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Episode 17
Bassist meets Louis Armstrong on the streets of Chicago Pat Cieply Chicago, IL - 06/16/04 I have to agree with Mr. Frank Sinatra - Chicago is my kind of town! We had the experience of staying 4 days in Lincoln Park and it was great every day.
The first night we had a gig at a coffeehouse called "Burkhart Underground". The owner of this establishment is a guy named Fred. This guy is a Beat poet, photographer of the rare and unusual, Bon Vivant, adventurer and then some. His house is where the business of artistic expression of all kinds takes place. People bring their own bottle and enjoy the music. The bizarre photos of Ku Klux Klan members "representin", musicians from as far back as the late 40s, jazz, rock'n'roll, country - unbelievable stuff. Some beautiful some quite profane. All capable of changing your perspective on things. When we finally got to play, the opening act was a little late getting started, we decided to loosen up the structure of the music and jam during the songs. It was really great fun to take the songs in new impromptu directions. We split a bottle of Moet on stage and went for it. When we were done the 6 people in the audience said they loved it and we were glad to have reached some new souls with our efforts.
We made it down to a corner bar in search of a beer before bed. We found a place that was right out of a movie about Chicago gangs. A group of Irish guys drinkin and havin a brawl? Maybe there was a group of very loud people chugin their last drinks before closing. But enough about us. This other patron, also loud and having way too much fun knocked over a bar stool and when it hit the floor - Blam! We all hit the ceiling and were on our way out the door. Walking on the ceiling is not easy! We survived. Happy and excited. Will and I grabbed a room at the Days Inn. It was really great to shower and hit the sack. Day 2 We found a fantastic place to eat. Its an all Chicago style diner called "Stellas" The food was served in huge amounts and it was all fabulous. 5 starts for them in the POE guide book.
I hurried back to the hotel, grabbed my bass, tried to get my camera from the guys, and could not. So i bought 2 disposable cameras and hurried back to Stellas to find the Fantastic Funk of Fusia. Of course he was long gone - I searched up and won the area, and just as I gave up I saw this street musicians playing a Djembe and a harmonica on the corner. I decided to hang with him for a while, enjoy some music and conversation. He was a very cool guy - what you might call an "old soul". I had my picture taken with him and before leaving I asked his name. "Louis Armstrong" he replied, writing it down for me with his address in Chicago. I was a bit taken aback. But yo know, stranger things have happened. What a wonderful world came to me as i walked back to the hotel.
Later that evening we all got together and went to a club called "The blues". very Appropriate. Willie Kent and the Gents were playing and they were laying it down. Willie Kent is the bass played, born in Sun Flower Country Miss., he brought his delta blues style to Chicago where it became electrified. This was the real deal, with a pocket so deep you could scratch your tows! Guy Kinz his lead guitarist was smokin! He played without a pick most of the time producing a meaty tone from his telecaster. That went straight to the heart. The woman on keyboards was bad ass also. This stuff was relentless rhythm and heart string pullin' blues. We were shattered I'll be practicing my rhythm and time more often after that experience!
The next day I went looking for Louis Armstrong and the man of many colored suits. I found Louis still playing his harmonica and still smiling. What a wonderful world this can be - Chicago was hard to leave! Many thanks to Fred, Stellas and Diner guy - and yuz guyz still ober by dare? We hops soze Willie and The Gents and of course - Louis Armstrong!
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