by Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune “To guitarist Mike Allemana, who played in the quartet from 1997 until Freeman’s death in 2012, the elder jazzman’s husky sound wasn’t just singular: It bore witness to decades of Chicago’s musical history. Freeman got his start playing in swing bands as a precocious preteen, came of age during hard … Read More
By Hannah Edgar, The Chicago Tribune If its title didn’t already tip you off, “Tenor Time” — out on jazz label AFAR Music this Friday — declares what it’s all about from the very first track. An uptempo rhythm section, flavored with sly chromaticism by pianist and AFAR founder and owner Richard D. Johnson, plugs … Read More
By Howard Reich, The Chicago Tribune Chicago bassist Clark Sommers made impact in 2013 with the debut recording of his band’s eponymous recording, “Ba(SH),” featuring fellow Chicagoans Geof Bradfield playing reeds and Dana Hall on drums. In March, the band will release its followup, “Peninsula,” featuring Sommers’ original compositions. Here’s an early chance to hear … Read More
