The distance between Chicago and Durban may be far apart in terms of miles, but collaborations between Chicago and South African musicians and a mutual fascination with urban rhythms ensure that the cultural gap is minimal, at least when Chicago saxophonist Ernest Dawkins meets up with South African reedist Zim Ngqawana, as the two have been doing regularly both here and abroad since 1999. The two will perform and premiere new works with Dawkins’ group New Horizons in a set that will also include legendary South African percussionist Louis Moholo. As if that weren’t enough, the opening act is the first reunion of the original lineup of Gambian kora player Foday Musa Suso’s Mandingo Griot Society in some twenty years, a membership that included and will reunite Suso with Chicagoans Hamid Drake, Adam Randolph and Joe Thomas. (Dennis Polkow)
Music 45: Who Keeps Chicago In Tune 2020 This year’s Music 45 arrives at an unprecedented moment. Our city’s musicians have responded to these crises with ingenuity, vigor and creative brio.
Cool Aid: A Review of Situation Chicago 2 The album does an outstanding job of bringing home the staggering sonic and stylistic range we deny ourselves when we return too often to the same genre well.
Wholly Holly: Christmas Music Blankets Chicago Pretty much every Blind Boys of Alabama gig feels like Christmas, so their holiday show at City Winery should pretty much tear the joint down.
