FREE Concert: Denise La Grassa Returns to Phyllis' Musical Inn on 5/27

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Denise La Grassa 

Brings Her Soulful Blues to

Wicker Park’s Phyllis’ Musical Inn on

Friday, May 27, 8:30 p.m. 

Also Chronicling 2022 with “North of 40” Film

Critically acclaimed Chicagoland singer, songwriter and keyboardist Denise La Grassa will perform soulful blues originals and choice covers with bandmates John Kregor (guitar), Steve Manns (bass), and John Sergel (drums).

La Grassa is also documenting her 2022 dream of returning to Europe to perform with her new band and bluesy sound that will culminate with the film “North of 40.”

Videos for La Grassa’s latest songs, including the anthemic, soulful “Wide Eyes Wide High,” and the rocking blues “Amen to Happiness” are available at DeniseLaGrassa.com/epk. 

WHEN/           Friday, May 27, 2022, 8:30 p.m. 

WHERE/         Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, Chicago, IL, 60622

TICKETS:       FREE, 773-486-9862

Denise La Grassa’s blend of blues, soul, and R&B and sophisticated yet melodic songwriting has been compared favorably with The Tedeschi-Trucks Band. She cites inspiration from R.L Burnside, Aretha Franklin, The Allman Brothers, Mavis Staples, Otis Redding, and Charlie Parker. La Grassa first played Europe in the 1990s, making stops in Scotland and Germany to support her original one-woman musical “Bite.”  

La Grassa released her first live CD Rockin’ in the Castle Theater in September 2019 to join her 2016 bluesy coming out The Blues Ain’t A Color, and the critically acclaimed April Dreams. 

KUDOS:

Robert Rodi, Newcity, said, “She’s certainly got improvisatory chops; but she’s also sufficiently a woman of her time to pull in influences as diverse as funk and folk. And her compelling contralto owes more to Grace Slick than Sarah Vaughan.” 

Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times, said, “An impressive but never showy range, a self-assured conversational delivery that brings to mind a jazzier Aimee Mann.” 

Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, said, “Poet-Preacher-Polemicist … brilliantly unconventional …  singular triumph.”

John Ziegler, Duluth News-Tribune, said “A serendipitous pop flavor … sultry voice and pithy compositional abilities.” 

John Kregor received a B.A. in composition at the University of Texas, and is a prized member of Chicago's jazz community. He has played in groups led by Jim Gailloreto, Rob Clearfield, Matt Ulery, and currently plays with Patricia Barber every Monday at the Green Mill when Barber is not touring the U.S. and Europe. Kregor also played on Barber’s critically acclaimed 2013 Blue Note Records album Smash.    

MAGGIE ROSE at THE VIC THEATRE MARCH 27 SUPPORTING CHRISTONE "KINGFISH" INGRAM

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Tonight I'll be out to shoot a photo feature on Maggie Rose and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram.  I'm eager to catch them both live. Check back soon for my full review.

Maggie Rose is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who dreamed up her own unbridled collision of rock n’roll, soul, folk, funk, and R&B for her third studio album. Have a Seat was produced by Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes and came to life at the iconic FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL.  

“Rose is doing her part to make the world a better place.” 

- People

 

“A vocalist who is finally having her moment.”

- Rolling Stone Country

“It’s not just that the new music is more textured and complex, or that her vocals soar with greater authority, which they do, it is really about Maggie Rose having found her own lane, her own groove.”

  - Forbes

 

“An artist at the top of her craft.”

- Garden & Gun

  

“A marvelously entertaining 33-year-old mover-and-shaker

for female empowerment and DIY ingenuity.” 

- PopMatters

Have A Seat found Rose approaching her music with more confidence and clarity of vision than ever, ultimately sharing a selection of songs both timeless and urgent and appropriately named one of the "Best Albums of 2021" by both Rolling Stone and American Songwriter while NPR’s World Cafe called Rose “a multi-genre powerhouse...A must see act,” and Garden & Gun hailed her “an artist at the top of her craft.”

“Soul-rendering.” 

- American Songwriter 

 

“A multi-genre powerhouse...A must see act” 

- NPR’s World Cafe

After years of honing her chops and making her name as a force-of-nature vocalist, Rose’s live experiences include opening for Heart and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and touring as direct support for Kelly Clarkson. She has made festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Fest and Austin City Limits, and has taken the stage at The Grand Ole Opry over 80 times.

“On her third album, “Have a Seat,” the Nashville-based songwriter Maggie Rose seeks reconciliation and balance” 

- New York Times

PopMatters called Rose “a marvelously entertaining mover-and-shaker for female empowerment and DIY ingenuity.” Like any great soul singer, Rose beautifully captures the tensions of the current moment, gently presenting her pensive social commentary while providing a much-needed reprieve from the everyday chaos.

“I am claiming a seat I believe is rightfully mine, and I want others to do the same.”

 - Maggie Rose

Check out her work at maggierosemusic.com

NEW RELEASES: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio's Full Length, Cold As Weiss Out Now On Colemine Records

 Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio 

Releases New Full-Length

Cold As Weiss 

via Colemine Records

Album Praised by American Songwriter, Glide, Jambase, Jazziz, Live For Live Music, and more

Photo Credit: Leroi Conroy

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, Cold As Weiss has been in heavy rotation and we're loving it! Give it a listen. So far, Cold As Weiss has been praised by Jambase, Relix, Glide, Jazziz, Northern Transmissions,  Seattle Times, Live For Live Music, and American Songwriter, who said "It’s another home run for Lamarr’s trio who hasn’t made a misstep yet. Get on board and bring a friend as these guys generate the fiery funk/soul/jazz heat.”

Seattle-based soul-jazz groove-machine Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio released their new full length Cold As Weiss via Colemine Records February 11, 2022. Cold As Weiss is the band’s first release featuring new drummer Dan Weiss, also of the powerhouse soul and funk collective The Sextones. A natural fit for the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio's groove-oriented rhythms, Dan’s smoldering drumming locks in the trio’s explosive chemistry. DLO3’s lineup is completed by organist Delvon Lamarr and guitarist Jimmy James. 

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio—or as it is sometimes referred to, DLO3—specializes in the lost art of “feel good music.” The band features organist Delvon Lamarr, a self-taught virtuosic musician, with perfect pitch who taught himself jazz and has effortlessly been able to play a multitude of instruments. On guitar is the dynamo Jimmy James, who eases through Steve Cropper-style chanking guitar, volcanic acid-rock freak-out lead playing, and slinky Grant Green style jazz. From Reno, Nevada is drummer Dan Weiss whose smoldering pocket-groove drumming locks in the trio’s explosive chemistry. 

In 2021, DLO3 released their sophomore studio album I Told You So, which debuted atop multiple Billboard Charts: #1 on the Contemporary Jazz Album chart, #3 on the Jazz Album chart, #4 on the Tastemaker Album chart, and #12 on the Heatseeker Album chart. I Told You So was praised by Under the Radar, All Music, American Songwriter, Popmatters, KEXP, Live For Live Music, Jazziz, Jambase, Glide Magazine, and NPR, who named it one of their favorite albums from the first half of 2021.

Founded by Larmarr’s wife and manager Amy Novo, the trio started from humble beginnings in 2015, but since then has released two Billboard charting albums and toured the world to sold out venues. Now, with permanent drummer Dan Weiss behind to kit, DLO3 is proud to present Cold As Weiss, their third studio album to date that finds them tighter than ever, and continuing to push funky instrumental music to a new generation of fans.

Cold As Weiss Tracklist:

1. Pull Your Pants Up 

2. Don't Worry 'Bout What I Do

3. I Wanna Be Where You Are

4. Big TT's Blues

5. Get Da Steppin'

6. Uncertainty

7. Keep On Keepin' On

8. Slip 'N' Slide

9. This Is Who I Is

Tour Dates:

02/24/22: Seattle, WA - ​​Climate Pledge Arena (playing Seattle Kraken pre-game, National Anthem, and intermission)

03/10/22 : Oxford, MS - Proud Larry’s

03/11/22: Athens, GA - Live Wire Athens

03/12/22: Waycross, GA - Swamptown Getdown Music Festival

06/15/22: San Francisco, CA - SF Jazz

06/17/22: Santa Barbara, CA - Live Oak Music Festival

06/18/22: Venice, CA - The Venice West

06/19/22: San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House 

INCOMING: King of Soul: Acoustic Otis Redding tribute at City Winery December 9th

King of Soul: Acoustic Otis Redding is a tribute that presents the Stax Records icon’s most memorable songs as performed by vocalist Gerald McClendon, guitarist Carlo Basile (Las Guitarras De Espana) and violinist Chihsuan Yang (Matt Santos’ band), alongside some of Chicago’s top players from the realms of soul and world music.   

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, City Winery is one of our favorite small, live music venues with plentiful seating and a stellar lineup crossing many genres of music.   Think date night, or a chance to meet new friends at the long, communal tables.

King of Soul - Acoustic Otis Redding AND Spanish Guitar Duo (featuring members of Las Guitarras de España) - 12/9

MONDAY, DECEMBER 09 2013 6:00 PM DOORS / 7:30 PM START

Click here for more info & to purchase tickets.

INCOMING: A Night of Funk & Soul at City Winery 7/7 (all ages)

Chi, IL Live Shows on our radar:

The Heard will be joined by The Right Now, The Diplomats of Solid Sound and host DJRC for a night of funk and soul and City Winery on Sunday July 7; 8PM ALL AGES show!

Click here for ChiIL Live Shows original photos of The Heard at Congress Theater.

http://theheardfunk.com/

http://youtu.be/lf6dvQ88J5k