Monday, 09 April 2018 21:18
Roll Over Beethoven - “Beethoven: Five Concertos – One Pianist”
Written by Ron Reis
All five piano concertos on one bill? Gulp…Yes. This is a rare treat. For those of you do not know what a piano concerto is exactly, I will tell you. First, you have the piano. But you probably guessed that. Second, is a medium sized orchestra. You may not have…
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In Concert
The Dixie Dregs reunited for a tour recently their latest stop being The Vic Theater in Chicago. For those of you who don’t know who they are, they were one of the finer instrumental groups of the late 70’s/early 80’s. Some may put them in the category of Fusion, but…
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In Concert
Thursday, 22 March 2018 17:06
Stanley Clarke at City Winery - All About That Bass
Written by Ron Reis
I was 16 years old, digging through a used record bin at a flea market. I came across an album by a Fusion band named Return to Forever. I had heard of the guitar player, Al DiMeola, so I bought the used LP for a dollar. It was money well…
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In Concert
Monday, 05 March 2018 23:29
The Benny Golson Quartet at Jazz Showcase - Tenor Talking
Written by Ron Reis
Benny Golson is one of the last great tenor saxophone players of his generation. To say he has been around would be an understatement of sizable proportions. He also likes to talk…a lot…about the good old days of Jazz.Benny is eighty-nine years old, but still plays a horn very well.…
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In Concert
Wednesday, 07 March 2018 19:17
Joanne Shaw Taylor - Blues at City Winery Chicago
Written by Ron Reis
I remember first hearing Joanne Shaw Taylor somewhere around three years ago. A guitar player, her sound falls in the vein of Stevie Ray Vaughan. And though Taylor played a solid set at City Winery this past weekend in support of her latest release “Wild,” I don’t know if I’ll…
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In Concert
Monday, 19 February 2018 03:03
Cubanismo brings mambo time to McAninch Arts Center
Written by Ron Reis
Cuban Jazz was the flavor at McAninch Arts Center (The MAC) this past weekend, but the band’s labeled genre might just be a bit misleading. In fact, I would describe the Cubanismo’s sound of as that more akin to Big Band first and foremost. Though high energy dance music with…
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In Concert
Monday, 04 December 2017 20:30
Almost Elton John's Christmas Concert Rocks The MAC
Written by Ken Payne
The McAninch Arts Center (The MAC) located at the College of Dupage kicked off the holiday season with one of the most entertaining Christmas shows one could hope for. Actor/singer Craig A. Meyer, who was featured in last year’s sold out event “The Piano Men: A Tribute to Elton John…
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In Concert
NRBQ is a fun band. “New Rhythm and Blues Quartet”. I find the name slightly misleading. When I think of R&B, I think of something completely different. This is more like old Rock and Roll with a little Vaudeville. They do have a bit of a cult following. I don’t…
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In Concert
Friday, 20 October 2017 19:11
An Evening with Chris Thile – The Man, The Mandolin
Written by CJ Burroughs
“That didn’t even sound like a mandolin,” I said to my companion – a mandolinist of some considerable skill – as we left Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts after attending An Evening with Chris Thile. “That’s what a mandolin’s supposed to sound like,” he said. I guess…
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In Concert
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After cancelling her performance earlier this season due to health concerns, the Queen of Soul, the great Aretha Franklin, tabbed as the greatest vocalist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, made her triumphant return to Ravinia. Dressed in a sparkling silver dress and donning a wig giving the seventy-five-year-old…
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In Concert
Thursday, 31 August 2017 08:08
The Looking for Summer Tour - Lifehouse with Switchfoot at Ravinia
Written by Ruth Payne
The other night I went to Ravinia Festival. I am not afraid to admit that, after all my concert going years, it was my time going to the Ravinia venue located in Highland Park, Illinois. But there must be first time for everything and a double bill with Lifehouse and…
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In Concert
Monday, 28 August 2017 13:52
John Cougar Mellencamp at Ravinia: "Somethin' to see"
Written by CJ Burroughs
These days – these days of fractured politics and fraudulent politicians and fake news, and all of the fear they’ve collectively caused our country – perhaps we could all use a little comfort food, be it literal or figurative. And for a couple hours on Sunday night at Ravinia, that’s…
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In Concert
Tuesday, 22 August 2017 19:01
No way to slow down Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull at the Chicago Theater
Written by Roger Reis
Nearly fifty years since the start of an amazing rock band, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull takes up for another tour most recently making a stop at the Chicago Theater. With him, he brought his classic songs and jammed away. Needless to say, the night was filled with incredible music.…
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In Concert
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