A new duo

One week from Saturday night I will be presenting a new project at the Winds Cafe in Logan Square.  I will be singing and playing classic songs (pop, soul, underground dance) by artists like Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack, Chuck Mangione, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Carol King, Keni Burke, Burning Spear and many others. 
 
I am pleased to have Hashim Uqdah joining me on the drums.  Some of you may have seen Hashim play with Alpha and the Princes of Futa.
 
Hashim and I will play again at the Winds on Sunday December 28th.  I hope that you consider coming by!
 
What: Seth Hitsky / Hashim Uqdah Duo
 
When: Saturday night December 13, 2008
9PM sharp
@ The Winds Cafe
2657 N Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, IL
 
How much: As always, the Winds Cafe presents music free of charge.
 
www.myspace.com/skyhits
www.windscafeofchicago.com

Happy travels, Mrs. A.

My childhood piano teacher, Maryan F. Abramsohn passed away, completing a life dedicated to teaching piano and classical music to the children of southeastern Michigan.  I can only hope and assume that other tributes will pop up from other students.

I am fortunate to have recently reconnected with Mrs. A., both in person (I visited her in 2004 and even played her a few of my old pieces on her harpsichord) and spoke with her this past summer, after I had put a down payment on my first piano.  She explained to me that she had recently, at the age of 91(?!) retired from teaching.  I sent her flowers to congratulate her and she returned my gratitude with another phone call.

Some students thought her too demanding or strict, but I found her encouraging and challenging.  I have no other basis or foundation for my elementary understanding of classical music and music theory.  She trained my ears and my fingers and it wouldn’t be until later in life that I realized how well-prepared she had made me for a life in music.  I took lessons from Mrs. A. for almost eight years but quit as a freshman in high school.  I did go back and take a few more lessons from her when preparing for my piano-level entry test into music school and thanks to her guidance I passed out of my requirement.  It is also her training that allowed me to do as well as I did in each of my music theory classes in college.

Here is a nice interview with Mrs. A. where she talks about her life as a piano student and teacher.  “Becky” (SIC!) Indenbaum, my cousin, who’s mother recommended Mrs. A. to my mom for me, is mentioned in it.

Living Music: Maryan Abramsohn

I’m glad I had a chance to express my gratitude before she left but I can never say it enough: Thanks, Mrs. Abramsohn!  Love, Seth Hitsky

To Music, For Music, with Music

Upcoming shows in July: Mas Trueno July 4th (block party in Logan Square), July 16 at the Winds Cafe.  Alpha and the Princes of Futa  (I’ll be playing keys), July 5 at the Taste of Chicago International Pavilion, July 6 at the African Caribbean Festival of Life!  Thanks for the opportunities!

Time to drop out!

A rare opportunity is coming our way!  With the American transition from analogue to digital television comes the opportunity to not move on at all.  No need to buy a sixty dollar converter box for your old television.  No need to buy a new television.  No need to buy anything!  Read a book! Ride a bike! Start a blog! (ok, I guess I’m giving primacy to the internet, but I have my reasons)  Let’s give the networks the same fits that corporate music has been going through.  Thanks for listening to this alternate possibility. 

Thank you, Artsy Clarke

When one has created so much with imagination (worlds, literally worlds) it is only fitting and beautiful when it is his time to join them, Bon Voyage Arthur C. Clarke. Creator of ideas, stories, essays, inventions and explorer of space and sea.  Most recently he has been on my mind when I think of his story IMPERIAL EARTH, where he imagined an America in the not-distant future where all automobile traffic is automated and traffic accidents are completely extinguished.  He is a genius.  THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH is so beautiful and I will re-read it in his honor.  Also, you can’t miss any of the collections of his essays, including GREETINGS, CARBON-BASED BIPEDS!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Float Like A Butterfly

Barack had to come out swinging today, and having read the transcript, he gave a compelling speech where he attempts to take the bull(sh*t) by the horns on the issue of ‘race’ in this presidential campaign. He does his best to show perception on ‘both’ sides (“white and black”) of the issue, which fortifies his push for unity.

Have a look.

Detroit X-Pats

I came back to Chicago in 2005 (my first stint 1998 – 2000) and I have noticed one distinct difference from that earlier era:  A much higher concentration of Olde English D baseball caps and Michigan license plates.  Sure, the tigers are a team more worthy of honor these days (of course most of us never gave up wearing the Olde English D even when they shtank, ’cause it rox) but it is simple  to surmise that there is a great influx of economically depressed Michigainians who are making their way through Chi-town.  For Detroiters and other Michigainians (sounds better than ‘ganders, right?): Welcome to the Wind.  Now, please remove those caps.  I love the tigers too, but it’s in bad taste to be walking around in your adopted home with another city’s colors: leave that crap to the cheeseheads.  And for my home city that I abandonded I have two suggestions:  Public Mass Transit and switch to High Tech.  Discuss.

Banks: Can’t live with ‘em.

So the week after I open a Chase account, JPMorgan Chase gobbles another bank. And now that Bank of America is pulling out of sponsoring Looptopia, I want to close those accounts quick. Time to re-open the security box…

Join up the VinylQuest

Grab a record bag and jump on your bike and join me and Mono and other vinyl-lovers as we storm the best record shops on the north side of Chicago. All in the name of supporting our diverse slate of local record stores. Check out our group-think on vinyl in Chicago for more info: www.vinylquest.wikispaces.com

Why blogging is cooler than a journal

Because sharing is caring, gang!