Logan Center for the Arts

Through Ella’s Eyes – Logan Center for the Arts – August 17, 2024

Posted on by admin

In celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s 107th birthday, the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic put on a show.

I didn’t know that number was one of the big ones, like 50, 75, 100, as this was my first time at someone’s 107th birthday party.

At that, I almost didn’t make it in time, what with all the street closures for the DNC, which apparently stands for Drive No Cars.

After arriving, I wish I had been late enough to miss the opening “aren’t we all wonderful” speeches.

I could have used those extra minutes, en route, to further gaze in awe at the in-progress Obama Presidential Center, perhaps the ugliest building I’ve ever seen.

But, since it isn’t yet completed, there’s still hope. I would suggest that they hire some graffiti artists to work on the outer walls, like the city did a few days ago to paint murals on the CTA trains.

The highlight of the first half of the concert was the opening number, A Lost Panorama. It was followed by Tributary, which I wish had flowed in a different direction. For me, the three featured woodwind players lacked sax appeal.

After intermission, the second half started with a “lively discussion” between conductor/arranger Orbert Davis and long-time jazz critic Howard Reich about Fitzgerald. Though I came for music, not talk, I enjoyed the conversation.

That said, my biggest disappointment about the program was the insertion of too much banter throughout, so much so that the finale, which I was highly anticipating, It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got that Swing), ironically got cut.

The other interruption to my enjoyment of the wonderful orchestra was the constant encouragement by Davis, and vocalists Bobbi Wilson and Margaret Murphy-Webb, to applaud. Jazz musicians are so needy.

I like to show my appreciation, but really, is there a need to applaud after every five second solo? I had to soak my hands in Epsom salts when I got home.

I will, nevertheless, single out three people from the orchestra – John Moulder on guitar, Leandro Lopez Vary on piano, and Zara Zaharieva, who is now officially my all-time favorite female Bulgarian violinist, not just for her skills, but also for the enthusiasm she evidenced throughout the evening.

UIC Wind Ensemble – Logan Center for the Arts – April 16, 2023

Posted on by admin

The composer, Alan Theisen, did such a great job of describing what we were about to hear in the six movements of the world premiere of AMP, his piece for piano and wind ensemble, that we weren’t overly (just a little bit) distracted by what appeared to be LED running lights on his shoes.

But the shoes weren’t the main glittering attraction. Nor were the interspersed red and blue strings on the harp, which signify, respectively, C and F notes (had to look that one up). Rather it was the guest artist, piano soloist, Marianne Parker.

I’ve written glowingly about Parker’s concerts before, but this was different, another level. This commissioned piece featured not only great artistry on her instrument, her hands flying across the keys in a relentless, graceful, rhythmic manner, like a championship prizefighter pounding a speed bag into submission, but also talents not normally associated with the piano.

In one movement, per the arrangement articulated by Theisen up front, Parker led the audience in providing a finger-snapping pulse for the band, playing the piano with one hand while snapping with the other, and then switching, back and forth, forth and back, while also waving encouragement to the participating attendees, showwomanship at its height.

Leading into another movement, which was reminiscent, energy-wise, of the USC marching band performing Tusk, Parker leaned back like a drum major, and let rip a loud, pure tone on the whistle she had surreptitiously placed in her mouth during a moment when she had a hand briefly available to do so. I could only envision the Trojans running onto the field, but I could actually see the UIC band members bouncing in their seats, and, in response to Parker’s solos, wiggling their fingers and shuffling their feet as a way of saying “great job”.