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Last month, I talked about how to think like a piano player. That was all about harmony. Horns, too, are all about melody. What is melody? That is the part you can sing. BB King, even when he played guitar, was also singing. What a concept, right? Play things that…
Chicago great legend Marshall Brodien has passed away at 84 after battling Alzheimer’s since he was diagnosed in 2007. Brodien, who started out as a carnival barker for traveling freak shows then later established himself as a hypnotist, was probably best known for his 27-year run with The Bozo Show…
Wednesday, 06 February 2019 17:25

For the Guitarist Volume 8: Think Like a Piano Player

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“Hey man, I’m a guitar player…why would I want to think like a piano player?” Good question. It’s all about being more MUSICAL. What I am talking about is harmony. You can do a lot with different voicings. When someone tells your average guitar player “play a G Chord”, you…
Friday, 28 December 2018 21:37

For the Guitarist Volume 7: Less is More

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The more I play, the less I play. I think when you are a young player, it is natural to want to make a statement. The way many players do this is by playing a bunch of notes. “Look what I can do”, right? You run all over the neck…
Wednesday, 14 November 2018 19:09

For the Guitarist Volume 7: Songwriting

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I started playing guitar at age eleven, but I started my first band at fifteen playing drums. The reason why I stuck with guitar is songwriting. I wanted to write songs. The guitar is a good, self-contained unit, a perfect vehicle for writing. Singer/songwriters tend to either be piano players…
Everybody has a favorite guitar player…well, almost everyone. We have those licks we learned from our favorites. That’s how we get a vocabulary of ideas. For me, I have gone through phases. I played along with recordings of people like Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Allman Brothers Band. That gave…
Saturday, 15 September 2018 21:39

For the Guitarist Volume 5: Chords

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One of the first things we learn as guitar players are chords. You know…..here is a G…..here is a C and so on. But what are chords? Chords are harmonies. The notes in the chord come from the scale they are derived from. If we take the C chord, it…
Music Theory is often a touchy subject in the guitar world. A high percentage of players will tell you it isn’t necessary. I am one of those who clearly disagree with this philosophy. The more you know about music, the better. If all you do is learn a song, you…
Monday, 02 July 2018 17:02

For the Guitarist Volume 3: Solid State vs. Tube

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For the electric guitarist, there is a dilemma…tube amp or solid state. Both have advantages. Both have disadvantages. Opinions vary as much as people do. I have traditionally been a tube guy, but I will not bias this article one way or another. The first amplifiers were tube amps. The…
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Chicago Opera Theater presents Chicago leg of the world premiere tour of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s newest opera Before It All Goes Dark May 25 & 26 at the Studebaker Theater

23 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Opera Theater (COT), Chicago’s foremost producer of new and reimagined opera, closes its 50th Anniversary season presenting the final performances of…

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre announces 2024 season - celebrates local artists and two of the most significant Black female writers of the past 50 years

23 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Tim Rhoze, Artistic Director of Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, has announced the company's 2024 season of four productions. The season will open with…

Comedy & magic collide in RIDICULOUS! with David Williamson, May 16-June 30 at Rhapsody Theater

23 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

David Williamson, regarded as one of the top magicians in the world today, makes his Rhapsody Theater debut with Ridiculous! Known for his tours…

Oh Baby, Baby: BABY the Musical at Citadel Theatre

22 April 2024 in Theatre Reviews

It’s often said that in the workplace you should refrain from talking about politics and religion; too personal, too easy…

Ballet 5:8's 'Lost Women of Juárez' in a word - evocative!

22 April 2024 in Dance in Review

BALLET 5:8 is a female - and minority-led ballet company resident at Harris Theatre in Millenium Park. Under the leadership…

Northlight Theatre’s BROOKLYN LAUNDRY Highlights Solid Acting and Thought-Provoking Script

21 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

When life’s chaos is full of impossible choices, how are we possibly meant to move forward? Brooklyn Laundry is about…

Babes with Blades triumph over time and space in THE S PARADOX!

20 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

I would absolutely bomb out of jury selection cos I have a very definite bias: I’ve been a fan(atic) of…

No Trouble with Marriott Theatre’s Music Man

19 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

You got trouble, my friends, if you’re going to put on Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. If you’re going to…

Alvin Ailey in Transition: A Poignant Performance at the Auditorium Theatre

19 April 2024 in Dance in Review

This year's Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 65th-anniversary engagement at Chicago's historic Auditorium Theatre held particular importance as it marked…

Emile Zola Adaptation 'Nana' Is a Triumph at Magical Trap Door Theater

15 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

For the final show of its 30th anniversary season, Trap Door Theatre—the little company that could—has selected a sure-fire hit…

Auditorium Theatre Announces vibrant 2024-25 Season

15 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago’s National Landmark Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) proudly announces its 2024-25 performance season presenting a vibrant mix of…

Chicago Writers' Bloc Announces 2024 New Play Festival May 5 - 19 at Theater Wit

15 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

Chicago Writers' Bloc has announced the lineup of plays and musicals for its biennial festival of new plays, to be…

Hershey Felder Brilliant as Monsieur Chopin

14 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

If you appreciate classical music and captivating stories about brilliant artists from the past, Hershey Felder’s one-man show, Monsieur Chopin:…

Jackalope Theatre Announces Cast and Creative Team for the World Premiere of THE SINGULARITY PLAY, May 19 - June 22

11 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Jackalope Theatre Company continues its 16th season at Edgewater’s Berger Park, 6205 N. Sheridan Rd., with the announcement of the cast…

Spanish Language Magic Shows at Rhapsody Theater to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

11 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Born and raised in Mexico City, Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz, MD, Chicago’s own Physician Magician, will celebrate the festive Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend by…

Court Theatre’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Features Fabulous Ensemble with Striking Design

09 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

The Player (Lorenze Rush Jr) has just run into Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with his troupe of players. As he explains…

'COCK' is f***king amazing!

08 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

Those were my first words when I left the performance of COCK to David Zak, producer and resident wizard of…

Enchanting Feats: A glowing review of ‘Look Closer with Joshua Jay’

07 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

If you’re a magic enthusiast, Joshua Jay’s captivating new show, Look Closer, is currently enchanting audiences at the Rhapsody Theater. But even…

Welcome to The Jungle: The Choir of Man Rocks Chicago

06 April 2024 in Theatre Reviews

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. Sometimes you want to be surrounded by people to experience the…

About Face Theatre announces casting for Midwest Premiere of Lavender Men

04 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

About Face Theatre announces casting for the Midwest Premiere production of Lavender Men by Roger Q. Mason, directed by Lucky Stiff, running May 9 -June 8,…

CUT TO THE CHASE festival of one-act plays returns May 2-5 with theme "Face-to-Face" at The Den Theatre

04 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

The Artistic Home Studio will present the 2024 edition of its CUT TO THE CHASE festival of new one act…

Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents the World Premiere of POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical

02 April 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 22nd season with the world premiere of POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical, an…

'American Fiction' Oscar Boosts Percival Everett's Latest Work, 'James,' at 'Authors on Tap'

01 April 2024 in Theatre in Review

Author Percival Everett is having his moment, and Exile in Bookville gave us a chance to meet him up close…

The Physical Theater Festival Chicago Returns July 13 - 21 with its 11th Annual Edition

31 March 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Physical Theater Festival Chicago is proud to announce the complete lineup for its 11th anniversary celebration, July 13 - 21. The Festival begins…

Review: Jersey Boys at Mercury Theatre

29 March 2024 in Theatre in Review

‘Jersey Boys’ is back in Chicago, bringing with it a little East Coast to the Third Coast. The hit Broadway…

Take Flight and Feel the Magic with ‘Peter Pan: The Hit Broadway Musical'

28 March 2024 in Theatre in Review

After many years without seeing the movie or reading the story of Peter Pan, the moment I learned that Peter Pan:…

Casting for Lifeline Theatre’s production of “Native Son” adapted by Chicagoan Nambi E. Kelley, May 10 - June 30

28 March 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Lifeline Theatre and Artistic Director ILesa Duncan announce the casting for Chicagoan Nambi E. Kelley's "gutsy, powerful, and relentless" adaptation of Richard Wright's powerful introspection…

A.B.L.E. presents "The Odyssey" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on May 11

27 March 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

A.B.L.E.—Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations—a Chicago-based nonprofit that creates theatre and film for, with, and by individuals with Down syndrome…

Review: Remy Bumppo Theatre Company's "Love Song' at Theater Wit

26 March 2024 in Theatre in Review

When a play’s opening moment is mystifying and its closing moment is satisfying, the stuff in between must be doing…

“Navigating Family, Truth, and Legacy: A Must-See Journey in ‘Purpose’”

26 March 2024 in Theatre in Review

The expansive, opulent home exudes an air of solid middle-class comfort, boasting a formal dining area, an upright piano, and…

 

 

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