I photographed Avreeayl Ra last month, as part of my improv musician series. Avreeayl will be performing tomorrow night, at the excellent new music venue Constellation, with Dave Rempis and Joshua Abrams. Abrams interviewed Ra a few years ago for Stop Smiling magazine; you can read it here.
I shot bassist Harrison Bankhead earlier this month at the Hideout, as part of my improv portrait series. Harrison was warming up before a gig with Hamid Drake, Dave Rempis, and Mars Williams.
Jason Molina died on Saturday. I was lucky to meet him in 2006, when he came to my studio for a photo session. (One of the shots was used for the cover of his album, Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go, above). We only spent a couple hours together, but hit it off right away. I found him to be a sweet, authentic, substantive guy; a mensch. Be sure to check out his gorgeously poignant music if you haven’t already. Here are 9 songs you should know by Jason Molina.
DJ Mr.Voice killing it at Dr. J’s Place. In case you were wondering if he has Mable John’s version of “Your Good Thing (Is About To End),” he does, but it might take a bit of digging.
I had the pleasure of shooting the cover of My Gold Mask‘s new record, Leave Me Midnight, due for release next month. This is the third time I’ve collaborated with the Chicago duo (sometimes trio); I shot the cover for their previous album, A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last), and shot and directed the music video for their track Violet Eyes. Set styling for the above photo by Marianne de Ley.
I photographed Emmett Kelly for the new Cairo Gang album The Corner Man, out now on Empty Cellar. Such a treat to shoot for 12″ record covers. Cairo Gang has two gigs this weekend in Chicago; Saturday, December 8th at Schubas; and Sunday the 9th at The Burlington.
This was shot with a quarter frame 35mm camera–below is a scan of the negative.
Tomorrow night an exhibit of my photographs opens at Elastic. Improvisers is a series of 25 portraits of musicians, including Von Freeman, Ken Vandermark, Mike Reed, Jeff Parker, Jason Adasiewicz, Mars Williams, Hamid Drake, Fred Anderson, Ab Baars, Josh Abrams, Tomeka Reid, and Jim Baker (pictured above), to name a few. Also on display will be a selection of street pictures I shot in the 80s and 90s. This is a soft opening; the official reception for this is on December 14th.
Following the reception, at 9PM, there will be a performance featuring Jacques Demierre, Lou Mallozzi, and Vincent Barras. And don’t miss the Umbrella Music Festival this Wednesday and Thursday.
Tuesday, November 6th, 6-9PM (concert at 9).
Elastic: 2830 N. Milwaukee (2nd floor) Chicago IL 60618
Here’s another photograph from my recent Amsterdram trip, for my improvisational musician series: cellist Harald Austbø.
