World Music Wednesdays Return to The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago in 2010

World Music Wednesdays will take place every Wednesday from 8:30 to 10:30 PM at The Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. World Music Wednesdays is a free community series that explores the rich diversity that exists in the Chicago community and runs year round (47 Wednesdays). World Music Wednesdays will present music, dance and culture of Africa, Europe, Asia, The Middle East and The Americas.

Concerts:

Pilsen Sountrack 1.0 – Fandanguero and Son Del Viento
1/6/10

A continuing celebration of the recent record release of The Pilsen Soundtrack 1.0. This independent production features 7 bands of Pilsen/Chicago musicians that live and/or work in Pilsen, the heart of the immigrant and Mexican community in Chicago. The bands on the recording cover genres that range from traditional Mexican music and Cuban son to ska, bossa nova and alternative rock. Two of these popular bands; Fandanguero and Son del Viento will take the stage with a uniquely Chicago take on the Son Jarocho tradition. The soundtrack also features: Azul de Noche, Los Vicios de Papá, LFT, Tarima Son and Benjamín Anaya & Los Extranos Unidos.

A Zapateado and Jarocho instrumental workshop will be offered in the Thursday Workshop Series.

Jacco Muller and Victor Ghannam
1/13/10

Jacco Muller is a Dutch Flamenco guitarist residing in Amsterdam who teamed up with Palestinian-American oud player Victor Ghannam to record "Viento del Desierto". They will be joined by first-class Middle Eastern and Spanish musicians for this record release concert. This event is sponsored in part by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Artist link: www.jaccomuller.com

Jacco Muller will give a Flamenco guitar workshop in the Thursday Workshop Series

Trio Los Primos
1/20/10

Trio Los Primos is one of Chicago’s great treasures in Latin music. First formed in 1985 by Salvador Castillo, this trio has performed traditional romantic Boleros (or ballads) all over Latin America and continues to keep this beautiful art form alive in Chicago.
Artist link: www.triolosprimosdemexico.com

The artists will give a Bolero workshop in the Thursday Workshop Series

Matias-Rocha y Nueva Trova
1/27/10

This international quartet presents an amalgamation of styles rooted in the folkloric traditions of Latin America. By combining original melodies and lyrical poetry inspired by the great Hispanic poets of the Americas with strong jazz melodies, they have created a style of their own, while maintaining the tradition of their influences like Mercedes Sosa, Silvio Rodriguez, Pablo Milanes, Roy Brown, Noel Nicola and Roy Brown.
Artist link: www.myspace.com/matiasrochaynuevatrova

Latin American Folkloric workshop with Matias-Rocha y Nueva will be offered in the Thursday Workshop Series.

Salsa Congress
2/3/10

The Chicago International Salsa Congress (CISC) produced by Rosita Ragin and Old Town School’s very own mambo & cha cha cha instructor, Saladeen Alamin presents a sizzling appetizer for the 9th annual Congress February 11-14 at the Westin O’Hare. This year’s event features three stellar local dance troupes; Los Jovenes del Swing, Los Soneros del Swing, and Gifted Souls plus dance couple Andy Cruz of Chicago and Kimberly Rivera of the Eddie Torres Studios in New York City accompanied by the sounds of the Congress’s signature DJs.

Artist links: www.chicagosalsacongress.org, www.andymambo.com

Ladies don’t miss out on Kimberly’s Ladies Styling Class in the Thursday Workshop Series.

Juanito Pascual
2/10/10

National Public Radio calls Juanito Pascual one of the hottest flamenco guitarists to emerge in recent years." Don’t miss this explosive evening featuring Pascual’s original compositions, the passion of flamenco song and dance, sizzling percussion and soul-stirring Gypsy violin. "…when the musicians engaged in impassioned cross-fire, the heat index broke all records" -The Village Voice
Artist website: www.myspace.com/juanitopascual

Flamenco dance and guitar accompaniment with the artists will be offered in the Thursday Workshop Series.

Burkina Electric
2/17/10

Burkina Electric is the first electronica band from Burkina Faso, in the deep interior of West Africa. This is an extraordinary fusion of the traditions and rhythms of Burkina Faso and contemporary electronic dance culture. The band consists of four musicians and two dancers hailing from diverse backgrounds and fronted by charismatic, award winning vocalist Mai Lingani who sings in Moré, Dioula, Bissa, and French. It is truly authentic African electronica that is super danceable and mesmerizing.

African Dance will be offered in the Thursday Workshop Series

Ryan Cohan Septet
2/24/10

2009 Guggenheim Award winning composer/pianist Ryan Cohan will present the world-premiere of his brand new extended composition inspired by his group’s recent tour of Africa. This concert will feature his critically acclaimed septet and is sponsored in part by Chamber Music America and The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Artist link: www.ryancohan.com

Jazz Improvisation will be offered by the artists in the Thursday Workshop Series.

CHI presented by The GuiDance Collective with Boogie McClarin and Daniel Bravemonk Haywood
3/3/10

Get ready for something completely different… Old Town School dance instructor Boogie McClarin along with members of ASK the legendary Phaze II, ethnomusicologist Meida Teresa McNeal and the Chicago Metropolitan Underground bring high-energy dance theater to the stage of the Old Town School. What if the Wizard of Oz met Beat Street? Get a glimpse of urban ritual and experiences with movement, music and more.

HAPA
3/10/10

The overriding quality of HAPA’s music is one of beauty and serenity, found in the majestic tones of the oli (chant), mele (song), the elegant movements of the sacred dance known as hula, and the exhilarating innovative sounds of virtuoso slack key guitar.

HAPA’s self entitled debut cd released in 1993, swept the 1994 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s equivalent of the Grammy’s), becoming the biggest selling CD by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music. The group’s ground breaking music has established them as the most recognized name in Hawaiian music internationally since their debut release, with sold-out shows from Tokyo to New York.

Arists link: www.hapa.com

The Irish Music School of Chicago
3/17/10

The Old Town School of Folk Music in partnership with The Irish Music School of Chicago celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in fine musical style.
Join the teachers and award-winning students of the Irish Music School of Chicago as they passionately perform the traditional music of Ireland and Irish-America. Not only will you be tapping your feet to traditional tunes and learning the stories behind them, but you will also get a first-hand look at the living, multi-generational musical community that has long and proud roots in the city of Chicago.

www.irishmusicschool.com

Sean Cleland, Director of the IMSC will give an Irish music workshop in the Thursday Workshop Series

Kenyatta Hill
3/24/10

Kenyatta Hill has one of the fastest rising stars in the world of Reggae music. His career began the day his father’s ended. Joseph Hill, singer and songwriter for the legendary Jamaican vocal trio Culture, collapsed and died while on a 2006 tour of Europe. To the amazement of promoters, fans and critics alike, Kenyatta stepped onstage and delivered electrifying performances time and again – nineteen shows in all – until the tour was complete. Kenyatta Hill assumed the reins of Culture and producing an acclaimed album, "Pass the Torch" in 2007 touring extensively. Kenyatta is continually expanding his musical horizons and is now touring backed by the Midwest’s Yard Squad.

Artist link: www.myspace.com/kenyattahill

A Reggae rhythm workshop by the artists is offered in the Thursday Workshop Series

Season 2

NIU Steel band
4/14/10

The NIU Steel Band founded in 1973, highlights the beauty, uniqueness and versatility of the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Under the direction of Liam Teague and Clifford Alexis, this 35 member group has recorded several albums and toured the U.S. and Asia. In 2000 the NIU Steel Band had the distinction of placing 2nd in the World Steelband Festival in Trinidad

Gundecha Brothers
5/5/10
(paid ticketed show) $18/$16/$14

The Old Town School of Folk Music in partnership with the Kalapriya Foundation present the Gundecha Brothers, India’s premiere practitioners of Dhrupad, the country’s old form of classical music.