Chris Greene Quartet: Album Release Party

1245 Chicago Avenue,Evanston IL 60202

29 May, 2022

Description

Chris Greene Quartet: Album Release Party ALL AGES Chris Greene Quartet Chris Greene Quartet at SPACE in Evanston, IL // Doors: 6pm | Show: 7pm // Tickets: $15 - $25 COVID-19 PolicyPlease review our current COVID-19 policy here: www.evanstonspace.com/covidpolicy GENRE: Jazz ABOUT THE ARTIST The phrase "Space is the place" has long had multiple meanings for Chris Greene. These are, of course, the immortal words of jazz visionary Sun Ra, whose expansive influence shines bright on the tenor saxophonist. Space as a musical concept figures into Greene's uncluttered playing and arranging as well. And SPACE is the name of the Evanston, Illinois club that is Greene's home away from home. In fact, the Evanston native lives only five minutes away. Having it so close has been a great comfort during the stressful days of the pandemic. "It's our favorite club, a great place to play," he says. For him, the state of the art venue is also a great place to record. Though much of "PlaySPACE 2: Play Harder," his latest stellar effort with his longstanding quartet, was recorded there before the coronavirus struck, the high spirits and vibrancy of the performance – and the interaction with his devoted fans – speaks volumes on how important live shows are for artist and audience alike. It will come as no surprise to fans of the super-eclectic Chris Greene Quartet, featuring pianist Damian Espinosa, bassist Marc Piane and drummer Steve Corley, that Play Harder draws from a wealth of sources. This is a band shifts easily from blues and swing to funk and hip-hop to rock and reggae. Previous albums have featured tunes by Madonna, John Coltrane, Sting, Charles Mingus and lounge music maestro Martin Denny. With Play Harder, the Chris Greene Quartet has released nine albums, including three volumes in its live Playtime mixtape series; the double album Music Appreciation, which notably includes the Yellow Light Orchestra's cover of Martin Denny's "Firecracker;" Boundary Issues, which featured three guest artists, saxophonist Marqueal Jordan, percussionist JoVia Armstrong and guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, and the live PlaySPACE. "I have a hard time staying in place," Greene says. "I don't know my place, I guess, which is why I'm always stepping outside of the so-called boundaries. With the music I like, I just can't help thinking, what would it be like if I did this, or this?" With his consistency over such a long stretch of time, and his quartet's being chosen as Chicago's Best Jazz Band in a Chicago Reader poll, Greene has shown no signs of letting positive feedback go to his head. A people's artist who has generously offered free downloads to fans, he knows the key to longevity is to keep doing what the album title says: Play Harder. Even in these difficult times, you can count on the Chris Greene Quartet doing just that – whenever and wherever the opportunities to do so arise. ARTIST WEBSITE Chris Greene Quartet