Thanks, @2ndFiddle, for spotlighting our Hideout event in the Chicago Tribune preview of DNC-related cool stuff to do around town! chicagotribune.com/2024/08/15/wha…

If you're one of the millions who love Donny Hathaway's holiday classic, "This Christmas," please help out Nadine McKinnor who wrote its words: gofundme.com/f/nadine-scott…

One classic Chicago soul song was played at the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. Come down to Hideout Chicago tonight to see Zeshan B and to hear plenty more! youtube.com/watch?v=mzDVaK…

First day of the fall semester and I had to say to my class, "Sorry that the classroom computer is so fu.... problematic."

My recommendation on who to see at the upcoming Chicago Jazz Festival: Everybody!

Just an aside that should be mentioned as some politicians have maligned an American community these past few days: In the 1930s, Haiti was one of the very few countries that welcomed Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust.

The Englewood Jazz Festival on Chicago's South Side celebrates a milestone anniversary next week. chicagoreader.com/music/concert-…

Combatting hateful rhetoric with lovely music: Here's the wonderful Haitian singer Emeline Michel performing at the Kennedy Center. youtube.com/watch?v=Nkj3Eu…

Time to pull this great historical work off the shelf and start talking about it.

Lots of terrific shows coming up as part of Chicago's World Music Festival. I wrote here about the very cool Brazilian singer Bia Ferreira, but read about everyone and see as many as you can: chicagoreader.com/music/world-mu…

Thank you, Tom Pollard for interviewing me on the Music Of America podcast: player.captivate.fm/episode/e57074…

So excited to see the Japanese edition of "Move On Up"! Thank you, 亜紀書房, Elizabeth Branch Dyson and everyone at UChicagoPress for reaffirming that Chicago soul is worldwide.

Talking to my class about their thoughts on Gabriela Mistral and one student said the readings made her hug her mom. So it was one of those days that makes teaching so rewarding.

I know that apples & honey are supposed to be the thing for Rosh Hashanah but this year I went to Classic Cobbler in Bronzeville to get my parents the best peach cobbler in Chicago. Some traditions should be reinvented.

I'm always thrilled to celebrate Chicago soul legend Jackie Ross. Come on out to hear her discuss her history and where she's going next. It's free but register in advance: eventbrite.com/e/a-conversati…

Next week the great guys from the Wayne Shorter Quartet will pay tribute to the brilliant saxophonist at Chicago's Symphony Center. Here's a piece I wrote about the concert, a double bill with another incredible saxophonist, Charles Lloyd. Be there! cso.org/experience/art…

"Save The Children" is an incredible film of the 1972 Operation PUSH Expo. Held in Chicago, it shows Curtis Mayfield, The Jackson 5, The Staple Singers and so many more at the height of their powers. Here's my story for Chicago Reader: chicagoreader.com/film/movie-fea…

Talking to my students about Roman philosopher Lucretius tomorrow. I will not be showing the film "Caligula" to my class because that took place slightly before his time.

Talking to my students about the beauty and history of Puerto Rico and the need to counteract hostile and bullshit political rhetoric about the island. Which I had to mention before talking about Haiti a few weeks ago. I wish I didn't have to say it, but here we are.

Talking about Cuba in my online Latin American studies class today and decided to bring in my teaching aids: The Fidel and Che figurines I bought in Havana 26 years ago.