Show and Tell

Jack Siegel is a Chicago-based photographer who traverses the streets of Chicago with camera in hand. Jack's practice includes architectural photography and urban landscapes.

Archive

All in Musicians

Apr 8

Apr 8 Freddy Cole

Jazz, Musicians, Performance

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I love seeing our jazz treasures. The years of performing and experimenting are often on display, as they were during Cole's set. Accompanied by a bass player, drummer, and guitarist, Cole lead a very subtle, but powerful quartet, playing a number of selections from the American Songbook, as well as a tune by Sonny Boy Williamson, which reflects the influence of the blues that pervades the entire effort.

Kurt Rosenwinkel

Apr 2

Apr 2 Kurt Rosenwinkel

Jazz, Musicians, Performance

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Jazz guitarist Kurt Rosewinkel brought his six-piece band to the Jazz Showcase this weekend for the premiere of his new album, Caipi. In a review of the Thursday night opening, Tribune reviewer Howard Reich was highly complimentary of Rosenwinkel, but he seemed skeptical about what he heard,

Joe Segal's Hero

Mar 29

Mar 29 Joe Segal's Hero

Chicago, Jazz, Musicians, Performance

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It's a love hate thing. Joe Segal, the 90 year-old proprietor of Chicago's Jazz Showcase, loves Charlie Parker, which is why the photograph of Parker adorns the wall behind the stage. Joe has been in the jazz impresario business for 70+ years. Everybody who is anybody has been through that club. Joe is an institution in the world of jazz, receiving all sorts of accolades, including the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master honor.

Street Musician

Feb 19

Feb 19 Street Musician

Chicago, Musicians, Performance, Street

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While waiting on the steps outside the Michigan Avenue entrance for Evelyn to finish her scone, I heard a terrific trumpeter who clearly knew his chops. I assumed he was a jazz cat, but when I went to put money in his bucket, he asked me if I would take his photograph. Happy to do it. So we tried a number of poses. Turns out he is a blues player with J.W. Williams & the Chi-Town Hustlers.

Feb 11

Feb 11 Dee

Chicago, Musicians, Performance

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Feb 10

Feb 10 Hersch

Musicians, Jazz, Performance

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2017 Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Fred Hersch brought his trio to the Logan Center last night. For me, the standout was drummer Eric McPherson, who was the master of the subtlety, as exemplified by his use of brushes and the gentle tap here and there.

Jan 26

Jan 26 Provocative

Jazz, Musicians, Performance

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Carrington and company performed selections from her tribute to Duke Ellington's Money Jungle, now 50-plus years old. I was particularly impressed by saxophonist Mark Shin's guttural tone. The notes had an edge that was more out there than one might have expected.

Nov 4

Nov 4 Paquito

Jazz, Musicians, Performance

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Friday night saw an exciting take on Latin jazz come to the Logan Center. Fourteen-time Grammy award winning Paquito D' Rivera brought his quintet to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts for an evening of jazz that featured work from his 2014 album, Jazz Meets the Classics. On the bandstand were Diego Urcola (trumpet and valve trombone), Alex Brown (piano), Oscar Stagnaro (electric six-string bass), and Mark Walker (drums). Sitting in as a guest from Alejo Poveda on congas.

Sep 24

Sep 24 Indispensable

Festivals, Jazz, Musicians, Performance

One of the highlights of this year's Hyde Park Jazz Festival was the opportunity to see and hear the great jazz trumpeter, Tom Harrell, together with TRIP, which also features saxophonist Mark Turner. A tight unit that plays gorgeous music. Still lots of humidty in the air, but the darkness and dark greenish-yellow hues portend Fall.

Sep 3

Sep 3 Avreeayl

Jazz, Musicians, Performance

The Good News from the Chicago Jazz Festival: Legendary drummer, percussionist, and nice guy Avreeayl Ra was back in the saddle tonight, after having been jumped and then beaten by a group of thugs as he walked to the parking lot from Chicago's Green Mill Jazz Club a couple of weeks back. From my seats, he looked fully recovered, but my photographs reveal some purple bruising around his left eye. He was in excellent form and spirits.

Sep 2

Sep 2 Bley

Jazz, Musicians, Performance

Photographically, the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park is a hot mess. I didn't have a media pass, so I positioned myself just to the right of the media pit in the second row on the aisle, which gave me a relatively unobstructed view. What those in the pit learned very quickly is that the video screen behind the stage creates all sorts of problems.

Sep 1

Sep 1 Taj

Musicians, Performance

Taj, accompanied by Bill Rich on bass and Kester Smith on drums, came out at the appointed time, proceeding to put on a terrific show for 100+ minutes. He still has chops, with a voice that is as distinctive and strong as ever. No question on the guitar. During the performance, he played a hollow-body guitar that generated incredible reverb, a National steel guitar, and an acoustic guitar. For the encore, he stepped over to an electric piano. I was disappointed that he didn't pick up the banjo or the ukulele.

Aug 16

Aug 16 Strings

Jazz, Musicians

Tonight we have Here and Now, a trio compromised of Tomeka Reid on cello, Mazz Swift on violin, and Sylvia Bolognesi on bass. When I read list of instruments, I can only wonder whether this will sound like a Hayden string piece.

Jul 16

Jul 16 Sharp

Musicians, Performance

"What a lonesome feeling when you are by yourself." This well-dressed gentleman was certainly by himself tonight, playing very softly while many people passed by on Chicago's river walk, paying no attention to him.

Jul 9

Jul 9 Mojo

Musicians, Urban Landscapes

Well the citizens of Chicago must have succeeded in doing good things, because the "Go Do Good" mural has been removed. In its place, is now a colorful portrait of Chicago Blues icon Muddy Waters. To me, it is a far more appropriate image for the space and the City. Although I might have preferred a more subtle depiction of Muddy. It instantly brings to mind Muddy's controversial 1968 album on Chess entitled Electric Mud. Muddy did not need to go psychedelic. He was the one who paved the path that made a lot of the rock music of the late Sixties possible.

Jul 5

Jul 5 McCann

Jazz, Performance, Musicians

Tonight it was vocalist Tammy McCann and guitarist Mike Allemana. As was true back in the Seventies, you might not think that the two musicians could keep it going for two one-hour sets, but you would be very wrong. Like Ella and Pass, and Eldridge and Peterson, tonight's performers captivated their audience.

Jun 21

Jun 21 Berman

Jazz, Performance, Musicians

Meanwhile, the crowd was enjoying a delicious dinner from the catering department, as well as the barbecue on the lower terrace. The figs, Italian meats, and cheese looked particularly tempting. And this was the first evening where the skies were that rich blue color that everyone associates with summer.

Jun 12

Jun 12 Cooler

Musicians, Performance

Taking Youthful Enthusiasim Under the Arm of Grizzled Experience

First up was Charlie Love. Basic blues, but excellent blues. Charlie called one Steven up from the audience. This Chicago teen had his chops down, performing three or four numbers with a cracker jack band. Steven held his own. And he has the red and orange shirt thing going on for him.

Jun 11

Jun 11 Hotter

Musicians, Performance

Toward the end of his set, Theo asked if three lovely ladies would join him on stage for some hip shaking. A couple of the women who volunteered knew how to shake their hips. I give a lot of credit to the 89-year old lady who jumped up at the opportunity to join Theo.

Jun 10

Jun 10 Hot

Performance, Musicians

"Blow Your Harmonica Son"

The Chicago Blues Festival opened today as temperatures soared above 90 degrees, with the City's streets clogged by pedestrians and vehicles. Even with sirens blaring, the police found themselves stuck in traffic.

Meanwhile, blues music often blared from four stages in Grant Park.