TRULY lies underground. With that in mind, I come bearing gifts today: a collection of some of my favorite locals who are truly keeping fresh and innovative music popping for your listening pleasure. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Soundrotation with your host Duane Powell- http://soundrotation.podomatic.com/
Personally responsible for broadening my horizons, Duane is known for placing hot indie unknowns in the rotation with underground legends to help build a stronger following. He explores all genres and regions to produce some truly classic, mood capturing podcasts. Check out his jazz collective with the Afro Blue podcast. This podcast is the stuff of legend and has been taking the internet by storm! Check out his live vibe on Mondays at The Darkroom, 2210 W. Chicago Avenue.

Fathom DJ- http://www.fathomdj.com/
You THINK your chick is bad…Fathom DJ blends soulful sounds together with music that radio listeners and obscure experimentalists can both appreciate. Whaddya want? House? Garage? Hip hop? Soul? Electronica? Afrobeat? She’s your gal. Name a club in the city, any club. She’s sure to have rocked some bodies and turned the party out. Check for her at Crème de la Femme, the new Thursday night party at Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash.

Jamal Jaytoo Jeffries (thedjyomamaluv)- http://www.jamaljeffries.com/
The name says it all. I’m someone’s mama and I love what he does to the tables! Funk, soul, hip hop…Jaytoo gets the party jumping. You can catch him on Swank Society Radio with “Adventures in Sound Radio” every Monday 11am-1pm and wrecking a party in the Chi at any given time. Check out a sample of his work with his podcast at http://thedjyomamaluv.podomatic.com/ and give him your love. Check him in person on Sundays from 5-11pm with SASS (Sunday Afternoon Soul Sessions) at the Butterfly Social Club, 722 West Grand in Chicago. It’s a party on a Sunday afternoon that you can enjoy early enough to still make it in to work on Monday.

Africa Hot- http://backofthebus.podomatic.com/
Blazin is more like it. In his own words he plays “all kinds of *hit you don’t even know you like yet”. I thought we were going to lose him to New Orleans, but he has decided to forego his move for now and continue to bless us with his banging podcasts. You can often check him out singing back ground vocals for artists as they move their way through town with great indie performances. I’m pleased to announce that you can now catch him spinning in residency on Wednesday from 6-9pm at Juicy Wine Company, 694 North Milwaukee in Chicago’s Riverwest neighborhood. Whew! We almost lost one!

World Vibe Radio- http://www.wvrvibe.com/
An internet station set on changing your idea of what GOOD radio should be. Operating since 2006, this station is progressively growing more popular due to their drive to grant exposure to quality new artists. Radio listeners, don’t worry…they also play quality R&B, Soul, House and Hip Hop. Baby step into the new… They have a host of entertaining DJs, so log on and tune in. There’s something for everybody and they encourage contact from new artists looking to launch their clean, fully crafted music.

Swank Society- http://swanksociety.com/
Despite a number of changes with this internet station over the years, they continue to be a platform for diversity, culture and creativity. The force behind a variety of events and performances throughout the city, you can catch past and present shows from a range of DJs who scour the genres in search of sweet sounds.

Hope you all enjoy. Wanna show your appreciation? I have a minimal request: Read Me. Reply to me. Repost me. Repeat.

-Heat Seeker

Oh Baby, Imma...Star?

Recently I’ve found myself pondering the true merits of success after learning that a local musician (who shall remain un-named here) had been signed to a major label deal. Now, before you begin to think that I’m twirling a baton in the hate parade, read me out! I’m not asserting that he is without any musical talent; I have personally witnessed him strum together a beautiful freestyle melody on guitar while directing his back up band. My delight was interrupted, however, by the approaching, slow whine of what should have been an ambulance siren. Alas, no ambulance ever arrived as I came to realize: Oh…Oh no…He’s singing.


You may ask, then: how did he manage to get a label deal?? As evidenced by the offerings from today’s popular radio and video shows, talent (when factored in at all) is only one part of the equation. Though not necessarily endowed with vocal prowess, the un-named artist has spent a great deal of time shaping his image and career and getting it all out there by way of an impressive guerilla PR campaign that has garnered him lots of attention and apparently the golden egg: a recording contract.

All that being said I have sage advice for anyone looking to venture off into any entrepreneurial pursuit. I’ve engaged with a good number of performers, writers and business mavericks and have come up with an amalgamated collection of tips that may help you to shine in your own endeavor.


10 TIPS THAT WON’T STUNT YOUR GROWTH

1. Your Career Venture Is a BUSINESS and Should Be Treated As Such
When you take yourself seriously, you encourage others to do the same. Even if your business is in its infancy, approach every opportunity with fine tuned professionalism. Show up to events on time, sober and ready to work. Establishing yourself as a consummate professional will help to keep you top of mind the next time a venture opens up where your expertise or talents can be useful.

2. Own Your Brand
There is no rest for the weary when trying to move a career along. Your image should be one of those elements that never stops working. Let your image and all the accompanying elements (quality of work, timeliness of your message, reputation, etc) be a reflection of what you have to offer. If you model yourself as a sophisticated writer, but all of your social networking sites contain short hand text because “that’s your personal page”, then get another page to dedicate to the professional “you”. You can’t fully control the way your message will be received, but you can certainly control what you put out there to be received.

3. Don’t Be Afraid of the ‘Net
Point blank: If you’re still operating solely through MySpace, your career is a WRAP! The internet has opened doors that allow you to reach people all over the world. Ignoring vital tools such as dedicated web pages, blogs, social networking sites and even YouTube (the second largest search engine IN THE WORLD) can be career suicide and greatly neglects opportunities for marketing and brand building. Making your mark in cyberspace may seem daunting, but it conveys a message that you are taking your work seriously and maybe (just maybe) someone else should, too.

4. Collaborate, Collaborate, and Collaborate
Everyone wants to be a headliner, but there is no shame in absorbing a little glow from someone else’s shine. Aligning your project with a similar, more notable project (especially one with existing press coverage) creates greater exposure for you. Make friends with those making moves, make your career intentions known and maybe (just maybe), make some money.

5. Get Out and About
Having been an anti-social socialite at one time, I can NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH! If no one ever sees your face in the place, it doesn’t matter how many friends you pillage from other peoples’ FB pages; no one will know who you are. Being out in your specific scene will allow you to spark up conversations with people who may be in a position to help further your endeavors. A closed mouth won’t get fed, so learn to schmooze with a purpose.

6. People Don’t Want to Ride Your Bandwagon Until It’s Already Full
I know I made mention of the friend pirating, but this behavior has its benefits. Foregoing any relevance to the actual number of friends you may have, it is essential to get those friends interacting with you on a regular basis. Comments on your work, reposts of your ideas, testimonials, etc. all give relevance to your brand. When it looks like you have a lot of activity going on with your work, people are more compelled to want to find out more. (P.S. Read my blog. Tell a friend to tell a friend and come again ;-)

7. Killing Time Kills Success
We all want to feel important at times. What better way to feel important than to have someone else handling all of your business and reporting back to you?? Wrong! A team equipped with a manager, publicist, producers, personal assistant, etc. may be necessary at some point, but if you’re waiting to get all of these people on board before making your career moves, kill your career now. You will run into roadblocks with everything from personality conflicts to money squabbles in some instances and you shouldn’t let that stop your progress. If you can handle certain aspects of your career on your own or with a core group of your close, reliable and CAPABLE comrades, get the ball rolling with just your peeps.

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Spend Money to Make Money
My days on the poetry scene have shown me that people will go ROGUE with the production of their work! I recall seeing “coffee books” fresh from the copy store with crooked staples poking out of the back of the double folded heavy stock paper. And you want HOW MUCH for this?? Spending a little more time and (YES) money on your project helps you to provide a quality product and thus, a better representation of yourself. In these lean economic times, people are less likely to part with their money if your work is put together like a practical joke.

9. Free Can Be Your Friend
I know a lot of people are hesitant to work for “free”, but never under estimate the power of occasionally lending your talents in order to build your portfolio. I said that people don’t want to ride your band wagon until it’s already full and the same goes for those who are in a position to further your career. So, maybe you do a couple of shows in a small venue for free. Now you can approach the larger venue with a list of past gigs and never have to let them know that you worked elsewhere for free; you now have the experience that will allow you to negotiate a better gig for a fee.

10. Ignore the Nay Sayers, but Lend Some Credence to the Critics
Not every person will have an opinion of your work that mirrors your own. Of course not! You’re clearly biased. In the case of that newly signed artist, I previously recommended that he seek out instruction from a vocal coach and perhaps just lead his band with another vocalist until he was ready. He took it pretty hard, but I certainly meant him no harm. On the other hand, there are some individuals who just won’t want to see you succeed, no matter how great you are. In the land of the like and dislike button, you have to determine where the balance lies amidst the words of the “yes men and women” with motives and those who will be likely to pay for your services or talent in the future.

Give The Drummer* Some!

I can admit to being late for events on occasion, including wor…well, I’m late for a fair number of things. (Don’t judge me.) On March 29th, however, as I entered the Guitar Center 10 minutes LATE for Anthony Capers' drum clinic, I felt an ever growing sense of regret for letting procrastination prevail. The Country Club Hills location is by no means a large space, but the full sound of Anthony Capers (AKA "Big Ant") and guest performers Black Slang swelled beyond the boundaries of the walls, spilled into the vestibule and boldly greeted me at the door.

“Damn. Ya’ll feel dat?”

They were playing Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” arranged by Big Ant, but I’ll get to that shortly…

Big Ant assembled talent of premier rank for the opening of his second drum clinic with Junius Paul-bass, Kevin Nabors-sax,Corey Wilkes-trumpet, Greg Spero-keys (collectively known as Black Slang) and Chris Paquette-percussion. In the center of it all, appropriately positioned as if upon a throne, was Anthony Capers holding court and drumming the divinity out of a full drum kit. The energy from the floor consumed the crowd as the crew grooved their way through a sophisticated and soulful “remix” of John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps”. When I found out later that Anthony Capers actually arranged the piece, I knew two things:

1. I had found the subject of my next blog piece, and

2. This man is not “just” a drummer, he is a musician *

The arrangement was alluring, marrying technical skill, timing, talent, genres and fun to present a true auditory delight. Big Ant approached what he calls the remix of Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” with an audacious nature. After all, “Giant Steps” is a standard composed in such a complex and forward manner that its rapid progression of chord changes over several different keys gave way to the term “Coltrane changes”. The band made minced meat out of that beat and blended it into a stew of soul, funk and jazz that truly fed my soul.



As a true testament to his true versatility, Ant wrapped up one jam session, fielded a few questions and encouraged a young man to “keep playing” only to introduce the next jam session with the group Sugar Pusher. Group member Matt Kerr provided the vocals on a high flying rendition of the Beatles’ classic hit “Get Back”. The collective of talent came together so cohesively that being a fan of rock was not a pre-requisite for enjoying the second half of the clinic. It was just good music.



After witnessing his talent for myself, there is no wonder why performers from gospel to hip hop look to Ant Capers for backing. He exhibits true showmanship during a performance that can be peppered with amusement, serious focus or even an impressed look for his fellow performers. While he urged clinic participants to ask questions about technique, it was obvious that the language of the drums is suitably his native tongue. I look forward to seeing Ant use his language to speak to the masses, but you can follow him for show information via facebook, screen name:Anthony Capers.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow: A Fond Farewell to Dr. Wax Records

As a teenaged girl walking around with parental funds burning a hole in my pocket it was not the call of the mall which lured me, but one rather unassuming spot in Hyde Park certainly did. Nestled into a little loft area in Harper Court once stood the perfect sanctuary for audiophiles throughout the city: Dr. Wax Records- Hyde Park. On Saturday, February 20th, after surviving 22 years of changes in music, the community and even the store’s physical location, Dr. Wax closed its doors for one last time. A moment of silence…please…
As an entity, Dr. Wax will forever hold a place in my heart for providing an open door and shelf space to independent artists seeking an inroad to get their sound from the studio to the streets with few complications. I can still recall the first time I went in to purchase music created by my own friends, Poetree Chicago. I was both proud and excited, as I had actually been present when some of those verses were written. Such was the magic of Dr. Wax; the store made no distinction between the main stream and independents, but instead showed love to any musician with a sound that could sell. Over the years the store became a sponsor for many of the independent shows that took place in spots like the Double Door, Subterranean and more recently, The Shrine-Chicago. These intimate events brought people out from all over the city, proving that the indie movement truly does have legs and an audience of radio weary listeners looking to see their favorites strut their stuff for a reasonable price.

Having said all of that about the store itself, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that it was not the bricks and mortar that kept me going back for half of my lifetime. Over the years I was fortunate enough to come to know and love the store’s knowledgeable and friendly manager, Duane “Mr. Dr. Wax” Powell. In the pop culture sense of things, Duane would be the Morpheus to my Neo, having personally provided me with the “red pill” that  expelled me from the matrix of often misogynistic mainstream radio music. Duane was the back bone of the store, responsible for keeping them stocked with the hottest, on the verge music from around the world. In a city where stepper’s music often reigns supreme, Duane is arguably the reason that the soul/indie movement even has a presence in Chicago. Personally befriending and promoting music from recent Grammy nominated performers The Foreign Exchange, Yahzarah St. James, Eric Roberson and Ledisi, the caliber of artists he chooses to support leaves no room to question his veracity. Duane often submerges himself into the cultural epicenters of other cities in order to bring us music hot off the presses! I am and will forever be grateful for the musical finds he has introduced to me, allowing me to create the soundtrack for many events in my life and befriend some exceptionally talented people, as well. I truly wish him well in his future endeavors, as I know he will be quite successful if he continues on his current path. Check out a sampling of his musical finds by following his Podcast at http://soundrotation.podomatic.com/.

In the end, it’s only right that a cultural icon known for showing such support of the indie movement would receive an appropriate send off from some the very artists around whom the store rallied. A farewell celebration for Dr. Wax will take place on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the McCormick Auditorium, 3241 S. Federal. The concert features one of my fave UK artists, Julie Dexter with backing from Chicago’s own Zzaje, along with local performers Cherisse Scott, Innosphere, and a special tribute to recently retired local hip hop radio pioneer, JP Chill. I’m expecting the house to be JAM PACKED that night! An after party is also set for Shrine-Chicago, 2109 S. Wabash. In typical fashion for events related to Dr. Wax, this event is wallet friendly and a combo ticket for both events can be purchased for a mere $20 at http://afinalgoodbye.eventbrite.com/. Come out to show your appreciation and perhaps discover some still undiscovered talent before this gem and the shine it emanates are both gone for good.