Chicago Soul Jazz Collective to celebrate release of debut album with free show

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

On its debut album, "Soulophone," Chicago Soul Jazz Collective breathes new energy and life into jazz classics like "The 'In' Crowd" and "The Cat."

To celebrate the release of the album, the group will perform a free show at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. The show is sponsored by WDCB 90.9 FM and doors open at 8 p.m.

I had the chance to talk to Chicago Soul Jazz Collective co-founder and saxophone player John Fournier about the album.

Q – Great talking to you again. We last spoke in 2014 when your band "Everybody Says Yes" was about to release its second EP. Now you have this new group, the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective. How did the idea for the group come about?

I had the idea to put together an ensemble like this for a long time but did not want to try it without the right partner on trumpet. Marques Carroll is a jazz trumpet master and when he came along and was equally interested I knew it was time to start this group.

Q – How did you go about choosing the songs for “Soulophone"?

I gathered maybe 25 tunes from the soul jazz era that I thought might work and we began rehearsing and performing them. These tunes on the record are the ones that seemed to flow best. I was looking for tunes that grooved hard and had an uplifting feeling.

Q – In performing the songs, what does the band hope to bring to them?

We attack these songs with passion. We want to feel the groove and emotion in every fiber of our beings. If we feel it, it is there to share and we hope folks will join us and feel it along with us.

Q – Do you think you bring the band's own identity to each song?

As it is a jazz combo and is an improvisational art at its essence, this is music that will only sound this way when these six musicians are performing. If you swap out one guy, it changes the sound of the ensemble.




We feel like we have a definite concept of how to approach, arrange and perform Soul Jazz. The umbrella of every genre of music is large and Soul Jazz is no different.

Chicago Soul Jazz Collective has mapped out our own little corner under the Soul Jazz umbrella and we have our own unique take and sound within the fabric of the style.

Q – I understand that the recordings for the album were cut live. Was it a lot of fun making this album and were you trying to capture that feeling on the CD?

Personally, I believe all jazz records should be cut live. Roll the tape, count off the tune and let the players loose.

There is a vibe, sound and groove that this band brings to the table every time we play and it was a great joy recording it and hearing it back for ourselves. As we cut it live, it contains great moments and a few warts but I think that is what a jazz record should be and ours is most definitely.

Q – What do you think each member brings to the table? I understand that you and trumpet player Marques Carroll bonded over your love of early '60s soul jazz.

Marques and I began the group. I took on the role of gathering material and doing the logistics and leg work required. Marques shaped the sound of the group by asking players to join.

Andrew Vogt and Keith Brooks play bass and drums and without their relentless and incredible grooves we would not have much of a band. Marcin Fahmy and Kyle Asche fill out the rhythm section on piano and guitar and both of these men are veterans of the jazz scene and have an uncanny and instinctive understanding of how to approach this style.

Why some groups of musicians have a spark when they perform together and other equally talented groups do not is a mystery of chemistry I suppose but when the 6 of us play together, this band is undeniable.

Q – Are you trying to give people who buy the CD a musical history lesson? Do you hope that people will want to find out the origin of each song after buying the album?

When I hear soul jazz played, it gives my spirit an enormous lift. I can remember the first time I heard some of these tunes when I was a little boy and it was the most exciting sound.

Goose bumps central if you know what I mean. I feel like I personally need that lift in my life as the state of the world brings me down lately.

So my first goal in playing this music is to lift my own spirits. Something playing this music never fails to accomplish.

Past that, I think there is a style of Soul Jazz that we play that is not really performed much live and Chicago Soul Jazz Collective is supplying a sound and interpretation unlike what is offered across the jazz scene today.

Q – I understand the band is getting ready to record the second album, which will be a blend of classic songs along with original songs. What should people expect from the new album?

We will have a few chestnuts we have discovered from the early 1960s that will expose people to some great seemingly forgotten compositions. We have begun to take the sound of the ensemble and apply it to our own original material and we have been performing those tunes in our live act and really digging it.

The overall sound of the ensemble is improving as we go along so I am very excited to get back in the studio for round 2.

Q – As far as other musical projects, what else are you working on these days? Is this band your main priority?

All of the guys in the Collective participate in lots of projects as leaders and sidemen. We created this band and recorded it as a labor of love and we have been thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive reception the record has received.

It seems our desire to lift our spirits through this soulful music is shared by others and we are humbled and honored to have the opportunity to play it.