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Tag: Shaker Heights

Pull Up! Where To Go & What To Hear In NEO Sept. 12-18

Friendly experiencers,

Pull up! I see this all over my social feeds, an exhortation from my musician friends to get out and experience the music the way it’s meant to be heard: live.

This weekend brings a pair of shows on the west side–both on Friday (are you superstitious?). Good luck deciding which one you’ll want to pull up to. While you make up your mind, enjoy tomorrow’s theme song in the composer’s authoritative version with all-timer Walter Theodore Rollins, who turned 94 last Saturday the 7th.

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Stephen Philip Harvey Runs On Big Nerd Energy

Stephen Philip Harvey is a saxophonist, educator, composer, arranger, clinician, label executive, husband and son. Though he just turned 32 last Friday, you have to wonder where he gets the energy.

“I think it’s unfortunately a symptom of high functioning anxiety,” he said with a laugh that belied the sentiment. “Realistically, and emotionally,” he added, “I just really, really love music.”

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Jason Roebke’s Music Is ‘Transgressive In A Positive Way’

Jason_Roebke
photocredit: Lawrence Minor

According to the map app on my phone, Chicago is five hours away by car, a scant six by Amtrak. To anyone who has ever wasted an hour creeping along I-480, this is the equivalent to a pleasant Sunday drive. So why do so few members of the Windy City’s stupefyingly abundant music scene make the trip?

It’s a fair question, but don’t think about it for too long. Better to luxuriate in the opportunity to hear four of Chicago’s best when New Ghosts presents bassist Jason Roebke’s quartet at BOP STOP Sunday.

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For 49 Years, Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Has Played–And Embodied–Black History

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Corey Wilkes, Dr. Kahil El’Zabar, Alex Harding

One of the great consolations of hanging around the music business stage door for a long time comes when people who assume that you know things ask you questions. One of my favorites is: Which band have you seen the most times? I love this question because it gives me a chance to talk about Kahil El’Zabar’s magnificent Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, which is also my favorite band.

Now, for the first time since I moved to Cleveland in 2019, I get to talk about an upcoming concert of theirs that I will attend. It’s Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Convivium 33 Gallery, presented by the Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project and needless to say, if you’re reading this, you should go, too (full disclosure: I played a small part in making this concert happen). An Ethnics concert is never less than completely enjoyable and on any given night, it can be a transformative experience.

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