Bronzeville Arts District Trolley 2019

Toni walks the walk...

As 4th Ward alderman, Toni Preckwincle always visited neighbors in the ward  door to door to find out their concerns and to adress their needs. As a public sevant, she was always acessible and held  her aldermanic meetings at  a  location where  a diverse group of people could come and talk about the  basics in  a down-to-earth way. 

She has always worked  with  other  alderman to bring Bronzeville  and Hyde Park to higher levels of living  and  neighborhood  engagement. 

From the Bud Biliken Parades, the Bronzeville Veteran's Day Parades and throughout  Bronzeville,  North Kenwood and Hyde Park,  Toni Preckwincle has walked the walk.

TONI Preckwinkle Rally in Bronzeville... Sat 3-23, 2019

The Last Days of the Black Elks Hall in Bronzeville..

A Once Sacred Place in a Once Sacred Space ..

is now reduced 

2 a pile of rubble …

A rubble of red bricks

now sit on the spot 

at the end of my block

A pile of red bricks 

that sit unknown 

against the night  sky

as I

pull the car up to see  

the crime .. up close...

A murder in the night…

There’s no red tape around the corpse.. but 

It still feels like a death in the darkness... 

where someone took away my heart and my soul...

Yes … my  Big little “Red Schoolhouse’..

The Elks Hall…

Where they used to  hold “Elks Affairs”

With B.B. King as a headliner

 Where they dressed in their best.. 

With  beautiful fur collars and 2 inch heels.

And Dobb hats

The end of an era..

of important Black Elks who started  up in  Bronzeville

back in the day.

I remember the cars that lined the block and  

how the lots were full when there was an “Elks Affair..

I remember when guitarist, George Freeman, brother of Von Freeman..

and Byron Barbour  and Terry Norman ... played gigs there.

I remember after many years,… when the Elks  had gone.. 

and the Temple of the African Community  came...

With  Dr Jake Carruthers as their  leader,

we looked forward to the works of the Kemetic Institue

but .. alas.. he passed away 

and the dreams seemed to leave with him..

because the building was never brought to the original vision.

I  came to say  goodbye 

To a piece of my light…

A part of my family history

Growing up on the block..since 1966

Growing up...

knowing 

that 

I could go get some 

Jays potato chips... and a pop..

and watch the elders talk ... 

about important  'things' that elders talk about..

and feel safe...

 knowing that the BIG RED BUILDING  stood

at the  end of the street

 towering  like a big red Fortress 
protecting 'Short Vernon from the  Hawk,

 the folks...

and that it had a history ...

but now it's

Reduced to nothingness... 

against the night sky

It’ s cold… and I stare and stare

before taking a picture

I am alone..

Feeling some kind of way…

 like a lone warrior who cared…

 like a Bronzevillian Shogun

who guarded ... the Stable... 

who watched  over...

and groomed and  

maintained the grounds.

I know I tried..  

to imagine  

a school for the Arts

The children inside ..

a place of learning

filled with music  again..

with community again..

learning about the beauty, the history that we

have in Bronzeville

and interfacing that history with  the world..

The world who always came to visit 43rd St

They  would  stop  at my door 

to learn about the Checkerboard Blues club...

And they would always ask 

"What y'all going to do with that Big Red Building 

at the end of the block?

And I would  always say..

"Some of  us would love to see it become a  

Historical  place of learning.."

A place where the Arts & Technology can flourish...
Where literacy can rise..

But what really happens 2 a dream when it gets no support

Too little.. too late…

No support from those..

who have cultural roots here

 but No imagination..

No love.. 
No Interest..

For a Stable built in the 1890’s
surrounded by cobblestones...

With a rich history..

I’m  having  a flashback

A FLASH BLACK  

2  a whole 'nother time..

In Bronzeville 

On 'short Vernon

 Which is the nickname 
for this block on 43rd St..
because it is only one block long...
on Muddy Waters Drive

With its own rich history..

A flashback to when they tore the Checkerboard down..

As I watched  from the window…

It was a long time coming…

And it hurt just as much..

By Aki Antonia c2018 12418

Denise Thimes.. A Musical Raconteur at Winters Jazz Club

Vocalist, Denise Thimes appeared in a Tribute to Nina Simone  

at Winters Jazz Club on July 6 and 7th, 2018.

On a sold out Saturday night in the summer in Chicago…

Denise Thimes was ON … like 3 neck bones!… 

Shimmering…Shining..

Poignant and Mesmerizing..

Regal… Sensual  and Sophisticated…

Soulful…Mournful …Saucy and Humorous!     

She was Oh so commanding and oh sO real… 

Denise was all of the above in the intimate setting of the 

new Winters Jazz Club as she performed her compelling 

hommage to Nina Simone…

A storyteller is a storyteller and a good  vocalist is expected to sing a musical story… 

but a Raconteur is “someone who can regale his or her listeners with riveting stories, usually funny, sometimes dramatic”.

Denise Thimes is a masterful storyteller… 

a musical raconteur…  who pulled us into the turbulent waters of Nina’s musical journey of love…social justice and compassion for fellow men and women.

She WAS riveting… as she regaled us… 

through many emotional moods all evening.

She seemed to channel Nina Simone’s spirit as she sang…

and we were drawn into the deeper meaning of Nina’s lyrics in such a way that this concert begin to feel like we were at a Jazz theatre in the round. 

No one had told me that Denise Thimes 

was also a gourmet musical chef!

And...at this concert,…. she put on the pot!  

She cooked up her music like a succulent gumbo .. 

stirring up a sensual and spicy musical roux  

peppered with Nina’s outrage and songs of Freedom…

Then on the side …

she added some St Louis styled ribs with sauce…

while channeling Bessie Smith & Nina  

and an ‘Old Soul ‘ version of herself….

singing thangs like……

I want  a little sugar 

In my bowl

I want a little sweetness

Down in my soul

I could stand some lovin'

Oh so bad

I feel so funny and I feel so sad…

I want a Little Sugar in my bowl

Please.......give me some sugar….

Um um umph!  

It was so good, we were licking our  fingers…

Accompanied by a  superb band , a mixture of  incredibly musical ….musicians from St Louis and Chicago,  she started her performance with  Simone’s ‘Aint Got No, I’ve Got  Life…

At the beginning of the song, 
the words sounded campy and depressing...  

“I ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes

Ain't got no money, ain't got no class

Ain't got no skirts, ain't got no sweater

Ain't got no perfume, ain't got no bed

Ain't got no man”

but 
by the end of the song... 
the winds had changed...
ands she began to roar the words
loudly..

I got my arms, got my hands!

Got my fingers, got my legs!

Got my feet, got my toes!

Got my liver, got my blood!

I've got life! 

I've got my freedom!

I've got life!

I've got the life!

And I'm going to keep it!

I've got the life!

Words that reminds us to appreciate all that we do have…

From the moment she entered the room of  listeners.. 

we were under her spell.. 

I Put  A Spell On You…

And she told us we were under her spell..  

that she had  put a spell on us  

Why?  she said “Because you’re mine! “

(Silly me I had thought she was singing to a man… but no!  

She had us all enthralled from the first  note!)

And then she enthralled us more..
with the song 

Four Women… 
a song I have heard sung many times,
but... not sung like that! 

Four Women who had a story to tell..

Four Women ...

Aunt Sarah, 

Saffronia, 

Sweet Thing  

Peaches…

When Denise SANG their stories, 
she went in deep...

she stepped inside their characters and brought each one to life. 

At the end, she received a standing ovation… 

and a tip!

My Skin Is  Black!

My  n….a....m….e    is Aunt Sarah!

Yes! She is a serious musical ranconteur.

From gut-bucket to church!

And her quintet was superb! Subtle and potent, they were the perfect accompaniment , while each band member had the musical chops and skills to fire up the whole room when they took a solo!

  

She brought in a highly skilled music director/pianist, 
Adaron "Pops" Jackson and a funky bassist, John King  
from St. Louis, and seasoned up the rest of the quintet with two experienced  Chicagoans, the fiery jazz drummer, Charles Heath and the smooth stylizations of guitarist, Henry Johnson. 

Johnson is a well known Jazz guitarist in the tradition of  

Wes Montgomery and George Benson.

He has performed in many Chicago Jazz venues including the Jazz Bulls Club, Andy’s, Rick’s  Cafe Americane’ and tours with pianist, Ramsey Lewis. 

Guitarist, Johnson has performed on several of his own albums and has played with many performers including  

Jack McDuff, Hank Crawford, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Stitt, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Williams and Nancy Wilson.

Drummer, Charles Heath’s talents have been showcased at venues and events including The Chicago Jazz Festival, the Chicago Jazz Showcase, Birdland  in Canada, The Blue Note , Poznan, Poland and Tokyo, Japan.

He also served as the resident drummer with the national tour of Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones' theater production of "The Color Purple" and currently as the drummer for pianist and jazz legend Ramsey Lewis

The pianist, Adaron "Pops" Jackson  
transported us back in time to a club in our mind….

where the tinkle of piano riffs and runs 
coupled with Thimes big saucy voice 
had us snapping our fingers…

and singing back and forth in call and response… 

With just right mix on the ivories of Earl Father Hines 
and Count Basie riffs.. 

I thought I was in a juke joint and a supper club…

The bassist, John King was so tasty, 
I wanted to get some fries with all that St Louis rub... 
he had going on those bass strings…

She’s from St Louis , Missouri and she  told us with a bit of an accent, “ We put an R in everythang!   

She also told us she was happy to be in Chicago; 
that she is moving to Chicago ....
Then she showed out...
by sliding into some serious low-down and dirty blues… "

" ’cause you can’t be in Chicago and not ’sang’ some blues!”

Denise Thimes had the guitarist, Henry Johnson playing solos with so much grease on the strings a la Chicago blues style,

I thought I had walked in on Howling Wolf at Theresa’s Blues Club back in the day!

Denise Thimes is an enchanting performer who kept us mesmerized at both of her shows in tribute to Nina Simone at Winters Jazz Club.

I wish I could know 

how it is 

to be free!

She took us church! 

Amen!

Had us clapping and crying!

And remembering that everything is new  

again. 

The band was so musical!

The band was so awesome!

Lovely!

Finally! 

She channels you back to a time that you wish you had been born in...

Thank you Denise Thimes for an evening of musical excellence 

we welcome you to Chicago!

Aki Antonia c 2018

7152018

Bronzeville Arts Blog

The Silver Room Block Party!'Chi-town Afro-Funk!

There were so many 

Funky badass …magical… musical moments of

Blackgirlmagic  and  BlackguyAfrofunk... 

that it was truly a kaleidoscope of 

Funk, 

Fun, 

Energy 

and 

Peace…

With a can of hair grease….

 

As  the  Millenials  

and ere'body  else 

showed up and showed out

all peace and love...

as the Silver Room Block party 

mushroomed n2 Art, 

Fashion

& 

painted faces…

Artist, Marcus Allenye

was pushing his new book ' The World Is Yours!'

& The Universal Alley Jazz Jam..

and some killer 

Black Rock music….

on 3 different stages 

Rocking  out  with Black Cheri Soul! 

Cherelle CheriSoul Sullivan, 

Jordan Bosman, Aki Antonia 

Km Nelson,  Lothario  Lee and more... 

 

Cherelle Cheri Soul  

& the  Black Cheri Soul Band

was rocking out!

The Joint was Jumping at the Silver Room  Block Party!

Hey! ...Keyboardist, Aki Antonia caught a moment with 

Vocalist, Actress and uber multitalented  Sharyon Culberson!

Rituals..Poet..Photographer and more, 
Corey Walden catches up .. at the Silver Room Block party! 

from  53rd and Blackstone

2 53rd and Harper 
(Honorary Oscar Brown  Jr Way) 

2 53rd and Lake Park 

and everywhere in-between…. 

There were some Salsa dancers 

dancing ...

and a LIVE Salsa band!

And the crowd was lOving how

A Drum & Dance troupe...  & 'Chi-town tribe ...

Ayodele  

were bringing that vibe..  

Africa  Brown was rockin those drums!

and rhythms 

straight from the Motherland… 

like....  

Fela meets Southside HOUSE! 

.

AYODELE

When we rolled up on 53rd St... 

going 2 the sound check for Black Cheri Soul… 

we could see the cars were back 2 back! 

On 53rd St?... 

N Hyde Park? ...

Really?

People were everywhere!

Rocking the beautiful funkiness of natural hair in all shapes,

forms and colors

It was so intoxicating & intergenerational …

that  it was like an Afro - Futuristic dream...
of Urban Pharoahs and Nubian Queens

Dashiki-ed Africanos and Beauty Africana 

were floating in and out ..

Not..
 " We gone 2  Paris this weekend 4 Afro-Punk  

but like...

We sTaYed at home in our Pyramid...

.. 4 some  Chi- town Afro-FUNK! …

U know we are a spiritual center 4 all things Black  NOIR!...

when we in... CHICAgO are the home of Sun RA

and Kelan Phil Coran...  Chaka ...Earth Wind and Fire and  

The  Pharoahs .  and Africobra...

We are DuSable's   great great grand children.....

....and ONLI and the Black AGE!

A bevy of Neo-Africana and Neo Africanos …

 in full effect…

BlackRock bands  were slanging.

and Neo-Soul sistas were sanging…

Black hair…. 

was everywhere…

from Bald sOul Sistas 2  

sOul sisters with big Box braids…

Multicolored locs 

             with intricate Chi-town fades....

Big naturals  on shorties.... 

and

Queens floating those Goddess braids...

I saw sisters with threaded braids 

that I haven’t seen since I was in Ghana…

Brothers with BIG ‘natchals.. that made u  just wanna...

hmmmmm....

Afri-fashinistas were flashing skin and Kente.. 

I saw some ‘Classic men’ in skinny ties and plaid…

The Silver Room Block Party was 

sO sO "SUPERBAD"!

And at night…

They were stunting and fronting 

on Pop shots and Scooters..

Boys will be boys…

and the Boyz had their toys

All out and 

Sleek and shiny...

All jumping with sounds and in beautiful colors...

Bentleys and Jeeps and Pop Shots

Futuristic and Classic  
and rocking  some some hip hop

…the music was playing

I felt like a star... 

‘Cause  they  just wouldn’t stop standing 'round my car...

All text and  video and photographs by Aki Antonia c2017
All rights reserved.

AA72017