Kimo Williams
 

The Oak Park Area Arts Council will present a very special concert on Sunday, May 18, 2003, 7 pm, at Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth, Oak Park.  This concert, Jazzin’ Oak Park, will be a scholarship benefit performance to support the Council’s Fine Arts Scholarship program.  The scholarship program started in 1997 by awarding one $500 award.  Since then,  34 students have received assistance with their freshman year tuition through this program.  Scholarships are available to any arts-involved graduating senior residing in Oak Park, Forest Park or River Forest, planning to major in the arts.  Last year, through diligence and dedication to the program, the Council awarded twelve $1,000 scholarships.  To better ensure that amount can be matched, the Council will present Jazzin’ Oak Park.

Jazzin’ Oak Park will be quite a show.  On stage that night will be Peter Lerner, Oak Park resident and contemporary jazz guitarist/composer.  Peter “is one of Chicago’s finest guitarists, a player with great technique and an equal amount of taste, soul and versatility.” (Metromix)  Lerner has played at numerous places around Chicagoland, including the South Shore Jazz Festival, Taste of Chicago, UIC, Chicago Cultural Center, Border’s Books and Music, Lush Life, Pop’s For Champagne, and Redfish America, just to mention a few.  In his 1999 release, South Side (nominated for Chicago Music Award’s Best Jazz Album/CD), Lerner explored the rhythms of life in the multicultural, music-rich, south side of Chicago and includes seven original Peter Lerner tunes.  He has demonstrated his impressive musical range by performing with such artists as Ramsey Lewis (jazz), Bootsy Collins (funk), Charlie Wilson (lead singer with Gap Band), Gladys Knight (pop R&B), The Fifth Dimension (pop R&B), Tito Puente (Latin jazz) and Sugar Blue (blues).  He has an extensive recording resume; his acoustic sounds can be heard on the Oprah Winfrey Show.  

Also on stage will be Bradley Williams, an Oak Park resident.  Williams created his jazz-based variety show, His Original 21st Century Review, featuring seven musicians, two vocalists and a tap dancer in 1995, at the legendary Chicago jazz club “The Bop Shop.”  A “retro-chic vaudeville show” (Chicago Reader), The Review has appeared at such venues as Green Dolphin Street, Chicago’s Jazz Showcase, Pop’s For Champagne, Pete Miller’s Steak House, The Plaza Tavern, Fitzgerald’s, and the Chicago Historical Society.  The Review traveled to Palestine in 1999 as the sole U.S. group at the Jerusalem Festival for World Music, and appeared in Mumbai and New Delhi, India, in 2001.  They have recorded four CDs, most recently the soundtrack for the 2002 film “Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy.”

Kimo Williams and his 20-piece band, Kimotion, will surely “bring the house down.”  You will remember that Kimo was the composer of the Arts Council’s world premiere of A Symphony of Place, Celebrating Fair Housing and Diversity in Oak Park, Illinois, January 27, 2001.  Kimotion was formed in 1975.  Kimo writes music specifically for his ensemble so as to express his compositional concepts.  These concepts involve his own unique harmonic technique called Diagonal Harmony.  The music is high energy combining rock with jazz and all places in-between.  Kimo has released his second Symphonic-Big Band-Rock album Tracking.  The CD was produced by Kimo Williams and actor/musician Gary Sinise.  Kimo and Gary share the electric bass tracks along with Victor Bailey.  Also performing on Tracking is drum legend Vinnie Colaiuta and tenor sax great Michael Brecker.  “I want my music to be a conduit to the heart with a pulse that brings a smile,” says Kimo.  Kimo plans to have a group of string musicians from Oak Park River Forest High School join him for two numbers during the concert.  

Adding to the excitement on that evening, WBEZ’s Richard Steele will emcee the show.  Richard has become one of Chicago’s most enduring and respected radio personalities.  His intelligent, engaging approach, and the smooth, sophisticated delivery that is his trademark, have sustained his appeal and assured his success for more than 30 years.  Richard has achieved success in both talk and music radio.  Currently he is a host and contributor to WBEZ-FM’s talk shows and jazz programs.  In addition to his almost weekly presence at various charitable and cultural events, Richard has been a pledge host for the past eight years for Channel 11, WTTW, and also worked for a time, as a contributing reporter for “Artbeat Chicago” on that station.

Chef Jack Jones, owner of Bistro Marbuzet, will prepare a three course dinner just for the Oak Park Area Arts Council.  Bistro Marbuzet, rated one of the top 20 new restaurants in 2001 by Chicago Magazine, will open at 4:30 pm for early seating before the show.  The meal will cost $28 and for every meal sold, $5 will be donated by Chef Jones to the Council’s Fine Arts Scholarship fund.  Bistro Marbuzet is located at 7600 Madison Street, Forest Park, IL.  Call 708.366.9090 for reservations.

Jazzin’ Oak Park promises to be a spectacular show!  Buy your tickets now!  Tickets are only $15 for OPAAC members, $20 for non-members, and $10 for seniors and students.  Tickets can be purchased at the Oak Park Area Arts Council’s office - 123 Madison Street, Buzz Café - 905 S. Lombard, Val’s Halla Records - 723 ½ South Boulevard, and at the Oak Park Area Visitors’ Bureau and Convention Center - 158 N. Forest Avenue.  You can also order your tickets online at www.OakParkAreaArtsCouncil.org.