Roseanne Cash’s extraordinary recent work has highlighted the music of her dad Johnny’s youth. Jazz violinist Regina Carter explored the Library of Congress folklore collection to find the music that her Mississippi grandfather listened to, performing at Orchestra Hall in Chicago (April 18). More often than not, they find white and black sounds coupled together to create a shared national music. Some of the best music I heard on stage in 2014 was the product of artists burrowing deep into the American cultural core to reinterpret our common history. I have to think it’s changing band dynamics to the better in the same way that women managers in the workplace change the valence of team chemistry.Īmerica’s unhealed racial wounds were also on display in 2014. I felt such despair over the Ferguson debacle that I avoided most discussions of it. The boys in the band are increasingly girls. 8) featured the formidable drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and the rising alto sax player Tia Fuller, who may tour with Beyoncé but plays like Charlie Parker is whispering in her ear. And the women-led Mosaic Project at Shannon Hall (Nov. Lap steel wizard Cindy Cashdollar backed up slide guitar legend Sonny Landreth at the Stoughton Opera House (Dec. The oh-so-subtle Samantha Banks drummed for Ruthie Foster.
Hill Country bluesman Luther Dickinson was backed by drummer Sharde Thomas and bassist Amy LaVere at the High Noon (Oct. Esperanza Spalding looked ecstatic playing bass with jazz giants Jack DeJohnette and Joe Lovano at Orchestra Hall in Chicago (Feb. The brilliant Israeli clarinetist Anat Cohen led the Newport Jazz Festival All Stars at the Capitol Theatre (Mar.
Today, they can be the brains and the brawn in the band.ĭrummer Lisa Pankratz powered the reunion of roots rockers Dave and Phil Alvin at the High Noon Saloon (July 25). Historically, women sidemen (yup, that’s the word) were treated as novelties, save for the classical world. 8).īut it was the chicks in the band who stood out. 23), and two more who are aspiring to greatness: Gretchen Parlato and Lizz Wright at Shannon Hall (Nov. 21), Alexandra LoBianco in Madison Opera’s Fidelio at Overture Hall (Nov. 21), Mavis Staples at Orchestra Hall in Chicago (April 18), Ruthie Foster at the Dakota (Oct. I saw great ones: Cassandra Wilson at the Dakota in Minneapolis (May 19), Roseanne Cash at the Stoughton Opera House (Nov. That was no surprise with solo singers - a traditional strong suit for women. Either way, 2014 was the Year of the Woman for the more than 60 concerts I saw. Maybe it was the surge line of a big trend. This is the ninth year I’ve summed up my reactions to my favorite concerts for Isthmus’ website.