None of our college department heads were the proud owners of seven Grammys, and we can bet neither were yours, unless, of course, you’re currently enrolled in Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Peforming Arts jazz department, where jazz-drumming legend Paul Wertico has been named the interim head (he’s taught there for the last five years). Wertico, currently performing in Europe, was a member of the Pat Metheny Group for eighteen years, has drummed on a slew of Grammy-nominated albums and was named “2004 Chicagoan of the Year” by the Trib. “Paul is at a time of his life when he’s looking for a change,” says James Gandre, Dean of the CCPA. Wertico has already begun implementing ideas, including a new combo program in which each individual combo focuses exclusively on a specific period of jazz. “We’re really emphasizing more and more on improvisation, which is what is at the core of jazz,” Gandre says. “If you don’t know how to do improvisation, then you’re really not going to be a jazz player.”
A Positive Light: The Soul Children of Chicago Sing "O-o-h Child" at Chicago Live! The Chicago Live! concerts coincide with the last weekend of “State of Sound: A World of Music from Illinois” music exhibit. As a sendoff, the Soul Children of Chicago will sing “O-o-h Child” in tribute to this socially significant Chicago song. The thirty-piece choir has been rehearsing the song for a month and the pier audience will be encouraged to…
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.
