Acclaimed blues guitarist and singer Sue Foley releases new album paying tribute to female guitar pioneers, will perform at SPACE in Evanston April 17

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

On her new album, "One Guitar Woman," acclaimed blues guitarist and singer Sue Foley pays homage to the female pioneers of guitar who continue to influence her own music.

Those used to hearing Foley play her pink paisley Fender Telecaster will hear a different side of her as she dons a nylon string acoustic guitar for the album. Foley will play a few songs from the album – along with playing with a full band – when she performs April 17 at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.

Also on the bill is Nikki O'Neill. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are available at evanstonspace.com.

I had the chance to talk to Foley about the new album.

 

Q – Great talking to you again. We last spoke in 2022 about your album “Pinky’s Blues.” And now you have a new album out, “One Guitar Woman.”

What made you want to make this album and was it a dream project of yours?

I've been working on a huge sort of volume on women and guitars and it's got a lot of offshoots. It really started out when I was a kid and I wanted to be a guitar player.

I was influenced by my older brothers and my dad, who all played guitar. When I include someone like Charo in this volume of music, she's the first woman I ever saw play guitar. 

She has just kind of been with me this whole time. And these women pioneers, I just really wanted to pay tribute to them.

Memphis Minnie is another one who has been with me my whole career as a blues artist. When I was starting out as not just a guitar player, but as a blues guitar player, I came to realize Memphis Minnie had been doing it in the 1930s and 1940s.

That's kind of what this project is about.

Q – The first single is “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie," a song by Elizabeth Cotten. I understand that is one of your favorite songs to play on guitar.

Her guitar style is really fun to play as a guitar player. It's not easy to learn because it's a finger picking style.

It's technically challenging, but once you get it, it's really fun to play because you can do it by yourself. And it sounds like a full band. All these parts are going in tandem, the rhythm and the melody. 

It's just very rewarding to learn and to play. And it's kind of beautiful music, too.

Q – You must have been pretty happy with how the song turned out to pick it as your first single.

Yeah, I'm really happy with all the stuff on this album. And the feedback has been really positive. 

I'm really thrilled. I'm not just thrilled because people are receiving it well.

I'm thrilled because I was execute it all. It took me a lot of years to learn all these guitar styles.

Q – Of course, you decided to play all the songs on a nylon string acoustic guitar. What made you want to do that and was it hard making the transition from a Fender Telecaster to an acoustic guitar?

It actually wasn't. I've been playing a nylon string guitar for a couple of decades now.

And the reason I play a Spanish guitar – it's a flamenco guitar – is because of Charo. So this all does date back to early female influences.

And I think a flamenco guitar is a really versatile guitar. First of all, it's beautiful sounding.

I just wanted to demonstrate the versatility of that kind of guitar. And you can use those techniques on a Telecaster.

They're very compatible. 

Q – How did you go about choosing what women to feature on the album or what songs to feature on “One Guitar Woman”?

The songs I picked resonate with me personally. As a longtime interpreter of blues music, I've always found that the lyrical content you sing about needs to be honest.

So it's got to be something that you can relate to. I can't sing about working on the railroad or being in prison, you know. 

And as far as the women who are featured, I really picked, I think, some of the preeminent pioneers of women in guitar.

Q – What were you looking to bring to the songs on the album? How did you go about interpreting what you wanted to bring to these songs?

I wanted to bring my own story, at least have some kind of cross narrative somehow to make their story my story in a way.

It's definitely biographical/autobiographical. 

Q – Are you hoping to bring a new audience to some of these artists? Perhaps some of the people listening to the album are not familiar with them.

Absolutely. I think that's what it's all about. 

That's why I do this. Because people might not know who Memphis Minnie is, for example.

It's to keep their memory alive. These are important figures.

We're walking in their footsteps, literally. I walk in Memphis Minnie's footsteps.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe has gotten a lot more notoriety in the last 10 years. Now she's pretty well known.

And she was a phenomenal guitar player. It just goes to show you that there's been female guitarists the whole time.

They're technically proficient. It's not just a male dominated culture.

There's a whole rich history of female guitarists. There's just not as many of them and that's because women's roles were more dictated to being in the home back then.

Q – Of course, you've made your own impression on the music scene. You have won the Blues Music Award for Traditional Female Artist of the Year three consecutive times. Can you see yourself someday being honored like this by an artist in the future?

That would be interesting. The funny thing is, the only woman on this record that's still alive is Charo.

So if somebody did do something like that, I probably wouldn't be alive to know about it. Maybe I would be.

But it's interesting. Especially with Memphis Minnie.

I don't think she had any idea what kind of impact she had. She died in obscurity. 

And she has had such a huge impact.

It's a strange tragedy and victory all at the same time.

Q – I guess that goes to show you that you can still make your mark even though physically, you might not be here any more.

I think that's why we do art. I think it's kind of a way to transcend our lifespan, because we know we're only going to be here physically for a certain amount of time.

Q – You said you have been getting good feedback about the new album.

Yeah, we're getting really good feedback. Because it's just me on the album, it's so kind of intimate.

It's almost like I'm just sitting there with you in your kitchen or wherever. In our world right now where everything is so overblown and we've got so much coming at us, I really wanted to do something that was just immediate and kind of simple and just stripped down.

And if you come see me live, it's going to sound exactly like that. There's no bells and whistles, there's no tricks.

Q – During your show at SPACE, will you be playing a lot from this album?

I'll be playing a portion of this album, but I'll also have my band with me. We'll be doing both, electric and acoustic.

 

 

 

 

 

The Venue's songwriter showcase series providing a way for area songwriters to talk about their songwriting craft

 

Hayley Hasegawa-Skreens, left, Demi Clara, middle, and Josette Kacey, right, perform March 14 at The Venue in Aurora. Photo by Eric Schelkopf

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

To say that the Fox Valley has a strong music scene is an understatement.

And there is no better way to discover those talented musicians than to stop by The Venue in Aurora for its songwriter showcase series.

Musicians Demi Clara and Aaron Kelly take turns hosting the event. On March 14, Clara brought a couple of her musical friends to the stage with her.

Clara along with Hayley Hasegawa-Skreens and Josette Kacey provided a captivating night of music. Those attending the show also gained more insight about the artists than one would at your typical concert.

Each of them talked about what inspired them to write a particular song and what they are hoping to convey through the song.

Kelly will host the next songwriter show at 8 p.m. May 2. The show is free.

The Venue is located at 21 S. Broadway Ave. in downtown Aurora. More information is at The Venue’s website, themusicvenue.org.

For more videos from the March 14 show, go to youtube.com/@ericschel12/videos.

 

Plainfield resident Connor Lee to perform first solo show at Black Dog Vinyl Cafe

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

Those who have attended open mic nights at Black Dog Vinyl Cafe in Plainfield on a regular basis knows that Plainfield resident Connor Lee writes songs with captivating melodies, such as his song "The Cardinal Song."

The 19-year-old college student will perform his first solo show at 3 p.m. March 23 at Black Dog Vinyl Cafe, located at 16108 Illinois Route 59, Plainfield.

I had the chance to talk to Lee about the upcoming show.

Q – So you must be pretty excited about your upcoming solo show at Black Dog Vinyl Cafe.

Yeah, it is awesome. There's a lot of camaraderie at the open mic nights. It's a really good vibe.

Q – So how long have you been a musician?

I started playing guitar about four years ago. I got really into music after seeing the Nirvana exhibit in Seattle.

I don't know why, but I just connected with Kurt Cobain immediately. But I really didn't sing or perform until recently.

My first open mic was last December. I kind of kept a lot to myself.

I would write stuff for fun and just kind of keep it in my phone for a couple of years. So now that I'm starting to perform my own music, I'm putting those lyrics to melodies.

Q – Are you inspired by any bands in particular?

I got into Bright Eyes this year and it really resonated with me with how Conor Oberst writes songs. And I listen to singer-songwriters like Elliot Smith and Phoebe Bridgers.

And that's kind of what sparked me to start performing, finding musicians that sounded like what I could do. My favorite artists are Nirvana, Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins, but I don't necessarily write music like that.

Q – So Bright Eyes, Elliot Smith and Phoebe Bridgers kind of inspire you.

Yeah, especially with the songs I've been writing lately. But I'm all over the board with what I listen to. 

Q – What inspires you to write a song?

I definitely will write in reaction to emotions. I'm not going to sit down for no reason and write something necessarily.

At least lyric wise. Sometimes if I'm just sitting in a room and my guitar is nearby, I just have that urge to pick it up and play something.

But as far as actually flushing out a song, it's definitely stuff I'm going through or thinking about at the time. Or even reminiscing about.

Q – What inspired you to write "The Cardinal Song"?

Honestly, it was just literally dreams that I had, which is why that's in the lyrics. It was kind of written in fragments. 

I remember waking up and having a dream that someone passed away and someone asked me to sing a song at their funeral. And that became a verse.

 

And then the part about seeing your breath in the freezing air, I was just walking home from the train and I saw my breath in the air. I thought that was a cool phrase and I just kind of typed that into my phone and used it.

It was just kind of like fragments of different dreams. And a cardinal is a symbol of a passed away loved one. So I wanted to use that.

Acclaimed blues musician Mike Zito to bring honest, heartfelt songs to Buddy Guy's Legends

 

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

For acclaimed blues musician Mike Zito, making his latest album, "Life Is Hard," was a way for him to express his emotions about his wife's battle with cancer.

He recorded the album just a few months following her death in July 2023. Zito will perform March 23 at Buddy Guy's Legends, 700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, as part of a CD release party for the album.

Billy Flynn will perform a free acoustic set from 5:30 to 8 p.m. followed by the Bernard Crump Blues Band from 9 to 10 p.m. Zito will take the stage at 10:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25, available by going to buddyguy.com.

I had the pleasure of talking to Zito about the new album, which was released after the death of his wife, Laura, from cancer.

 

Q – Of course, your new album, "Life Is Hard," debuted on the Billboard Top U.S. Blues Albums chart at #1. That must make you very proud.

That's pretty good. No complaints. I'm happy about that. 

Laura would be proud. She was excited about the idea of making this record. 

 

I'm thankful that we got it made. More importantly, whether it's number one or number whatever, is that we made a really good record.

It was very cathartic for me and I think it lets the whole world know how much she meant to me and how much I loved her. And that's all that matters.

Q – Are you hoping that people who listen to the album and who are maybe going through similar situations, that it might help them?

Well, sure. The music is mine when I make it. But once it's released, it doesn't really belong to me any more, it belongs to whoever is listening to it.

You know, I've been sober for 20 years. Sixteen years ago, one of the first label records I released had a lot of songs about recovery and being sober. 

People going through something similar came and sought me out to tell me their stories.

So I hope that people fall in love with the music on the new album and it means something to them. Hopefully it is cathartic for everybody.

Any kind of good music, especially good blues music, is supposed to be relatable to people. You're relating to the hard times that everyone goes through. That is absolutely what this record is about.

Q – Musically, what were you trying to do with the album?

I definitely and sincerely wanted to make a blues album, which is something I've never ever done. I've never ever said, "Oh, I'm going to make a blues album."

I realize that I'm a 53-year-old white dude from South St. Louis. I grew up in the '70s and listened to rock 'n' roll.

It's not my music. It's the music that was in St. Louis that I fell in love with.

I'm a student of it. This particular time, I set out to make a blues record. It's like I gave myself permission to do that.

Q – Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith produced the album. What made you want to bring them on?

Joe and I have been friends for 20 some years.  I've known him before he was the Joe Bonamassa that you know now.

Obviously, he's incredibly successful but he's also a sweetheart and a great friend. We all worked together on the studio album "Blood Brothers" with Albert Castiglia. Joe and Josh produced that album.

 

And it was a great experience. I really enjoyed it. 

I wanted the music on "Life Is Hard" to be as top tier and as good as possible. And Josh Smith is an unbelievable arranger. He's so good at arranging.

And Joe pushed me to do my best when I was playing guitar. And I knew he would, which I'm very thankful for.

Q – Of course, you will be playing at Buddy Guy's Legends on March 23. I was just wondering how Buddy Guy has influenced you and your music.

I personally believe I have the best Buddy Guy stories. I kind of grew up in St. Louis and in my 20s, I was opening for a lot of the artists that came through town.

I also was going to Chicago a lot to get seen or heard. I was playing Legends in the '90s and many times I ran into Buddy.

Some of them are really funny stories where he's blocking the parking lot and I'm honking at him because I'm late. And he gets out of his car to yell at me and saw my guitar and asked, "Are you the band?"

And I told him yeah and he says, "Well, come on, you're going to be late." One time I got there at 4 p.m. to do sound check and Buddy and Otis Rush are sitting at the bar drinking.

Then I come back to play four or five hours later and they're still at the bar and now I've got to play in front of them. And I got done and then the bouncer comes over and says that Buddy wants to see me.

And then I come over and Buddy tells me, "Hey, that was pretty good. You can play here any time." 

And they ask me what I want to drink and I'm drinking with Buddy Guy and Otis Rush at the bar. I will take that story to my grave. That was a great night.

Q – When he said that to you, did it make you feel that you made the right choice in getting into the music business and that you should continue on?

Yes. I've gotten to meet several of my heroes that I listened to when I was a kid, like Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter and I've gotten to play with them.

And Johnny Winter told me, "Hey man, you're a good blues guitar player. You got to keep playing the blues."

Those are things that always remind me why I keep doing this.  

Q – And of course Buddy Guy is 87 and is on his farewell tour. And you're 53. So that means you have at least 34 more years of touring in you, right?

I hope so. That would be great.

Q – Of course, you have other projects as well. You're co-owner of the Gulf Coast Records label, which has released several critically acclaimed blues rock albums.

Has the record label exceeded your expectations?

Oh man, by far. I didn't even consider that we were going to make a real record label.

I thought it was going to be a side project to help certain young artists. It never really occurred to me that we could be where we're at today.

I'm so proud of it. We have a whole team that works so hard. We couldn't do it without them for sure.

Bands provide night of musical thrills at ROXY in Lockport

Jack The Acquaintance introduces the band Jesus The Coyote.

 

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

As musician Jack The Acquaintance and his fellow musical friends proved in glorious fashion during their March 1 show at the ROXY in Aurora, rock is far from dead.

That is despite the show being billed as I Killed Rock 'n' Roll: Full Circle, a reference to Jack's album, “I Killed Rock ’N’ Roll (It's Not Rock ’N’ Roll's Fault)”. The show was the first time he played the songs from the album with a band.

The night took attendees on a musical journey, starting with the searing garage rock of Jesus Coyote. And yes, Jesus was there that night, although fortunately no coyotes were allowed in the door.

 

The pop-punk group Double Identity Band also brought plenty of energy to the stage and their infectious melodies and catchy lyrics connected with the audience.

 

Jack The Acquaintance and his fellow musicians lifted the energy level inside the ROXY even higher, providing the perfect ending to a night of musical thrills.

 

More videos from the show can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG7FHY4ZmxlH0yISyYktKkg

Jack The Acquaintance bringing a few of his fellow musicians to ROXY next month as part of high energy show

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Aurora-based Jack The Acquaintance will bring some of his fellow musicians to the ROXY in Lockport on March 1 for his I Killed Rock ’n’ Roll: Full Circle show.

The show is bound to be a night of high energy rock ’n’ roll. ROXY is located at 1017 S. State St. in downtown Lockport. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20, available at eventbrite.com.
 

 

Those musical friends include Dan Asio and the bands Double Identity and Jesus Coyote. BroJack – a collaboration between Jack The Acquaintance and Primal Moon frontman Joe Brunker – is also on the bill.

I had the chance to talk to Jack and Dan about the show


Q – So Dan, how did you get involved in the show?

He asked me if I’d be down to back him up on guitar for this project that he was doing. And of course, I never turn down a chance to play guitar and kind of do new things.

I’ve never played just strictly rhythm guitar in a band before. So, I was down.

I thought it would be cool and I wanted to help him out. And here I am. 

Jack – Dan and I have a lot of music in common, I think. We like a lot of the same bands.

I thought it would be really great to get to work with Dan and get to showcase some of his songs too.

This will be the first time I will play my songs from the album “I Killed Rock ’N’ Roll (It's Not Rock ’N’ Roll's Fault)” with a band. Which is why it’s called “I Killed Rock ’N’ Roll” (Full Circle).

We’re bringing it full circle and finally performing these songs. Also, my friend, Joe Brunker (lead singer of the band Primal Moon) and I perform together as BroJack. We’re going to bring him up as a special guest and do some tunes together.

Q – So Dan, tell me about the songs you will perform.

It will be all the new songs I’ve been working on. One’s already come out, the first single, “Let’s Go.”

It starts off like this acoustic rock ballad and then it kind of builds into this more alt-rock jam at the end. That’s been fun, getting that out there.

I don’t have a designated band for my solo music, so it’s going to be a lot of fun playing the new songs that I’ve written with a full band.

Q – What made you want to become a musician?

Probably acting, actually. I always loved listening to music. It was always a big part of my life.

But I always thought I would become an actor, either through the theater or on screen. I was learning how to sing through musicals and whatnot.

And I learned some piano and guitar just for fun. I started a band with my friends, and once I did the band thing, I realized that was what I wanted to do.

Q – Jack, you were talking about wanting to do more of these types of shows.Is that one of the reasons why you like being a musician, that you sometimes get to play with other musicians?

That’s definitely a part of it. There’s a chemistry when you’re playing with other people.

I grew up listening to rock ’n’ roll bands like Zeppelin and stuff and then got into Green Day. And all my music is meant for band based music.

I always wanted to get a band going at some point. I like the energy of band based music.

The Selectones providing uplifting blend of reggae, ska

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Looking to escape the winter doldrums, at least temporarily?

With their captivating and uplifting blend of reggae and ska, Joliet-based The Selectones can help take your mind to warmer climes. And lucky for us, there are plenty of opportunities coming up to hear the band.

The Selectones will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at The Studio, 900 S. State St., Lockport and then at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 at The Town Bar & Grill, 2681 E. New York St., Aurora.

The band formed in September 2015. The current lineup consists of Nic Jones on lead vocals and guitars, Michael Delaney on bass, Ellis Wright on saxophone and backing vocals, Patrick Wright on trumpet and backing vocals and Malik Temple on drums and backing vocals.

I had the chance to talk to Michael and Malik about the band.

Q – What were your goals in forming the band?

Michael – To go out and have fun. It's a style of music that I really like and I wanted to put a reggae band together. It's fun music that everybody seems to enjoy.

I don't know that anybody came into this saying, hey, we're going to end up famous or anything like that. I think the goal now is to really grow the name and grow the band.

We've been recording a lot of original music lately. We're prepping for a lot of releases this year.

Q – You released the song "Secrets of Nesta" last October, which I understand is an homage to the late Bob Marley. Did the both of you grow up listening to Bob Marley?

Malik – I did not. But our singer, Nic, grew up listening to a lot of reggae. Nesta is actually Bob Marley's middle name.

Bob Marley has a special place in Nic's heart as a songwriter and as an activist.

 

Q – Of course, the band also incorporates ska into its music. Did you listen to ska growing up?

Malik – I didn't grow up with it. But I've developed an appreciation for it.

Q – There's not many reggae/ska bands in the music scene out here, so you guys stand out. 

Michael – It's good summertime music, it's good outdoor music.

We play at the Joliet fireworks show every Fourth of July. And everybody eats that up.

You've got fireworks, you've got reggae music. We're right there on the river in downtown Joliet.

It doesn't really get much better than that.

Q – We were talking about Bob Marley earlier. In your shows, do you cover any of his songs?

Michael – We usually sprinkle in two or three of them in a show.

Q – Does Nic give the history behind the songs when you perform them?

Malik – Yes. Depending on the crowd and the age group, he might share some of that information.

He's very knowledgeable. He knows his stuff.

Q – I'm sure music lovers appreciate that.

Malik – Oh yeah, for sure.

Q – Is the band planning to release an album? Is that what you are working on next?

Malik – We're compiling an EP right now. It's coming along.

We've learned a lot. That's the benefit of the bass player having a studio in his basement.

Q – That must be nice.

Michael – It's a beautiful thing. Typically, for any band practice, I record the entire three hour practice and then send it out to everybody so everybody can listen to what they need to work on.

And then it works out great for song ideas, too. If Nic comes here and he has a song idea, he can just play his guitar and sing. It's recorded and I can send it to everybody and we can sit and marinate on it.

Q – When are you looking to out out this EP?

Malik – Hopefully by the summer. The goal is when we play at festivals this summer to have something for people connect with on the way home from the festival.

Q – Have you guys played with other reggae bands?

Michael – We opened for a national act called Through The Roots a few years back. We've also played with a Chicago band, The Concrete Roots.

We've also played with Bumsy and the Moochers, they're a ska band.

Q – What's the best thing about playing live? Is it about the connection with the audience?

Michael – Connecting with the audience, definitely. It's also about spreading the positivity.

 

And it's about having fun. I have a blast with these guys. 

I like to do it as often as we can.

Q – I understand that some people have been coming to your shows since the band first formed. That must make you feel good.

Michael – I really value the input from those longtime fans, like when we do a new cover song or play a new original song.

I think we all value their input. They have watched us grow over the years.

Fox Valley venues providing outlets for local musicians through open mic events, jam sessions

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

For St. Charles native Ryan Carney, one of the best things about being a musician is being able to collaborate with other musicians.

"I will play anything with anyone at the drop of a hat," he said. "There is no rehearsal required and you don't even have to tell me the key that you're playing in. When you are able to be artistic with other people, you are able to express yourself among others who love what you are expressing. It creates a brotherhood or a camaraderie amongst a very small group of people. It's like having a good idea and then somebody else expands on the goodness of that idea to create great ideas. And that is really I think what it's all about for musicians across the board."

Last April, Carney started the Fox Valley Jammers Club Facebook group as a way to connect musicians who want to participate in the open mic and open jam scene across the Fox Valley. To give thanks to those venues that host open mic and open jam events, Carney and fellow musician Izzy Kucera, who oversees the open jams at Bar Evolution in Batavia, will host a state-of-the-jam dinner party from 7 to 10 p.m. Feb. 5 at Pollyanna Brewing Company, 106 S. Riverside Ave. in downtown St. Charles.

"It's all about celebrating and giving thanks to all the hosts and venues across the Fox Valley for making the open mic/jam scene possible," said Carney, who when he is not playing with his fellow musicians, is selling homes in the Fox Valley as a Realtor. "In nine months, we've attracted over 700 members to our group. It's a very active and supportive group that continues to grow."

The event, which is free, will feature a food truck, raffle prizes and an open jam. While the idea behind open mic events and jam sessions is not new, he noted such events have grown in popularity the last few years.

He attributed that to musicians wanting to get out and perform again after being locked down during the height of the COVID pandemic.

"I think that a lot of people just sort of huddled up in their homes and worked on their craft," Carney said. "They either learned a new instrument or they improved where they were on their existing instrument. They were learning songs and they were writing songs. I think people were pretty energetic to finally get back out into the scene and present what they had worked on. They were proud of it. They had something to show for that time and they missed being with friends. They missed being social. We are social creatures and that was a huge void, especially amongst the artistic community."

The open mic and jam sessions are a way for musicians to showcase their talents. And the Fox Valley Jammers Club Facebook group is helping to bring those musicians together.

"This is a place of encouragement, it's a place for a like-minded community to come together and sort of find support amongst ourselves," he said. "It's not just about the musicians. The businesses that host these events are gaining new customers and they're getting new followers."

Take for example, Pollyanna Brewing Company in downtown St. Charles.

"Pollyanna has the most attended open jam on the scene right now by far," Carney said. "They could bring in over 100 people on any given Thursday night."

 

Carney has a master's degree in classical string bass performance. He enjoys taking his cello to new musical horizons.

Photo provided by Ryan Carney

 

"I sort of play cello like a lead guitar," he said. "It catches people off guard. It's fun to hear and see."

More information about the Fox Valley Jammers Club is available by going to the club's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/883646369373942.

 

 

 

Grammy Award winner Howard Levy and his band – comprised of fellow Chicago area musicians – to perform at The Venue in Aurora

 

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

Evanston resident and multi-Grammy Award winner Howard Levy continues to be a music innovator, as he proves with his latest project, the Howard Levy 4.

The group is comprised of Levy and three fellow Chicago area musicians who have made their own mark – Chris Siebold, house guitarist for five years on "A Prairie Home Companion" and a member of internationally renowned fusion band Kick the Cat; Josh Ramos, who was Ramsey Lewis’ bass player for five years and the bassist for CALJE, Chicago’s premier modern Latin/jazz ensemble and Luiz Ewerling, renowned drummer/composer who is one of the top Brazilian drummers living in the U.S.

The Howard Levy 4 will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at The Venue's website, themusicvenue.org.

I had the pleasure of talking to Levy about the Howard Levy 4.

 

Q – Great talking to you again. I think the last time I interviewed you was in 2012 after you received your second Grammy.

Ah, yes. Good to hear from you again, too. It was a thrill for me to win one for Composition. 

Q – Of course, a lot has happened since then, including the fact that you have this new group, the Howard Levy 4. I understand that you are longtime musical friends with the other members in the group.

 

 

Yes, that’s true. I guess I’ve known our drummer, Luiz Ewerling, the longest. 

 

I played with him in the '80s with Som Brasil, and recorded on his great album “Nossa Terra” (Our Earth) in the mid 1990s.

 

I've always wanted to put a band together with him. Guitarist Chris Siebold and I have played together for more than 20 years, in my group Acoustic Express (our album is “Time Capsules”), and as a duo (our album is “Art+Adrenaline").

 

We've toured together all over the world, too. And I’ve known bassist Josh Ramos for a while, too, maybe 10 years, always loved his playing. 

Q –Was this just the right time to put this group together? Why do you think you guys work so well together?

I actually put the band together in 2018 or 2019, and we were starting to play quite a bit when Covid stopped us in March 2020. It took a while, but we got back together last year and it’s been an absolute joy.

 

We all are extremely eclectic with many musical influences – jazz, rock, blues, Latin music, and more. Everyone has a great sense of humor, and we inspire each other when we play.

 

Each of  is a great soloist and loves to groove hard, too. It’s a great combination. 

Q – The Howard Levy 4 in December released “The Howard Levy 4: Live from Chicago” EP. Do you think the EP is a good representation of what someone should expect from one of your live shows?

Absolutely! We play those four tunes at most shows, but of course there is much more and the repertoire keeps on growing. 

Q – How did your tour go last year? What can people expect from the band this year?

Our December tour was a blast. We played five nights in a row with long drives every day, but the musical energy was so crackling that I think we could have played another five without a break. 

 

Every night sounded better than the previous one. The show at The Iridium in NYC was particularly inspiring. I’m still hearing about it from people! 

Our upcoming gigs are a benefit concert Jan. 27 at The Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, MI and a concert at The Venue in Aurora.

 

We have a tour planned for May 2024 and I’m sure much more will develop. All dates are listed at: levyland.com/shows.

Q – Of course, all of you are Chicago area musicians and the Chicago area has a vibrant jazz and blues scene. What do you like about the Chicago area music scene?

People here are very open to playing in multiple styles and in general are very friendly and appreciative of each others’ playing. And everyone is rooted in the blues, which makes things soulful.

Q – You are considered one of the world’s most innovative harmonica players. How were you inspired to take the harmonica in a new musical direction?

Ah…well, I started playing harp at 18, after having played piano for 10 years. I was playing and writing some pretty advanced jazz compositions, and learning more and more all the time.

 

 

I originally picked up the harp because I wanted to play blues on it, but after I figured out how to bend notes and play blues licks, I realized that I wanted to take it into other styles of music. 

 

After a few months, I figured out a new technique that allowed me to play it fully chromatically, which was a major breakthrough. Nobody had ever really done this before.

 

I loved the sound of the instrument so much that I decided to try to take it as far as possible and I haven’t stopped!

Q – In 2022, you released the book “Rhythms of the Breath, Vol.1: A Revolutionary Way to Transform Your Harmonica Playing” and you have released teaching videos on YouTube. Is it important for you to pass on your knowledge to other people? What kind of feedback have you received from people?

I really love sharing ideas with my fellow harp players. I’ve learned things from other players, and taught things to many, giving lessons, clinics, making videos, through my online harmonica school, and now with this series of books. Vol. 2 will be out soon!

 

 

The “Rhythms of the Breath” series has been a mind blower for me to write, and improved my own playing, which is why I know that the concept works! 

Q – Speaking of YouTube videos, I watched a video of your 100-year-old dad, Ira, singing on the song “Return to Sorrento” as you played piano and harmonica. I understand your 97-year-old mom watched the both of you during the program.

Yes, my folks are amazing. My dad has an incredible operatic baritone voice, and his strength has not diminished with age. It is remarkable and inspiring.

 

 

Sometimes I get teary-eyed accompanying him. His voice is so beautiful and his emotional commitment to the music is absolutely sincere and heartfelt. 

Q – That must have been an inspiring day, not only for your family, but for everyone watching the program.

It was truly inspiring. During Covid, I recorded over 60 tracks for him to sing along with and he gave many concerts in the building where they live.

 

He is an inspiration to everyone there. Playing live with him, I could feel the incredible love in the room – all those elderly people with their combined life experiences soaking it in and giving back the best vibes imaginable.

 

And he doesn’t use a mic! I am doing it again with him in February!