Pages

Showing posts with label original photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label original photos. Show all posts

Monday, June 16, 2014

PHOTO RECAP: Liquid Soul 6/10/14 Lincoln Hall With March Fourth #OriginalPhotos

We had the great pleasure of catching a mind blowing lineup last week at Lincoln Hall, Liquid Soul AND March Fourth. Video clips are coming soon, (including a wicked human beat box) so check back like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. 



For now, here's ChiIL Live Shows' full set of photos in the slide show below. We've embedded our favorites under that.



The show was fantastic, with the the stellar horns we've come to expect, and an entirely unique melding of musical styles. They were captivating, whether the guys were throwing down amazing jams in the zone or throwing Roshambo (Rock-Paper-Scissors) to see who would lead on the vocals...



Here's the deal about Liquid Soul from their site: 
But there's really no substitute for catching them LIVE!







Liquid Soul is the Chicago-based band nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Founded in 1994, Liquid Soul has performed in 42 states and throughout Canada and Japan, plus shows in Germany, Turkey and Mexico. 




At the heart of Liquid Soul's sound, as always, is the fierce musicianship of the band itself. There's the renowned Liquid Soul horn section consisting of:



Mars Williams - Sax
Tommy Klein - Guitar
Josh Ramos - Bass (Phil Ajjarapu was bass on CD)
Tony "Kickdrum" Taylor - Drums
Doug Corcoran - Trumpet & Keyboards
Mr.Greenweedz - MC (Vocals)
David "Boy Elroy" Arredondo - Beatbox & Turntables









LIQUID SOUL HISTORY

Having exploded from a small underground street-jazz sound in Chicago, The Liquid Soul universe has been expanding at a dizzying pace. The Chicagoensemble's trademark mixture of jazz and urban dance music has virtually outgrown the term "acid jazz," incorporating everything from hard-bop to hip-hop in their celebrated sound. Down Beat magazine says Liquid Soul "sweeps the mold and mildew out of jazz-funk and breathes it back to glorious life." With a marathon touring schedule that has included everything from performing at the Presidential Inaugural Parade to headlining the first acid-jazz performance at the Newport Jazz Festival, Liquid Soul has evolved into an intuitively tight outfit that knows no stylistic limitations. The amalgamation of genres created by the 8-piece collective is a blend of pure musicianship, a fiercely passionate fire and the inherent fun of a pure dance groove. The result is a unique live music experience that draws a diverse legion of fans, spanning across multiple age and ethnic groups.


At long last, Liquid Soul is back with the follow-up to its 2000 Grammy-nominated CD,Here's the Deal (Shanachie). Evolution, the band's fourth recording, gives evidence that the dynamic unit has continued to develop its infectious trademark sound and take it to new heights. Liquid Soul called on the help of Grammy-nominated producer Maurice Joshua (N'Sync and Destiny's Child) and Frayne P. Lewis, the son of Ramsey Lews, this time around. The result is a fresh mix of butt-kicking jams, driving jazz-inspired tracks and hot dance numbers. Fans of Liquid Soul will be thrilled by the album's extra live tracks which capture the sheer magnetic energy of the band. Highlights include "Action Jackson," the rambunctious opener with the killer horn intro and thumping bass; "Sun Ra," the smooth and ethereal tribute to the celestial king; "Nina's in Jail," the funky spoken-word track reminiscent of Deborah Harry's "Rapture"; and the overpowering and live dance track "Rage Experiment."



The story of Liquid Soul goes back to 1994, when the band was at the forefront of a surging acid-jazz movement in the greater Midwest. Evolving from free-form hip-hop jams, the band coalesced spontaneously and soon found a home every Sunday night atChicago's Elbo Room. Word spread fast, attracting like-minded individuals to the small stage from far and wide. Thanks to these auspicious midnight marathons, Liquid Soul soon solidified into a steady working unit.



The group quickly morphed well beyond their improv-oriented acid jazz beginnings, and their do-it-yourself debut ("Liquid Soul") 
was quickly picked up and distributed by Ark 21 Records. 
The band was thrust further into the limelight after a much publicized gig at Dennis Rodman's birthday party. They relocated their perennial Sunday night show to the Double Door in Wicker Park and held it for almost four years (Feb. 1996 to Dec. 1999), rarely missing a Sunday even while playing nearly 200 gigs a year throughout the United States and Canada, plus performances in Germany, Turkey and Japan. Along the way, the band has gone on to both critical and national acclaim. They have opened for Sting, played at the Inaugural Parade and 21st Century Ball, and twice rocked the South By Southwest Music Festival, heralded by the Austin American-Statesman as "the single hottest showcase of the festival." And they recorded two more critically acclaimed CDs, "Make Some Noise" (Ark 21, 1998) and the Grammy-nominated "Here's the Deal" (Shanachie, 2000).

Live or in the studio, playing it hard or smooth, Liquid Soul is a fiery concoction of classy soloists, heavy rhythm merchants and hip-hop cognoscenti. They are in a group that thrives on contact with their audience. One cannot help being moved by Liquid Soul's ongoing party philosophy. The band's in-the-tradition repertoire extends from classic compositions by Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis to excursions on the latest breakbeats and mad samples. They continue to bridge the musical gap between standard jazz improvisation and urban rhythm. And as always, the band stays true to its roots with a continued philosophy of bringing jazz back to the dance floor.



Mars Williams - Saxophones
Mars Williams has studied with Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell, and has worked as an arranger and orchestrator. An open-minded musician who commutes easily between free jazz and rock, Mars has played and recorded with The Psychedelic Furs, Massacre (the Fred Frith/Bill Laswell group), Ministry, Billy Idol, Power Station, Die Warzau, The Waitresses, Pete Cosey, Billy Squier and virtually every leading figure of New York City's "downtown" scene. John Zorn credits Mars as "one of the true saxophone players--someone who takes pleasure in the sheer act of blowing the horn. This tremendous enthusiasm is an essential part of his sound, and it comes through each note every time he plays. Whatever the situation, Mars plays exciting music. In many ways he has succeeded in redefining what versatility means to the modern saxophone player." Despite his busy touring schedule with Liquid Soul, Mars manages to stay active on the Chicago underground improvising scene. In recent years he has toured and recorded with the Peter Brotzman Tentet, the Vandermark 5 and Cinghiale, teaming him with such musicians as Ken Vandermark, Hamid Drake and William Parker. And as a bandleader, he has continued to perform and record CDs with his own free-jazz groups such as the NRG Ensemble, Witches & Devils, Slam and, currently, X Mars X.









Best of:






















































Thursday, June 12, 2014

FREE Shakespeare in The Parks Schedule #Theatre #Travel #Chicago

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List: Free Fam Friendly Fun in Chi, IL

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

FREE FOR ALL
by William Shakespeare
directed and adapted by David H. Bell
July 18–August 17, 2014


Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we ADORE Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. They have high caliber, professional, world class productions.  And if that's not enough to get you out to a show, every summer they take it to the parks for FREE.  Yes, outside... for free. Bring a picnic and chiIL out in Chi, IL this summer with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's fabulous fantasy, A Midsummer Night's Dream.  All ages welcome.


Here were our prior predictions on this production when it was performed in schools across the city & publicly in a sold out run at Chicago Shakespeare's Navy Pier home:


  • A new generation is realizing Shakespeare wasn't as snooty as they thought and he wrote about wacky, cross dressing, unfaithful, confused, hilarious, murderous, magical characters.

  • A zillion jr high and high school students are crushing on the charismatic cutie, Puck (Steven Lee Johnson)! It was already starting with the tweens as early as opening day-- "No... you go talk to him..." "No, YOU. Giggle giggle."
  • More than a few students are inspired to see more theatre and/or try their hand at writing plays and poetry.
  • More than a few students are inspired to check out more circus arts, thanks to the best. wall. ever. and his uber creative block juggling work. Kudos to you!



The complete performance listing for the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, touring FREE FOR ALL to 18 neighborhood parks across Chicago is below. 


Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks

A Midsummer Night’s Dream



Back by citywide demand! Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks returns this summer and brings William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, FREE FOR ALL, to 18 neighborhood parks across Chicago. A specially equipped truck rolls into each park, a stage unfolds and a company of professional actors shares the delight of Shakespeare with families and neighbors of all ages. 



In this popular Shakespearean comedy, a quartet of mismatched lovers, a gaggle of hapless actors and mischievous sprites cross paths with the king and queen of the fairies, entangled in their own domestic dispute. Audiences will be transported to a wondrous wood brimming with paramours and possibilities where the inexplicable magic of falling in love—and the marvel of waking up from the sweetest of dreams—is discovered. Director David H. Bell has adapted this Shakespeare favorite into an acrobatic and riotously entertaining version of the play.


PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 



Gateway Park

South Lawn, Front of Navy Pier

Friday, July 18, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 19, 6:30 p.m.

600 E. Grand Ave.



Garfield Park Conservatory

Sunday, July 20, 3:00 p.m.

300 N. Central Park Ave.



Tuley Park

Tuesday, July 22, 6:30 p.m.

501 E. 90th Pl.



Dvorak Park

Wednesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 24, 6:30 p.m.


1119 W. Cullerton St.



Loyola Park

At the Farwell Avenue Entrance

Friday, July 25, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 26, 6:30 p.m.


1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.



Washington Park

East of the Pool, 5531 S. Russell Dr.

Sunday, July 27, 4:00 p.m.


5531 S. Martin Luther King Jr Dr.



Riis Park

Uphill Near the Picnic Groves

Tuesday, July 29, 6:30 p.m.


6100 W. Fullerton Ave.



Piotrowski Park

Wednesday, July 30, 6:30 p.m.

4247 W. 31st St.



Gage Park

Thursday, July 31, 6:30 p.m.

2411 W. 55th St.



Hamilton Park

Friday, August 1, 6:30 p.m.

513 W. 72nd St.



Frank J. Wilson Park

Saturday, August 2, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 3, 4:00 p.m.


4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.



Humboldt Park

Near the Boathouse

Wednesday, August 6, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 7, 6:30 p.m.


1440 N. Sacramento Ave.



Welles Park

Friday, August 8, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 9, 6:30 p.m.


2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.



Columbus Park

Sunday, August 10, 4:00 p.m.

500 S. Central Ave.



Marquette Park

Adjacent to Rose Garden and Tarkington School

Tuesday, August 12, 6:30 p.m.


6743 S. Kedzie Ave.



Ridge Park

Wednesday, August 13, 6:30 p.m.

1817 W. 96th St.



South Shore Cultural Center

Thursday, August 14, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, August 15, 6:30 p.m.


7059 S. South Shore Dr.



Eckhart Park

Saturday, August 16, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 17, 4:00 p.m.


1330 W. Chicago Ave.




Chicago Shakespeare Theater

800 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

Box Office: 312.595.5600 • chicagoshakes.com



Monday, June 9, 2014

TOMORROW: Liquid Soul and March Fourth at Lincoln Hall (21+) #HighlyRecommended

INCOMING:  
Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar Tues 6/10 at Lincoln Hall
8:00 PM   21+  $14.00

ChiIL Live Shows will be there shooting stills. It's our 14th wedding anniversary and we're way beyond jazzed to get to spend it with two of the most fun bands to see LIVE. We can't wait!  Highly recommended.

Here's some crazy cool partner acro on STILTS that we shot when March Fourth played Martyrs last year!  Check it out. Then go see them LIVE already.






Click the links below for loads of our past original photos, videos and coverage on BOTH bands.













A kaleidoscope of musical and visual energy mere “mortal” bands cannot compete with, Aside from their marching band themed costumes, and multi member drum and brass corp, M4 is far from a “marching band” in any traditional sense (though this group of about 20 has been known to parade down Main Street before taking the stage). The show will take you on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the gypsy camps of eastern Europe and through the deepest grooves of American funk, rock, and jazz then boiling it all together in cinematic fashion with high-stepping stilt-acrobatics and dazzling dancers. They’ve headlined too many major festivals to name, multiple times, as well as playing prestigious venues from The Kennedy Center to a cultural exchange tour of China.









(We've been huge Mars Williams fans since back in the Psychedelic Furs days.   Here's Mars in orbit at Chicago Folk and Roots Fest 2011 with Soul Sonic Sirkus.)

Liquid Soul, the Grammy-nominated combo that has built its reputation on a compelling mix of jazz, hip-hop, funk and hard-bop, makes its Telarc debut with the release of One-Two Punch.



Pioneers of the acid-jazz movement during their early days in the Chicago club scene of the mid-1990s, Liquid Soul has evolved over the past dozen years into a musical compendium of sounds and styles that starts with jazz and embraces hip-hop, R&B, dance, funk, techno, world, spoken-word and much more. 

Led by innovative saxophonist/composer Mars Williams, the eight-piece collective has conquered nearly every corner of the U.S. and is looking to turn up the juice in Europe and other parts of the world via their Telarc debut.

2014 US Tour Dates 

Fri. Jun 6 Omaha, NE Omaha Summer Arts Fest  

Sat. Jun 7 Wichita, KS Wichita River Fest  

Sun. Jun 8 Madison, WI Marquette Fest  

*Tue. Jun 10 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall  
with Liquid Soul

Wed. Jun 11 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Center  
with The Brass Messengers

Thu. June 12 Davenport, IA River Music Experience
with The Winter Blues All-Stars

Fri. June 13 St. Louis, MO 2720 Cherokee
with Hellzapoppin

Sat. Jun 14 Kansas City, MO Boulevardia   

Sun. Jun 15 Columbia, MO The Blue Note   

Thu. June 26 Durango, CO Animas City Theater 

Fri. June 27 Louisville, CO Steinbaugh Pavilion  

Sat. June 28 Salt Lake City, UT Utah Arts Festival 

Sun.  June 29 Salt Lake City, UT Utah Arts Festival 

Fri. July 4 San Rafael, CA Marin County Fair 

Sat. July 5 Reno, NV Cargo  
with Diego's Umbrella

Wed. July 9 Seattle, WA Westlake Park   

Wed. July 9 Bellingham, WA Downtown Sounds  

Fri. July 11 Veneta, OR Oregon Country Fair   

Fri. July 18 Chico, CA Sierra Nevada Big Room   

Sat. July 19 Chico, CA Sierra Nevada Beer Camp

Sun. July 20 San Diego, CA Sierra Nevada Beer Camp

Tue. July 22 Vail, CO Bud Light Hot Summer Nights

Wed. July 23 Glenwood Springs, CO Summer of Music

Thu. July 24 Frisco, CO Concerts in the Park

Fri. July 25 Denver, CO Sierra Nevada Beer Camp

Sat. July 26 Ames, IA DG's Tap House
with Dead Larry

Sun. July 27 Chicago, IL Sierra Nevada Beer Camp

Tue. July 29 Hamden, CT Spaceland Ballroom

Wed. July 30 Wilmington, DE World Cafe Live at the Queen
with Zach Deputy

Thu. July 31 New York, NY Watermark
with Philly Bloco + Brother Joscephus & The Love Revolution

Fri. Aug 1 Portland, ME Sierra Nevada Beer Camp

Sat. Aug 2 Philadelphia, PA  Sierra Nevada Beer Camp

Sun. Aug 3 Mills River, NC  Sierra Nevada Beer Camp

Fri. Aug 8 Nevada City, CA Miner's Foundry Cultural Center

Sat. Aug 9 Ashland, OR Ashland Armory
with SambaDa

Fri. Sept 12 Walla Walla, WA Gesa Power House Theater

Sat. Sept 13 Spokane, WA Bing Crosby Theater

Mon. Sept 15 Portland, OR Mondays on the Mall




Here's the latest Via March Fourth:


My, what a busy summer!
MarchFourth is on a mission to visit each and every one of you this year it seems (more info about the US fall tour coming soon). Seriously. It will take a lot of scrolling to get to the bottom of this show list! From San Diego, California to Portland, Maine to Tampa, Florida, and from the mountains of Telluride, CO (8700 ft) to the streets of New Orleans, LA (0 ft) and everywhere in between, there's a pretty good chance we're headed your way (except maybe the southwest, since we just returned from there). Let's hope the A/C in the bus is fixed for good this time, because this summer is going to be HOT!!!

For a little taste of life on the road with M4, I suggest you check out stilter/stunter Phill's blogHe's kind of new to M4, joining after stilt veteran Sid Simpatico retired last summer due to a knee injury. Phill's been writing these great tour recap posts on Facebook for a while, but now he's taken to the blogosphere. I'm sure there will be much to write about this summer, so keep an eye there to follow our adventures! Here's a video from our birthday show this year of Phill and the gang doing stilt acro to "Surfunk" (a newish song by Taylor Aglipay). 


Google Analytics