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Dee Alexander's Funkin' With Electric Soul: Live In Chicago

WBGO | By Patrick Jarenwattananon
Published January 1, 2015 at 5:51 AM EST
Dee Alexander salutes Jimi Hendrix during her Funkin' With Electric Soul show.
1 of 11  — Dee Alexander salutes Jimi Hendrix during her Funkin' With Electric Soul show.
Dee Alexander salutes Jimi Hendrix during her Funkin' With Electric Soul show.
Ernie Adams and the Evolution Arkestra.
2 of 11  — Ernie Adams and the Evolution Arkestra.
Ernie Adams and the Evolution Arkestra.
Tomeka Reid.
3 of 11  — Tomeka Reid.
Tomeka Reid.
Miguel de la Cerna.
4 of 11  — Miguel de la Cerna.
Miguel de la Cerna.
Alexander changed outfits for the James Brown portion of the concert.
5 of 11  — Alexander changed outfits for the James Brown portion of the concert.
Alexander changed outfits for the James Brown portion of the concert.
Alexander on stage.
6 of 11  — Alexander on stage.
Alexander on stage.
Ernie Adams.
7 of 11  — Ernie Adams.
Ernie Adams.
The audience was very animated, later forming a dance floor in the middle of the room.
8 of 11  — The audience was very animated, later forming a dance floor in the middle of the room.
The audience was very animated, later forming a dance floor in the middle of the room.
Junius Paul (left) and Harrison Bankhead both played bass.
9 of 11  — Junius Paul (left) and Harrison Bankhead both played bass.
Junius Paul (left) and Harrison Bankhead both played bass.
The South Shore Cultural Center.
10 of 11  — The South Shore Cultural Center.
The South Shore Cultural Center.
Dee Alexander.
11 of 11  — Dee Alexander.
Dee Alexander.

It started as a bongo beat — a nod to James Brown, just after his death in late 2006. Then came a few signature riffs. And an ecstatic response from the crowd. Before long, the Godfather of Soul was permanently embedded in the Evolution Ensemble's repertoire. For leader Dee Alexander, a powerful and versatile vocalist, it was all part of the same continuum — as was the music of Jimi Hendrix, whose music carried the same revolutionary weight. Commissioned by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Alexander and the expanded Evolution Arkestra sing the body electric in a free program on the city's south side.

Set List

  • "The Star-Spangled Banner"

  • "Little Wing"

  • "Who Knows"

  • "Fire"

  • "Purple Haze"

  • "If Six Was Nine"

  • "Hey Joe"

  • "Auld Lang Syne"

    • Personnel

  • Dee Alexander, voice

  • Miguel de la Cerna, piano

  • Tomeka Reid, cello

  • Harrison Bankhead,bass

  • Junius Paul, bass

  • Scott Hesse, guitar

  • Yusef Ernie Adams, percussion

    • Credits

    Timothy Powell/Metro Mobile Recording, recording and mix engineer; Dayna Calderón, field producer. Recorded at South Shore Cultural Center, Dec. 7, 2012. Special thanks to the Jazz Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Park District.

    Copyright 2015 WBGO
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