Making a list of the top picks of the 2006 Chicago theater season is an exercise akin to writing one of those shows.
December 25, 2006 (Press Release) --
Here are other essential chapters of 2006:
The Nov. 17 death of Ruth Brown: This resplendent rhythm-and-blues singer was the most commercially succesful act at Atlantic Records between 1949 and 1962, when the label was often referred to as "The House That Ruth B She packed the same versatile pistols as Ray Charles. But in her later years, Brown became a champion in securing back wages for forgotten rhythm-and-blues artists. My full tribute to Brown appears at blogs.suntimes.com/hoekstra.
"Theme Time Radio Hour" with Bob Dylan: I love it when advocates of terrestrial radio talk about "free" radio and then you have to listen to stacks of commercials -- especially all the lonely-guy ads on sports talk radio. What's free about that? [I listen to Chicago radio when I'm in Chicago.] But my XM subscription easily paid for itself on Dylan's Halloween show. Dylan spun "Zombie Jamboree," an infectous late 1950s calypso number from an artist known as "The Charmer." After playing the record he disclosed the artist is now known as Louis Farrakhan. Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour" is consistently full of similar surprises, archeological insight and a rare glimpse into Dylan's muse. And there's no commercials!
"Scandalous (Delirious)," Machel Montano & Xtatik: I must have heard this song 200 times during a week with no sleep at Carnivale in Trinidad. My pal Tom hijacked me down there and Montanto's Soca dance track was being played consistently through monster speakers on the Road Marches through the narrow streets of Port-of-Spain. A Trinidad native, Montano is considered the Stevie Wonder of Soca and he is adroit at mixing calypso with reggae and deep American funk grooves. Contemporary Soca is hard to find around Chicago, but check out www.triniadmusicstore.com.
"Rise," Chris Thomas King (21st Century Blues Records): Dozens of brilliant recordings emerged from the wake of Katrina, but few touched the soul as deeply as King's "Rise." The son of Baton Rouge bluesman Tabby Thomas, King arrranges a bouquet of country blues, gospel and folk into a message of resurrection. Original material like the rural gospel "What Would Jesus Do" connects with a soulful cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."
The Rolling Stones at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky. Sept. 29: A hard country twang version of "Dead Flowers" -- priceless -- when Mick sang about "making bets on Kentucky Derby Day."
The Nov. 17 death of Ruth Brown: This resplendent rhythm-and-blues singer was the most commercially succesful act at Atlantic Records between 1949 and 1962, when the label was often referred to as "The House That Ruth B She packed the same versatile pistols as Ray Charles. But in her later years, Brown became a champion in securing back wages for forgotten rhythm-and-blues artists. My full tribute to Brown appears at blogs.suntimes.com/hoekstra.
"Theme Time Radio Hour" with Bob Dylan: I love it when advocates of terrestrial radio talk about "free" radio and then you have to listen to stacks of commercials -- especially all the lonely-guy ads on sports talk radio. What's free about that? [I listen to Chicago radio when I'm in Chicago.] But my XM subscription easily paid for itself on Dylan's Halloween show. Dylan spun "Zombie Jamboree," an infectous late 1950s calypso number from an artist known as "The Charmer." After playing the record he disclosed the artist is now known as Louis Farrakhan. Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour" is consistently full of similar surprises, archeological insight and a rare glimpse into Dylan's muse. And there's no commercials!
"Scandalous (Delirious)," Machel Montano & Xtatik: I must have heard this song 200 times during a week with no sleep at Carnivale in Trinidad. My pal Tom hijacked me down there and Montanto's Soca dance track was being played consistently through monster speakers on the Road Marches through the narrow streets of Port-of-Spain. A Trinidad native, Montano is considered the Stevie Wonder of Soca and he is adroit at mixing calypso with reggae and deep American funk grooves. Contemporary Soca is hard to find around Chicago, but check out www.triniadmusicstore.com.
"Rise," Chris Thomas King (21st Century Blues Records): Dozens of brilliant recordings emerged from the wake of Katrina, but few touched the soul as deeply as King's "Rise." The son of Baton Rouge bluesman Tabby Thomas, King arrranges a bouquet of country blues, gospel and folk into a message of resurrection. Original material like the rural gospel "What Would Jesus Do" connects with a soulful cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."
The Rolling Stones at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky. Sept. 29: A hard country twang version of "Dead Flowers" -- priceless -- when Mick sang about "making bets on Kentucky Derby Day."
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