Wednesday, January 18th @ 9pm
The George Freeman Quartet will be featuring George's own "Birth Sign" album from 1972.

ALBUM BACKGROUND:
Chicago electric guitarist George Freeman was a quintessential sideman when backing bands led by Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Gene Ammons, and Shirley Scott. This is his debut recording, done in the height of the soul-jazz era circa 1969, featuring his famed brother Von Freeman on tenor sax for four tracks, drummer Billy Mitchell throughout, and either Sonny Burke or Robert Pierce on the Hammond B-3 organ. At times Freeman's sound traces to no single individual source, though it is steeped in Chi-Town blues and a progressive stance that is apart from the Wes Montgomery/George Benson school of the day.

"This album was ahead, behind and of its time. It has the southside bluesy feel, shadows of bop, soul jazz, and hints of the coming Art Ensemble. It's a tough, visionary set of grooves that will make you grin and wince in pleasure when you need something real."
- John Kahle

LISTEN:
"Mama, Papa, Brother"
"My Ship"
"Birth Sign"
"My Scenery"

PERFORMANCES BY:
George Freeman - guitar
Mike Allemana - guitar
​Pete Benson - keys
Mike Schlick - drums

​Featured Visual Artist - Arthur Wright

ADMISSION & LOCATION:
Doors open at 8:30, show starts at 9pm.
Suggested $10 donation or $5 w/ valid student ID*
Cash only, Smaller bills appreciated.
All ages. 21+ for alcoholic beverages.
Beverages generously provided by Candid Wines.

All JRAC events take place at The Fulton Street Collective:
Located in the Hubbart Street Lofts
1821 W. Hubbard St. (3rd Floor)
Chicago, IL 60612
(773) 852 2481

Wednesday, December 7th @ 9pm
JRAC is presenting one of the most beloved and nostalgic holiday albums, Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas".

ALBUM BACKGROUND:
By the early 1960s, Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts had become a sensation worldwide. Television producer Lee Mendelson acknowledged the strip's cultural impression and produced a documentary on the subject, titled A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Mendelson, a fan of jazz, heard a song by Vince Guaraldi on the radio not long after completion of his documentary, and contacted the musician to produce music for the special. By April 1965, Time featured the Peanuts gang on its magazine cover, and plans for an animated half-hour Peanuts Christmas special were commissioned by The Coca-Cola Company. 

The first instrumentals for the special were recorded by Guaraldi at Glendale, California's Whitney Studio with bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey. Allmusic reviewer Shawn M. Haney called it a "joyous and festive meditation for the holiday season," writing, "Guaraldi strings together elegant, enticing arrangements that reflect the spirit and mood of Schulz's work" and that it "introduce[d] contemporary jazz to youngsters with grace, charm, and creativity."


PERFORMANCES BY:
Quentin Coaxum- trumpet
Hunter Jay Diamond- tenor sax
Stu Mindeman- piano
Andrew Vogt- bass
Mikel Avery- drums

Along with live painting by featured artist, Lewis Achenbach!

ADMISSION & LOCATION
Suggested $10 donation or $5 w/ valid student ID*
Cash only, Smaller bills appreciated.
All ages. 21+ for alcoholic beverages.
Beverages generously provided by Candid Wines.

All JRAC events take place at The Fulton Street Collective:
Located in the Hubbart Street Lofts
1821 W. Hubbard St. (3rd Floor)
Chicago, IL 60612
(773) 852 2481