Endless Love

Men of Soul – Black Ensemble Theatre

Jackie Taylor’s wonderful, effervescent Black Ensemble Theater, always a joyous gift to Chicago, is back doing what

Too Hot to Handel

AUDITORIUM THEATRE PRESENTS: TOO HOT TO HANDEL
THE JAZZ-GOSPEL MESSIAH
JANUARY 17-18
REVIEWED BY: DR. MADISON SAMPLE

I also have a dream. One day, black and white men, Jew and Gentiles, male and female, and those of different backgrounds and faiths will come together and speak the universal language of music. If Dr Martin Luther King were here now, he would be very pleased. The experience is one of great music of different categories and styles.
I did not anticipate hearing straight ahead jazz, cool jazz, Big Band, classical, traditional gospel and mood music in one night! I felt cheated that I missed the previous years of such a grand experience.
This weekend is the 125th anniversary of the Auditorium theater at Roosevelt University. The architecture is fully grand. It has housed several diverse acts throughout its history, but never in one night.
“Too Hot to Handel” also is produced as a tribute to Dr Martin Luther King. He tirelessly dedicated his life to the furtherance of man and the ideal of humanity trumping ethnicity. I believe this collaboration provides such an example of his living dream.
The singer soloist– Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke and Karen Marie Richardson were all fantastic. Not only were the vocal notes pure musicianship but full of soul you could touch. The orchestra and background chorus filled the auditorium with a sweet aroma of enjoyment and expectation for more.
This is my first Too Hot to Handel, but certainly not my last.

Madison