Will 1994 be the year that restores the “alternative” to alternative rock? Let’s hope so. Meanwhile, why not sit out this year’s parade of oppressively mediocre guitar rock retreads and indulge in some roots music that you can dance to?
Ska, the uptempo, dance floor-friendly precursor to reggae, hit the U.S. shores in at least two waves: once in the mid-’60s thanks to the efforts of early bands like the Skatalites, and again during the late-’70s, when British 2-Tone label bands like the Specials, English Beat and the Selecter started a revival.
While ska never had the commercial impact of reggae, its jumpy mixture of Jamaican and New Orleans spirit endures.
Although the health of American ska is generally credited to a variety of East and West Coast ska compilation records, Chuck Wren-a 23-year-old deejay at Northwestern University’s WNUR 89.3 FM-has contributed his share to the music.
For four years, Wren has hosted the station’s weekly ska program, which airs at 9 p.m. Sundays. Last July, he organized the well-attended Midwest “Ska-fest” at Metro.
Wren just released the “American Ska-Thic” Midwestern ska compilation CD, a 21-track audio snapshot of heartland ska both past and present, on his own Jump Up! USA label.
On Saturday at Metro, Wren will celebrate the release of “American Ska-thic” with a six-band lineup that includes Chicago’s Skapone, among others. The compilation features tracks from Skapone, the Blue Meanies, and a previously unreleased track from now-defunct Heavy Manners.
– Local R&B artist R. Kelly’s latest effort “12 Play” on Jive Records has made it to No. 3 on Billboard magazine’s R&B chart. The “Sex Me (Parts I and II)” single off the album has made an impressive showing on Billboard’s Top 40 Airplay, Hot R&B Airplay, Hot 100 Singles Sales and Hot R&B Singles Sales charts. Kelly’s debut album, “Born Into the 90’s,” reached the No. 3 slot on the Top 200 chart and went platinum (1 million in sales).
– Las Toallitas will celebrate the release of its “Mayhem Among the Desert Thieves” CD Saturday at the Bop Shop. The group also is scheduled to appear Feb. 12 at the Beat Kitchen.
– The Chicago chapter of the Recording Academy will present its fifth annual “Grammy in the Schools” program from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday at the De Paul University School of Music, 804 W. Belden Ave. The program includes a variety of workshops, seminars and live performances featuring the Grammy All-Star High School Choir and Jazz Band, Milwaukee vocal jazz trio the Reed Sisters, rap trio JG, solo R&B singer Tressa, the De Paul University Jazz Ensemble, and the Chicago Teen Ensemble classical six-piece chamber ensemble.
– The Mayor’s Office of Special Events is searching for local musicians to perform on the 1994 Taste of Chicago Taste Stage. Interested musicians must submit an audio and/or video audition tape, a biography and black-and-white press photographs to the Office of Special Events by Jan. 15.
Entrants must be Chicago residents and should indicate musical style on the outside of the envelope, addressed to: Taste of Chicago Auditions, Mayor’s Office of Special Events, City Hall, Room 703, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago 60602. Call 312-744-3315.
