tag:lucasgillan.com,2005:/blogs/lucas-gillan?p=1Lucas Gillan2020-11-13T22:06:07-06:00LUCAS GILLANfalsetag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/64773832020-11-13T22:06:07-06:002024-03-28T03:18:19-05:00COVID Update: DrumSongs and Online Teaching<p>Hello!</p>
<p>The last time I updated this news page was way back in June of 2019, a full 9 months before a global pandemic stopped us in our tracks and put an end to so much of the live music that enriched our lives. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then. Dozens of gigs were canceled, my erstwhile employer Blue Man Group was shut down, I haven't seen live music as an audience member in what seems like forever, and I'm doing much of my teaching online.</p>
<p>One <em>good</em> thing that I think a lot of us have experienced during the pandemic is a chance to take a step back and re-assess our long term goals and think, "What exactly do with my time?" Despite the economic uncertainty of this time, I've felt more motivated than ever to focus on my craft as a musician. In addition to a renewed commitment to my drumming practice, I've been excited by the thought of building other musical skills. I've always been scared of the technological side of music creation and stifled by perfectionism when it comes to composing. So, this Summer, with little to no gigs on my calendar, I started writing music on a regular schedule <em>and</em> learning how to record and make music using software (specifically Logic Pro X). To keep myself accountable in this new endeavor, I've been composing and recording a new "1-Minute DrumSong" every week and posting them to social media and YouTube (<a contents="click here for the playlist" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL92Nrzwmj7b0lxp6o9rGEU4y5WWUBb-qi" target="_blank">click here for the playlist</a>, which, as of this writing, has 11 songs). While I'm still totally new to the technical side of things, I'm working on it and feel a sense of forward momentum as I continue to make new stuff every week. I hope you'll <a contents="subscribe to my channel on YouTube" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/lwgillan" target="_blank">subscribe to my channel on YouTube</a> and follow along with me as I try to improve as a composer, drummer, and amateur recording engineer. Check out a recent one below:</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLDuFMYIx8c&list=PL92Nrzwmj7b0lxp6o9rGEU4y5WWUBb-qi&index=9" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/d5e6dc588980602e3ed1356df60d6e6ecc47ea3b/original/yr-probly-right.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><br>The other big change to my musical life in 2020 has been the addition of my <a contents="at-home online teaching studio" data-link-label="Online Lessons" data-link-type="page" href="/online-lessons" target="_blank">at-home online teaching studio</a>. With a multi-camera set-up and a new electronic drum kit run through an audio interface along with a talk mic, I'm able to provide clear audio and quality video over Zoom. I've built up a studio of new online students, and have really enjoyed the process of learning how to teach online and craft dynamic lesson plans aided by YouTube videos, Spotify playlists, PDFs, and whatever else will help the student. If you or anyone you know is interested in online lessons, let me know! You can find out more about how it works on my <a contents="online lessons page" data-link-label="Online Lessons" data-link-type="page" href="/online-lessons" target="_blank">online lessons page</a>, and contact me with any questions or inquiries at <a contents="lwgillan@gmail.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:lwgillan@gmail.com">lwgillan@gmail.com</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks for checking in -- I hope your 2020 has had some bright spots in it along with the gloom and doom. Stay safe, stay hopeful, and stay in love with music!</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<p>Lucas</p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/57964492019-06-18T23:23:04-05:002024-01-02T13:41:41-06:00Many Blessings Update: New Show Announcements, Lotsa Good Press for the New Record<p>Hello! </p>
<p><a contents="The last time I checked in on this blog/news feed" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.com/home/blog/new-many-blessings-album-out-happy-birthday-herbie-nichols-release-show-next-week" target="_blank">The last time I checked in on this blog/news feed</a>, it was to let you know about my new album, <a contents="Chit-Chatting With Herbie" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.bandcamp.com/album/chit-chatting-with-herbie" target="_blank"><em>Chit-Chatting With Herbie</em></a>. Since then, we played a raucously fun release show, the record has found its way into the hands of jazz fans and critics from around the globe, and 5 months have passed. There's no feeling quite like sending a copy of your own CD to a paying customer across the globe, or reading a positive review of your work in a magazine or website that you used to pore over daily. I've been extremely grateful to have experienced both of those feelings many times since the record came out. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/35f166f31dd7049dbcbf4cb264fa22b595cee50b/original/img-4487.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I'm excited to share with you some of the recent press the album received, but first, I'm excited to announce that we are finally playing some <strong>more shows</strong> in the next few months! We will play a mix of the Herbie Nichols music from the new album, old Many Blessings favorites, and some newly-composed tunes. Mark your calendars:</p>
<ul> <li>
<a contents="Tuesday, July 23 at the Whistler" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.com/event/2705296/497797557/many-blessings" target="_blank">Tuesday, July 23 at the Whistler</a> (9:30PM)</li> <li>
<a contents="Tuesday, August 27 at Cafe Mustache" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.com/event/2705300/497797561/many-blessings" target="_blank">Tuesday, August 27 at Cafe Mustache</a> (9PM)</li> <li>
<a contents="Monday, September 16 at Elastic Arts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.com/event/2705302/497797563/many-blessings">Monday, September 16 at Elastic Arts</a> (9PM)</li>
</ul>
<p>Below, click around to read some of the reviews of <em>Chit-Chatting With Herbie</em>. And if you still haven't picked up a copy of the CD, check it out <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.bandcamp.com/album/chit-chatting-with-herbie" target="_blank">here</a>! And check out my extensive <a contents="digital liner notes here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.com/chit-chatting-with-herbie-digital-liner-notes" target="_blank">digital liner notes here</a>.</p>
<ul> <li>“Chit-Chatting With Herbie is a timely and brilliant release that simultaneously highlights the work of an ingenious and unrecognized artist and stands on its own as a provocative and satisfying recording." -Hrayr Attarian, <a contents="Chicago Jazz Magazine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.chicagojazz.com/single-post/2019/01/03/CD-Review-Lucas-Gillan-Chit-Chatting-with-Herbie" target="_blank">Chicago Jazz Magazine</a> </li> <li>“While the pieces retain a 1950s energy and style, the performances occasionally burst into avant-garde clack and squeal, and have a thick-limbed, modern energy when they get romping.” “[Gillan] acquits himself with a crisp and precise control of the kit." -Phil Freeman, <a contents="The Wire (March 2019 Issue)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.bandzoogle.com/files/385601/jazzcolumn2-thewire0319.pdf" target="_blank">The Wire (March 2019 Issue)</a> </li> <li>“With its thoughtful and expansive takes, Chit-Chatting With Herbie is a meaty and meaningful release that does both Gillan and his musicians and Nichols proud." -Peter Hum, <a contents="Ottawa Citizen" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/jazzblog/paying-tribute-to-jazzs-other-herbie-lucas-gillans-many-blessings-cd-reviewed-mark-millers-herbie-nichols-biography-re-reviewed" target="_blank">Ottawa Citizen</a> </li> <li>"A lurching, bluesy feel with lots of melodic twists and turns. 'Wildflower' starts out like a ballad but quickly becomes a strutting dance number, with Gillan smacking the drums as the horns coil around each other like mating snakes." -Phil Freeman, <a contents="Stereogum" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.stereogum.com/2029954/ugly-beauty-the-month-in-jazz-january-2019/franchises/ugly-beauty/" target="_blank">Stereogum</a> </li> <li>“Lucas Gillan has taken on Nichols’ compositions in a tribute album that retains all of the truth and mystery of the artist. His arrangements are wing-spreading approaches." -Marc Myers, <a contents="JazzWax" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.jazzwax.com/2019/01/gisele-burt-and-miles.html" target="_blank">JazzWax</a> </li> <li>"The music sounds fresh, contemporary, and joyous! Kudos to Lucas Gillan's Many Blessings as their performances and music will raise your spirits on the dark nights of winter and year-round." - Richard Kamins, <a contents="Step Tempest" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://steptempest.blogspot.com/2019/01/an-unexpected-sabbatical-treasure-of.html?fbclid=IwAR0iOPJCNzJAa_kSJ07b-hj-DpzA4lnlP4zWPXKoRmK-EtT_by3Ez30NLQU" target="_blank">Step Tempest</a> </li> <li>"Gillan’s arrangements stress how potentially orchestral the music is, with its contrasting strains and voicings. And Many Blessings also proves that Nichols’ music is fertile ground for improvisation." - George Kanzler, <a contents="New York City Jazz Record" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.bandzoogle.com/files/389977/31.pdf" target="_blank">New York City Jazz Record</a>
</li>
</ul>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/55787092019-01-03T01:50:04-06:002023-12-10T10:44:54-06:00New Many Blessings Album Out! Happy Birthday Herbie Nichols! Release Show Next Week!<p><a contents="" data-link-label="Chit-Chatting With Herbie: Digital Liner Notes" data-link-type="page" href="/chit-chatting-with-herbie-digital-liner-notes" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/d70a25695faaa9b9361f874cd5d98e0e2b8781cf/original/many-blessings-cover-with-text-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>Today, January 3, 2019, is the 100th Bitrhday of <a contents="Herbie Nichols" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bluenote.com/artists/herbie-nichols" target="_blank">Herbie Nichols</a>, one of the great under-appreciated geniuses of jazz. In honor of the occasion, my band, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, is releasing a tribute album to him called <em>Chit-Chatting With Herbie.</em> It's a track-by-track re-imagining of the 1956 Blue Note LP <em><a contents="Herbie Nichols Trio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Nichols_Trio" target="_blank">Herbie Nichols Trio</a>. </em>Read all about our album on the <a contents="digital liner notes page" data-link-label="Chit-Chatting With Herbie: Digital Liner Notes" data-link-type="page" href="/chit-chatting-with-herbie-digital-liner-notes" target="_blank">digital liner notes page</a>, and buy it on <a contents="Bandcamp" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.bandcamp.com/album/chit-chatting-with-herbie" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>!</p>
<p>Also, mark your calendars: <strong>next Thursday, January 10, </strong>we'll be playing a release show and celebrating Herbie's birthday at the Hungry Brain. <a contents="Show info here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.hungrybrainchicago.com/event/1787391-lucas-gillans-many-blessings-chicago/" target="_blank">Show info here</a>. The wonderful pianist Paul Giallorenzo will be opening the show with an all-Herbie set, joined by bassist Anton Hatwich and drummer Quin Kirchner. We'd love to see you there!</p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/55097502018-11-12T12:11:26-06:002024-01-16T16:20:07-06:00New Many Blessings Album Coming January 2019!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/82b1d02c9aa750bf8aacd020797f2dcc4f6fd7b5/original/herbie-mb.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">Top: Herbie Nichols; Bottom: Many Blessings</span></p>
<p>I'm very excited to announce that my jazz quartet, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, will be releasing our new album, <em>Chit-Chatting With Herbie</em>, on <strong>January 3, 2019</strong>. The release date is the 100th birthday of <a contents="Herbie Nichols" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Nichols" target="_blank">Herbie Nichols</a>, the under-appreciated jazz genius who we're celebrating with the album. We will have a release show and 100th birthday bash at the <a contents="Hungry Brain" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.hungrybrainchicago.com/event/1787391-lucas-gillans-many-blessings-chicago/" target="_blank">Hungry Brain</a> in Chicago on <strong>January 10</strong>. It'll also feature a set by our fellow Herbie fan <a contents="Paul Giallorenzo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://paulgiallorenzo.com" target="_blank">Paul Giallorenzo</a>.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/ab54d54ea25ba57568e727a3d78e4133b4588750/original/image4-1.jpeg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">Original sketch of Herbie among revelers in his native Harlem, by </span><a contents="Gary Lehman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://garywlehman.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">Gary Lehman</span></a><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">, who is designing the album's cover art</span></p>
<p>This album has been a long time coming -- I became a fan of Herbie's music some time around 2008, struck by its utterly unique perspective on the jazz tradition and its sense of experimentation, which was at once playful and intellectual. Naturally, I was also drawn in by Herbie's story -- a singular jazz genius who never gained more than a sliver of popular success and died, disillusioned, in 1963, only to gain a small but devoted and near-religious following many decades later. I remember having a long conversation with Ben Allison at the Green Mill in 2009 about our mutual love for Herbie. Ben is an integral part of the Herbie Nichols project, the high-water-mark of Herbie tribute ensembles -- the seeds of inspiration for my own tribute may have been planted back then.</p>
<p>I decided in 2016 to take on the task of re-arranging his entire 1956 album, "Herbie Nichols Trio," for my piano-less quartet (Herbie is a pianist). We performed the arrangements at a <a contents="Jazz Record Art Collective" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://jazzrecordartcollective.com" target="_blank">Jazz Record Art Collective</a> concert, and it was too much fun to put the music away forever. So, earlier this year, I applied for and received a grant from the <a contents="Luminarts Cultural Foundation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://luminarts.org" target="_blank">Luminarts Cultural Foundation</a> to fund a recording of our Herbie arrangements (thanks Luminarts!) Somewhere in the process of preparing for the recording sessions, I realized that we could align the release of the record with Herbie's 100th Birthday on 1/3/2019, and I started getting even more excited about the project, digging deeper into Herbie's music and story. I just finished <a contents="Mark Miller's excellent biography of Herbie" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/mark-miller/herbie-nichols-a-jazzists-life-trade-edition/paperback/product-20642136.html" target="_blank">Mark Miller's excellent biography of Herbie</a> and have been listening to all of his recordings nonstop. Now, to plan a deservedly raucous 100th birthday party!</p>
<p>Mark your calendars (release date <strong>1/3/19</strong> -- release show/party <strong>1/10/19</strong>) and watch out for more good stuff -- preview tracks, artwork, digital liner notes -- soon! </p>
<p>Peace, </p>
<p>Lucas</p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/52084312018-04-29T10:05:24-05:002023-12-10T11:07:28-06:00Many Blessings + Ben Phillips Trio inaugural gig @ Cafe Mustache Mon 4/30<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/5fd97515eb19cd2002c5abc08f5fcc143b67bde8/original/30729236-10215979939989299-7832607209174335488-n.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Monday night April 30th, I'll be playing a double header gig at one of Logan Square's coolest and coziest venues, <a contents="Cafe Mustache" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.cafemustache.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Mustache</a>. Going on first at 9PM, I'll be playing the inaugural gig by the Ben Phillips Trio, with Ben on trumpet and Jakob Heinemann on bass. I met Ben when we were both grad students at DePaul together, and he's one of the most exciting trumpet players to come on the scene in a while. His music explores some really unique places, using electronics and looping pedals on his trumpet and mixing unique sounds with very accessible grooves and melodies. I hope you can come out and hear it. </p>
<p>And, of course, I always love a chance to play with my own quartet, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>. We'll be playing the second set, around 10PM. We've already had two really fun shows so far in 2018, at the Whistler and the California Clipper, so we're glad to be able to bring our music to yet another great venue for creative music in Chicago. As a reminder, if you haven't checked out our <a contents="new record" data-link-label="Arroyo" data-link-type="page" href="/arroyo" target="_blank">new record</a> yet, please do so <a contents="here" data-link-label="Arroyo" data-link-type="page" href="/arroyo" target="_blank">here</a>! </p>
<p><a contents="RSVP on Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1806999969320382/" target="_blank">RSVP on Facebook</a>.</p>
<ul> <li>Mon April 30th, 9PM</li> <li>Cafe Mustache, 2313 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago</li> <li>$5 suggested donation</li>
</ul>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/51025332018-02-27T20:20:40-06:002023-12-10T11:42:56-06:00Two Shows in March + New Video<p>My original jazz quartet, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, released our debut album, <a contents="Arroyo" data-link-label="Arroyo" data-link-type="page" href="/arroyo" target="_blank"><em>Arroyo</em></a>, back in September, celebrating with a near-capacity crowd for our release show at the Whistler. Since then, the band has been laying low, so I'm very excited to announce not one, but TWO shows in the month of March, at two of my favorite venues in Chicago: <strong>March 6 at <a contents="the Whistler" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://whistlerchicago.com/calendar/relax-attack-jazz-series-lucas-gillans-many-blessings-2/" target="_blank">the Whistler</a></strong> and <strong>March 29 at <a contents="the California Clipper" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://californiaclipper.com/event/lucas-gillans-many-blessings/" target="_blank">the California Clipper</a></strong>. I'd love to see you out at one or both of the shows -- we'll be premiering some new music and will be excited to play our first gigs of the new year.</p>
<p>In the mean time, take a moment to check out this video from our release show. It's a newer tune called "In the Dunes" -- it's not on the record, but we definitely had fun playing it, as you'll witness below:</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="pX9I9d5wxN8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/pX9I9d5wxN8/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pX9I9d5wxN8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/48911232017-10-13T18:25:27-05:002024-03-28T03:18:19-05:00New Album, "Arroyo" Available Now<p><a contents="" data-link-label="release-show.jpg" data-link-type="file" href="/files/307543/release-show.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/793d07e929ccc10026c95645ed7a75845e50b778/original/release-show.jpg?1507937565" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>After a decade of on-and-off activity as a band, my jazz quartet, Many Blessings, has finally released our debut album, <a contents="Arroyo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/arroyo" target="_blank"><em>Arroyo</em></a>. Click on over to <a contents="the page I made for the album" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/arroyo" target="_blank">the page I made for the album</a> to read more and stream or purchase it on any of your preferred formats, or you can stream it in the embedded Bandcamp player below. I've gotten lots of great feedback about the album since its release. We played a super-fun album release show at <a contents="The Whistler" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.whistlerchicago.com" target="_blank">The Whistler</a> on September 19th; the turnout was great and there was crazy good energy in the room. Thanks to all who made it out to the show, and to those who couldn't, <a contents="check out the album" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/arroyo" target="_blank">check out the album</a>!</p>
<p><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3934441063/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 350px; height: 470px;">&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href="http://lucasgillan.bandcamp.com/album/arroyo" href="http://lucasgillan.bandcamp.com/album/arroyo"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Arroyo by Lucas Gillan&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s Many Blessings&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</iframe></p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/47628442017-06-30T12:52:19-05:002024-01-20T21:09:49-06:00Many Blessings Debut Album Release Date and Show Announced!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/41acc98617e210c59e25f6226822ef4fa3a351c0/medium/srs-lgillans-group-55.jpg?1496331593" class="size_m justify_left border_" />I'm very excited to announce that my original jazz quartet, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, will be releasing our debut album, <em>Arroyo</em>, on Friday, September 15th, 2017. We'll also play an album release show on Tuesday, September 19th, at <a contents="the Whistler" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://whistlerchicago.com/calendar/relax-attack-jazz-series-lucas-gillans-many-blessings/" target="_blank">the Whistler</a> in Chicago.</p>
<p>This announcement has been a long time coming. I first assembled a quartet called "Lucas Gillan's Many Blessings" over a decade ago. Ever since then, it's been the central creative outlet for my compositions, arrangements, and ideas about leading a band. I feel like we've developed a special group sound over the years that deserved to be documented on a properly-released record. We spent two days recording at <a contents="Shirk Studios" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.shirkmusic.com" target="_blank">Shirk Studios</a> in 2015, and we're finally ready to release the finished product out into the world. So, mark your calendars for <strong>Fri 9/15</strong> (the release date, on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc.) and <strong>Tues 9/19</strong>, for <a contents="the release show" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lucasgillan.com/event/1985527/440457646/many-blessings-album-release-show" target="_blank">the release show</a> at the Whistler. The album will be released on <a contents="JeruJazz Records" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://jerujazzrecords.com/" target="_blank">JeruJazz Records</a>, a Chicago-based label run by bassist <a contents="Joe Policastro" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://joepolicastro.com/" target="_blank">Joe Policastro</a> that has been putting out lots of great music lately.</p>
<p>While you'll have to wait until September 15th to hear the whole record, you can stream two tracks below.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/344820755&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/47323002017-06-03T08:25:50-05:002023-12-10T11:52:20-06:00Gig Alert: Diamond / Gillan Duo at Elastic Mon 6/5<p><a contents="" data-link-label="lucas-and-hunter-ho.jpg" data-link-type="file" href="/files/291724/lucas-and-hunter-ho.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/168c48ea949b93167cd48e2b06bf762e73ad7b0a/medium/lucas-and-hunter-ho.jpg?1496493496" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>On Monday, June 5th, I'll be playing a duo set with saxophonist <a contents="Hunter Diamond" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.hunterdiamond.com" target="_blank">Hunter Diamond</a> at <a contents="Elastic Arts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://elasticarts.org/" target="_blank">Elastic Arts</a>, as a part of their weekly Anagram Series. Hunter and I started getting together semi-regularly to play as a duo last Fall, and have really enjoyed the process of developing a musical chemistry purely through improvising. We played an improvised set at the Hideout in December (on Hunter's birthday!) and had a blast. Here's a very short clip from that gig:</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="C-FK-jmEdd4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/C-FK-jmEdd4/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-FK-jmEdd4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Earlier this year, I tried my hand at composing a piece for the duo, and it was a challenging but fun experience. Check out the result below:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/323698707&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>At Elastic on Monday, we'll play a mix of improvisations and composed music. I'm about to finish grad school, so I've been consumed by school-related concerts and final papers lately. I'm very excited to make some improvised music with Hunter Monday night. We play at 9PM, followed by <a contents="Stevenson Valentor" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://stevensonvalentor.com/" target="_blank">Stevenson Valentor</a>'s Presence Quintet. </p>
<p><a contents="Full event details here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://elasticarts.org/event/diamond-gillan-duo-stevenson-valentors-presence-quintet-5-june-2017/" target="_blank">Full event details here</a>.</p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/47000882017-05-07T18:03:41-05:002023-12-10T13:49:42-06:00Spring 2017 Update: School, The Right Now, and a long-time-coming debutHello there! <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/4a825be553ab64d76ad6bbeee5cac60cc98fd713/medium/srs-lgillans-lucas-8.jpg?1494173254" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><br><br>Though it has been quite a while since I wrote a news update here, that's not for lack of activity. There's been plenty going on in my little corner of the music world, and I thought now might be a good time to let you all in on it.<br><br>Most of my mental focus lately has been consumed by school; I'm set to graduate from DePaul University with a Master's in Jazz Studies in about a month. That means I'm in the thick of writing papers and rehearsing for end-of-the-year concerts. One thing I <em>already</em> got out of the way, though, was my graduate recital. It was a lot of work, and a lot of fun: I arranged four pieces as tributes to some of my favorite drummers, and also performed four pieces with <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>. You can watch the video of my Max Roach tribute, a mash-up of Ko-Ko and Cherokee, below:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="5CMzodFiIs8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/5CMzodFiIs8/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5CMzodFiIs8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>Another highlight of early 2017 was the release of <a contents="The Right Now" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://therightnow.com/" target="_blank">The Right Now</a>'s debut album, <a contents="Starlight" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.therightnow.com/store?category=Starlight" target="_blank">Starlight</a>. I have been subbing on and off in TRN for about a decade, but I only officially joined the band in 2014, so this is the first album that I've been a part of -- I play drums on all 10 tracks, and even have a co-composing credit on a couple. It has been a long, but very fun and rewarding process to work on this music for the past few years and to finally see it get out into the world. On the day the record was released, it was featured on NPR's Sound Opinions, as a recommended "buried treasure". Check out the podcast <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://soundopinions.org/show/587" target="_blank">here</a>! We went on a super fun 10-day tour in late March, and played a sold-out record release show at Chicago's Hideout Inn in April. Also, we just released the first music video from the record, which we filmed entirely on the first day of our tour. Check it out below; the whole thing kicks off with a close-up shot of a drum fill by yrs truly:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ERint-fNxog" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/ERint-fNxog/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ERint-fNxog?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>And lastly, I'm working on releasing the debut album by my jazz quartet, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>. All the important stuff is done: I have the CD's in my closet and I'm super-duper proud of how they sound and look. Now, I have to do the work of proliferating it out into the world, which will happen in late Summer/early Fall (exact date TBD). I'm happy to announce that it will be released on <a contents="JeruJazz Records" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://jerujazzrecords.com/" target="_blank">JeruJazz Records</a>, a local Chicago label that has been putting out some exceptional music lately. Check out the album's cover art, and a video of one of our newer tunes (which is <em>not</em> on the upcoming record), below:<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/b970b8b66798a9ed34932c7cb39e8ef62d6780db/medium/arroyo-cover-new-text.jpg?1494198109" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="XIoYRqCxJNg" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/XIoYRqCxJNg/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIoYRqCxJNg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/40925912016-03-17T10:18:51-05:002023-12-10T10:52:49-06:00Luminarts Jazz Fellowship<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/d90b094dc9af196f76bb02103eca844715a8c419/original/img-2426.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>Hello! I hope you're having a wonderful 2016 so far. Mine is going pretty well, thank you. I'm hoping to do lots of cool stuff this year (like figure out what Snapchat is, turn 30 years old, and finally try the Japanese restaurant on my block), but I already had a pretty great experience in the first quarter of 2016: I competed in the <a contents="Luminarts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.luminarts.org" target="_blank">Luminarts</a> jazz contest and was awarded one of the five $5,000 fellowships. The Luminarts Jazz Fellowship is a program of the <a contents="Union League Club of Chicago" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ulcc.org" target="_blank">Union League Club of Chicago</a> that gives awards to young jazz musicians in Chicago every year.
<p>I got an email about the contest at the end of January and decided to give it a try. I auditioned at the ULCC in February and was very surprised and humbled to have made it to the live finals, along with some super-talented peers of mine. The finals were held at Buddy Guy's Legends on March 9th. Each contestant was required to play one blues and one other selection, so I chose to play a super-slow arrangement of Billy Strayhorn's "The Intimacy of the Blues" and a pretty-up arrangement of Thelonious Monk's "Bye-Ya." I got to perform with pianist Ron Perrillo and bassist Nick Schneider, who were gracious in reading down my arrangements even though everyone else just played head charts -- thanks Ron and Nick! If you're interested, you can watch a video of the whole event <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gigity.tv/event/112483" target="_blank">here</a> -- my performance starts at 1:11:00. Major thanks to the Luminarts Cultural Foundation and huge congrats to my fellow winners.<br><br>I haven't decided exactly where the $5,000 will go, but the idea is to invest it in my music career. Maybe I'll put it towards buying <a contents="Elvin's '70s Camco kit" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.maxwelldrums.com/elvins-camco-p-1674.html" target="_blank">Elvin's '70s Camco kit</a> from Steve Maxwell's? I'll need to win a few more fellowships before I can afford that though...<br><br>Here's hoping for more unexpectedly good news to share in the rest of 2016!</p>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/38575342015-10-09T01:24:59-05:002023-12-10T13:32:24-06:00Fall 2015 Update: Records, Gigs, School, New Bands, a Long Walk...<br>Hello! <br><br>A lot has been going on in the past couple of months, and I've neglected to post any news on my blog, so I'm going to take care of all relevant updates here in one fell swoop. Take a deep breath... here we go.<br><br><span class="font_large"><strong>Many Blessings In the Studio</strong></span>
<div class="captioned justify_left"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/89d8809e8316ee32c659bf812c6b5dd3e0367506/medium/img-5795.jpg?1442424524" class="size_orig justify_left border_" /><p class="caption"> </p></div><br>As <a contents="previously mentioned" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/home/blog/we-re-making-a-record-and-playing-some-gigs" target="_blank">previously mentioned</a> on the blog, I took my band, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, into <a contents="Shirk Studios" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/home/blog/we-re-making-a-record-and-playing-some-gigs" target="_blank">Shirk Studios</a> in August for two days to record an album's worth of material. We had a blast in Steve Shirk's wonderfully comfy and great-sounding space, and I'm very pleased with the sounds we got on record. As you can see in the photo, I augmented my standard drum set considerably, adding a second (thunderous) floor tom, second (low and muffled) snare drum, a trashy crashy cymbal stack, and some mini timbales that sound like roto toms, 'cause what's a free-jazz drum freakout without some good ol' roto toms? Everybody really committed to making my music sound as good as possible, and the whole experience was another reminder to be incredibly thankful for the dudes in my band (trumpeter <a contents="Quentin Coaxum" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.quentincoaxummusic.com" target="_blank">Quentin Coaxum</a>, saxophonist Jim Schram and bassist Dan Thatcher).
<div class="captioned justify_right"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/45a8ef3cc05c84b18352930d3585d1353735a30c/medium/img-5797.jpg?1442424595" class="size_orig justify_right border_" /><p class="caption"> </p></div><br><br>Of course, a lot more has to happen before I can write a blog post letting you know about the album's release date: mixing, mastering, producing a physical thing that looks cool, etc. I'm committed to making all of that happen as quickly as possible, so keep checking back for updates.<br><br><span class="font_large"><strong>Terry Bartolotta CD Release</strong></span><br>Speaking of updating you about release dates, there <em>is</em> an album I'm involved in that was just recently released: <a contents="Slow Burn" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Burn-Terry-Bartolotta-Group/dp/B014BU8J3Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1444251842&sr=1-2-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=Terry+Bartolotta+Group" target="_blank"><em>Slow Burn</em></a> by the <a contents="Terry Bartolotta" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.terrybguitar.com" target="_blank">Terry Bartolotta</a> Group. This is my 2nd album with Terry's group, and I'm very proud to be a part of it. We had a great time recording at I.V. Labs in March, and the finished product sounds great. You can find the album on <a contents="iTunes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/slow-burn/id1032005719?mt=1&app=music" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a contents="Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Burn-Terry-Bartolotta-Group/dp/B014BU8J3Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1444251842&sr=1-2-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=Terry+Bartolotta+Group" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a contents="CDBaby" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/terrybartolottagroup2" target="_blank">CDBaby</a>, so go on and pick it up! <br><br>We played a pair of CD release shows at Andy's on September 11th and 12th, which were super fun. The group, which comprises James Davis on trumpet, Alex Beltran on tenor sax and Joel Kelsey on bass along with Terry on guitar and myself on drums, plays around town fairly often, so keep your eyes on the <a contents="Gigs" data-link-label="Gigs" data-link-type="page" href="/gigs" target="_blank">Gigs</a> page to find out when you can see us next.<br><br>Also, check out <a contents="this nicely-produced video" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QLeIl__ocg" target="_blank">this nicely-produced video</a> of us at a recent gig playing Terry's tasty arrangement of the old standard, "Skylark."<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="9QLeIl__ocg" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/9QLeIl__ocg/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9QLeIl__ocg?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><span class="font_large"><strong>Recording with The Right Now</strong></span><br> <div class="captioned justify_right"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/051e00635566ddc9a9864c29fa0d58199e2a358a/medium/trn-studio.jpg?1444370487" class="size_orig justify_right border_" /><p class="caption">Scenes from the TRN session</p></div>I'm fortunate to be able to play in <a contents="The Right Now" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.therightnow.com" target="_blank">The Right Now</a>, a great original soul/R&B band staffed by some of my favorite people. I'm always excited to play live with TRN, but I'm even more excited to have my first experience making a record with them. TRN has two great records out on the market, <a contents="Carry Me Home" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/Carry-Home-The-Right-Now/dp/B0033FTBU4" target="_blank"><em>Carry Me Home</em></a> and <a contents="Gets Over You" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/Gets-Over-You-Right-Now/dp/B007IE8EBS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444367609&sr=8-1&keywords=the+right+now+gets+over+you#customerReviews" target="_blank"><em>Gets Over You</em></a>, and I'm honored to be a part of creating record #3.<br><br>We spent countless hours this summer working out the kinks in pre-production, recording demos and arguing over chord changes and drum grooves, and we started tracking with the wonderful Vijay Tellis-Nayak at Transient Sound in September. We got some great sounds recorded. You can read a heartfelt blog post by TRN leader Brendan about his hopes for the project <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://therightnow.com/news/here-we-go/" target="_blank">here</a>. The rough mixes are already getting us pretty excited. We should be done tracking by December, and I expect to write another blog post about the CD release sometime in 2016!<br><br><span class="font_large"><strong>Back to School</strong></span><br>The other big news this fall: almost 8 years after finishing my undergraduate studies at Northern Illinois University, I've started grad school at DePaul University. I've wanted to go back to school for my Masters for quite a while now, and the time finally seemed right. I'm very excited to be studying privately and in large ensemble with <a contents="Dana Hall" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://music.depaul.edu/faculty-staff/faculty-a-z/Pages/dana-hall.aspx" target="_blank">Dana Hall</a>, an amazing musician, educator, scholar and all-around person. So far, I've been focused on studying the great Max Roach, and I'm looking forward to lots of deep-diving into drumming history over the next two years. It's definitely a new challenge to balance my professional life as a freelance musician and teacher with my studies, but I'm starting to get the hang of it, and I'm confident I'll have it figured out by my graduation date in 2017.<br><br><span class="font_large"><strong>LG3 and LCQ</strong></span><br><span class="font_regular">I've recently added two new pages to lucasgillan.com for a couple of projects I've been enjoying lately, and with which I'm hoping to get a lot busier soon: the <a contents="Lucas Gillan Trio" data-link-label="Trio" data-link-type="page" href="/trio" target="_blank">Lucas Gillan Trio</a> and the <a contents="Left Coast Quartet" data-link-label="Left Coast Quartet" data-link-type="page" href="/left-coast-quartet" target="_blank">Left Coast Quartet</a>. I'll just leave it at that -- satisfy your curiosity by clicking on those links!</span><br><br><span style="font-size: 17px;"><b><span class="font_large">The Murphy Sesh</span></b></span>
<div class="captioned justify_left"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/7e10fdeff3c48bac939a131432dae29b88238e32/medium/murphy-cats.jpg?1444370381" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" /><p class="caption"> </p></div><br>As a freelance musician, it's always fun to land a steady gig with inspiring musicians. I've been fortunate enough to get to play with the great guitarist <a contents="Lee Rothenberg" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.leerothenbergjazz.com" target="_blank">Lee Rothenberg</a> at <a contents="Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://irishbistro.com" target="_blank">Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro</a> every Wednesday since June, as the house band for the jam session. The house set is always a blast, and the caliber of musicians at the jam session is always very impressive. Come on out on a Wednesday, whether you're hoping to jam or just hear some live jazz -- the house band starts around 8:30 and the jam goes until about midnight.<br><br><br><br><br><br><strong><span class="font_large">A Walk in the Woods</span></strong><br><span class="font_regular">Besides all of this drumming activity, I checked off a totally non-musical item on my bucket list in August: I went on a solo backpacking trip. I hiked 22 miles of the <a contents="Ice Age Trail" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.iceagetrail.org" target="_blank">Ice Age Trail</a> through the Chequamegon National Forest in northern Wisconsin over 2 days. It was a beautiful hike, and I really enjoyed the experience of solitude and remoteness, especially before jumping in to all of the above-mentioned flurry of activity. If you're curious at all about the specifics of my trip, I got the idea from <a contents="this Backpacker.com article" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.backpacker.com/trips/wisconsin/weekends-jerry-lake-wisconsin/" target="_blank">this Backpacker.com article</a>. Enjoy some photos below, and take care 'til the next update.</span><br> <div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/8b73d1c6be1a15632694f59c13c8d44f573a122e/original/img-5629.jpg?1444371102" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /><p class="caption">A boardwalk near the (rainy) start of the trek</p></div>
<div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/a947fdc54074366b79f7d0a04a209e61e2fa68d1/original/img-5658.jpg?1444371294" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /><p class="caption">This narrow ridge is called an esker -- I traversed a few of these throughout the hike</p></div>
<div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/ec94713ef85e60f855d1459c09eda20c838a70c8/original/img-5671.jpg?1444371475" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /><p class="caption">My home for one night</p></div>
<div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/f5f4d1f4fd4c9f68c6d3926c883c12a05c9568e3/original/img-5735.jpg?1444371539" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /><p class="caption">The end of the hike -- Mondeaux Flowage Recreation Area</p></div>LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/37963932015-07-30T13:57:56-05:002023-12-31T04:22:11-06:00We're making a record! And playing some gigs!Big news here folks: <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a> is gonna make a record. Quentin, Jim, Dan and I will be heading into <a contents="Shirk Studios" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.shirkmusic.com" target="_blank">Shirk Studios</a> at the end of August to lay down the tracks for our debut album. This will be my first <em>real</em> album as a leader (I self-released a 5-song EP of my singer-songwriter stuff 10 years ago but I sold about 20 copies of it and there is no evidence of its existence online), so I'm very excited about this. <br><br>To be sure that we're feeling on top of our game as a group when we hit the studio, I wanted to get us a few gigs in the months leading up to the sessions. I was able to line up some dates at two of my favorite venues in all of Chicago, <a contents="the Whistler" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://whistlerchicago.com/events/relax-attack-jazz-series-lucas-gillans-many-blessings" target="_blank">the Whistler</a> and <a contents="Honky Tonk BBQ" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://honkytonkbbqchicago.com" target="_blank">Honky Tonk BBQ</a>. If you've never seen Many Blessings live, or if you have and were looking for a way to check us out again, these are the gigs to come to! We'll be in super-focused mode for these ones. Your presence and energy will help us get to the place we need to be for recording this album. Maybe you'll even get in the credits on the album, who knows. Info below:<br><br> <strong>Monday August 3, 9:30 PM (2 sets)</strong><br> <a contents="The Whistler" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://whistlerchicago.com" target="_blank">The Whistler</a>, 2421 N. Milwaukee, Chicago<br> $Free<br> <a contents="Show info page here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/event/1288065/161073984/lucas-gillan-s-many-blessings" target="_blank">Show info page here</a><br><br> <strong>Wednesday August 12, 10:30 PM (2 sets)<br> </strong><a contents="Honky Tonk BBQ" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://honkytonkbbqchicago.com" target="_blank">Honky Tonk BBQ</a>, 1800 S. Racine Ave, Chicago<br> $Free<br> <a contents="Show info page here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/event/1279444/157760965/lucas-gillan-s-many-blessings" target="_blank">Show info page here</a><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="pjz_BbyuN-Y" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/pjz_BbyuN-Y/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pjz_BbyuN-Y?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br> <br><br> LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/36809702015-04-29T07:59:43-05:002023-12-10T12:14:52-06:00Videos!<div class="captioned justify_center"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/af6acef0ba187069b50f71f4526feecf422fe261/medium/mb-const.jpg?1430312280" class="size_orig justify_center border_" alt="" /><p class="caption"><span class='font_small'><span style='color:#696969;'>After the gig, Jim explains to us, using elaborate hand gestures, just how great the videos are going to turn out</span></span></p></div>Nowadays, a thriving YouTube channel seems to be as important for a performing musician as a healthy discography, and I must confess that <a contents="my own channel" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://youtube.com/user/lwgillan" target="_blank">my own channel</a> has been anything but thriving for most of the last few years. That is, until now! You may remember <a contents="my very-excited blog post" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.lucasgillan.com/home/blog/gig-alert-many-blessings-at-constellation-thurs-3-12" target="_blank">my blog post</a> alerting you about my band's gig at the venerable Chicago music venue <a contents="Constellation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.constellation-chicago.com" target="_blank">Constellation</a> back in March. The gig ended up being a wonderful night of music-making, and I now have the professionally-recorded videos to prove it.<br><br>We hired an audio engineer (<a contents="David Zuchowski" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.davernoise.com/" target="_blank">David Zuchowski</a>) and videographer (Joseph Lim) to document the proceedings, and you can enjoy the finished product on, you guessed it, YouTube. So far, I've posted 3 videos, and will be posting more in the coming weeks. Take a moment to watch/listen to each of them below and subscribe to <a contents="my channel" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://youtube.com/user/lwgillan" target="_blank">my channel</a> so you won't miss the rest of them. Also be sure to watch the great videos by the other band on the bill that night, <a contents="Benje Daneman's Life Stories" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMQVxwTmGLmWH8vACOK44mg" target="_blank">Benje Daneman's Life Stories</a>. It was great meeting and hearing Benje, a New York-based trumpeter and composer who has a beautiful sound.<br><br><strong>Shovel</strong><br><br>I feel like this tune is a nice encapsulation of the group's aesthetic approach: simple, groovy, a little off-kilter, open for plenty of improvisation, and even a little bit catchy. I named it after the thing I had to do far too often during last year's winter.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="QFCqN0BxrdU" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/QFCqN0BxrdU/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QFCqN0BxrdU?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><strong>Thaddeus</strong><br><br>This is a favorite of many of the band's fans (and members); if we had singles, this is the one I'd send to Casey Kasem first. I wrote it over a period of a couple of years. It started with a simple gospel-inspired melodic fragment that I couldn't stop playing on piano. It took me a couple of years to work out the rest of the material that would frame that main motive, and the tune ended up going plenty of other places in the process. Once it was finally ready to play, I decided to dedicate it to Thaddeus Tillman, an old friend from my hometown of Tucson who was a great trumpet player and died way too young.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="pu4vQ2gDxP4" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/pu4vQ2gDxP4/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pu4vQ2gDxP4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><strong>Neptune Morning</strong><br><br>This is the oldest tune in the Many Blessings book: I wrote it as a freshman at Northern Illinois University (that would be Spring of 2005, to be exact). Neptune is the name of the dorm where music majors lived, and I decided to name the tune after my daily experience of getting up and entering another day of my college experience, which could be by turns inspiring, discouraging, empowering or devastating. It's also the only tune from the evening's set that's a straight-up swinger.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ZMIwZ6mUq7o" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/ZMIwZ6mUq7o/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZMIwZ6mUq7o?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><strong><span class="font_large">Update 5/18/15: Two more videos added!</span><br><br>Palo Verde</strong><br><br>This song was 10 years in the making. I composed the main 4-bar theme on Christmas Eve 2004 when a good friend gave me a huge book of manuscript paper as a gift, and I wanted to write something on the first page. The tune always stuck with me, after moving from Arizona to Illinois, and I finally expanded it into a fully-arranged composition on the occasion of Many Blessings' first gig at Constellation, in November 2014. I named it after the <a contents="Palo Verde tree" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bit.ly/1Kopyfw" target="_blank">Palo Verde tree</a>, one of the defining sights in the landscape of my hometown of Tucson.<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Ak2Yzb3L05M" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/Ak2Yzb3L05M/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ak2Yzb3L05M?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><strong>Little Growl</strong><br><br>The initial seed of inspiration for this song was my deep love for the minor 6 chord: my favorite, for its dark complexity and harmonic ambiguity. From there, I ended up writing a simple 16-bar tune with two sections: the first is gentle and a little melancholy-sounding; the second puts some heavy blues lines in unexpected places. I then took the simple source material and wove it into an extended arrangement. While the song is in A minor, it never quite resolves to the tonic chord where you expect it to (a technique shared by Katy Perry and Daft Punk, <a contents="as pointed out by Owen Pallet" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://slate.me/1FnxMF2" target="_blank">as pointed out by Owen Pallet</a>).<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="pjz_BbyuN-Y" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/pjz_BbyuN-Y/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pjz_BbyuN-Y?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>For all of the above videos, the personnel is: <a contents="Quentin Coaxum" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.quentincoaxummusic.com" target="_blank">Quentin Coaxum</a>, trumpet; Jim Schram, tenor sax; Daniel Thatcher, bass; Yrs Trly, drums<br> LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/35692682015-03-02T17:10:37-06:002024-01-26T06:39:56-06:00Gig alert: Many Blessings at Constellation Thurs 3/12!We are now in the month of March, which means it's time to take our impatience with sub-20-degree weather to the NEXT LEVEL. Every patch of ice still holding fast to our sidewalks, every snowflake in our iPhone weather forecasts, every morning that we still pull on our bulky winter coats, it all cuts that much closer to the bone now that the calendar shows a month starting with the letter "M." In times such as these, we need good things to look forward to. <br><br>I'm quite happy to announce that I have one such thing to look forward to myself, and you are very welcome to share in my blissful distraction. My original jazz quartet, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, will be returning to <a contents="Constellation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.constellation-chicago.com" target="_blank">Constellation</a>, one of my favorite venues in Chicago (and anywhere). We will be opening for NY-based trumpeter/composer <a contents="Benje Daneman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.benjedaneman.com" target="_blank">Benje Daneman</a>, who will be performing with his stellar Chicago rhythm section: pianist Rob Clearfield, bassist Andrew Vogt and drummer Jon Deitemyer.<br><br>Here's the particulars:<br><strong>Where:</strong> Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago<br><strong>When: </strong>9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12th, 2015<br><strong>How much:</strong> $10<br><br><strong>Who: </strong>Lucas Gillan's Many Blessings:<br><br> Quentin Coaxum: trumpet<br> Jim Schram: tenor sax<br> Daniel Thatcher: bass<br> Lucas Gillan: drums, compositions<br><br>Check out the official event page <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.constellation-chicago.com/event/771479-benje-daneman-quartet-lucas-chicago/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br> LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/32640712014-11-03T13:22:49-06:002023-12-10T11:32:52-06:00Gig Alert: Many Blessings at Constellation Wed 11/5!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/764fee26584936ec92f10afe2cbc002c5db56642/medium/constellationsign.png?1415041785" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /><br>Coming right off the heels of a fun night of music and libations at Rogers Park's Lighthouse Tavern in October, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a> will be coming to one of my favorite venues in the world, <a contents="Constellation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://constellation-chicago.com/" target="_blank">Constellation</a>! I'm honored to be playing as part of their Sound of the City Workshop series, where a different band each week plays an opening set of original music, followed by an open free jazz jam session. I've always really enjoyed the scene and the music when I've attended the series as an audience member and jammer, so I'm beyond excited to be playing the featured set this week.<br><br>I'm so excited, in fact, that I've taken a few days off this past week to stay at home and compose some new music. If you're the kind of person who likes being present at world premieres, then you should definitely come out. The new material is quite different from the rest of the book, partly because I'll be coming out from behind the drums to play cajon and guitar for some of the tunes. It might turn out to be a train wreck, but it'll be a unique train wreck that we will all share together, and that's special.<br><br>Here's the particulars:<br><br><strong>Where:</strong> Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago<br><strong>When: </strong>9:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 5th<br><strong>How much: <span style="color:#800080;">FREE!</span></strong><br><br><strong>Who: </strong>Lucas Gillan's Many Blessings:<br><br> Quentin Coaxum: trumpet<br> Jim Schram: tenor sax<br> Daniel Thatcher: bass<br> Lucas Gillan: drums, guitar, percussion, compositions<br><br>Check out the official event page <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.constellation-chicago.com/event/670457-lucas-gillans-many-blessings-chicago/" target="_blank">here</a>.LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/32299172014-10-13T11:13:42-05:002023-12-10T12:36:50-06:00Gig Alert: Many Blessings at the Lighthouse on Thurs., Oct. 16th<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/9928fb741c26f78f744daf8d324c79b7c4336bbd/original/10702001-10102188709745229-9071804248097919124-n.jpg?1413216212" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>If you know anything about Lucas Gillan, the musician, you know that he gets pretty excited when given the opportunity to perform his original music with the band called <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>. Well, I'm pretty excited right now because I get to do just that this coming Thursday night at one of my favorite bars in Chicago, Rogers Park's Lighthouse Tavern (7301 N. Sheridan). It's only a hop, skip and a jump down from my pad in Evanston, so I go there fairly frequently for great jazz and colorful conversation with the regulars.<br><br>We'll be playing two sets of mostly original music starting at 9 p.m. Graciously joining me for the gig are some excellent musicians: Quentin Coaxum on trumpet (whose <a contents="new album" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/current/id889950979" target="_blank">new album</a> is fantastic), Jim Schram on tenor sax, and Dan Thatcher on the bass. If you're anywhere near Rogers Park on Thursday night, come on out, check out the music, grab a beer, and hang with us. We just had a great 3-hour rehearsal, so the other dudes are almost as pumped for the gig as I am.<br><br>Check out audio from Many Blessings' most recent gig <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/lucasgillan/sets/many-blessings-live-at-the-green-mill-4-27-14" target="_blank">here</a>.<br><br>Official gig listing <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/event/1035953/81595578/many-blessings" target="_blank">here</a>.LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/29901302014-06-03T12:05:43-05:002022-07-31T10:53:31-05:00Post-gig: Many Blessings at the Green Mill<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/9c63bc18b7aafdd3498377bb71fa0f441d2f6b86/medium/mb-at-gm.jpg?1402538616" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" />As I mentioned in the <a contents="last blog post" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/home/blog/double-header-jazz-gigs" target="_blank">last blog post</a>, I was looking forward to, among other things, playing with <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a> at the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective concert at the <a contents="Green Mill" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.greenmilljazz.com">Green Mill</a> on Sunday, 4/27. Well, we played the gig, and we sure had fun. Marquis, Jim and Dan played amazingly, of course. I felt extremely grateful to everyone who showed up -- lots more folks than we expected. <br><br>I play many different types of gigs as a working drummer in Chicago, but it's occasions like this that really put in to perspective why you pursue a life in music in the first place -- playing my own music with a group of great musicians for an appreciative audience in a historic jazz club. What more could a guy ask for?<br><br>The good news for you, if you weren't there, is that I have audio of the gig online for your streaming pleasure! <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/lucasgillan/sets/many-blessings-live-at-the-green-mill-4-27-14" target="_blank">Click here</a> to listen. Picture yourself sipping a beer at the Mill on a Sunday afternoon, and it'll feel just like you were there.LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/28927492014-04-23T13:12:48-05:002022-04-22T03:26:13-05:00Double-header jazz gigs<a contents="Back at the beginning of the year" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/home/blog/new-ish-year-update" target="_blank">Back at the beginning of the year</a>, my calendar looked really full but didn't have a whole lot of jazz on it, which made me feel like :/<br><br>Well, good news: I've got some cool jazz gigs coming up. <a contents="This Sunday 4/27" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/event/920478/44173261/lucas-gillan-s-many-blessings-and-terry-bartolotta-group" target="_blank">This Sunday 4/27</a>, my quartet, <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, is coming to <a contents="the Green Mill" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.greenmilljazz.com" target="_blank">the Green Mill</a> for its monthly Chicago Jazz Composers Collective series. As if that weren't exciting enough, I'm also playing drums in the other band on the bill, the <a contents="Terry Bartolotta" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.terrybguitar.com" target="_blank">Terry Bartolotta</a> Group! Check out the <a contents="Facebook invite" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1377327005885867/" target="_blank">Facebook invite</a> for the event, and come out if you can make it. What else says "spring" like a Sunday afternoon jazz matinee?<br><br>On <a contents="May 11th" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/event/920495/44173278/dan-burke-quintet-and-terry-bartolotta-group" target="_blank">May 11th</a> I'll be doing double-duty again, playing with the aforementioned Terry Bartolotta Group as well as the <a contents="Dan Burke" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://danburkemusic.com" target="_blank">Dan Burke</a> Quintet for a gig at <a contents="Uncommon Ground in Edgewater" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.uncommonground.com/pages/devon_home/35.php" target="_blank">Uncommon Ground in Edgewater</a>. Both groups will be doing all [really good] original music. Check out some videos below:<br><br><span style="color:#A9A9A9;">TBG playing "Triste":</span><br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8bpFxO5R8UA" width="420"></iframe><br><br><span style="color:#A9A9A9;">DBQ playing "Tune":</span><br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SH5IAojoEws" width="560"></iframe><br><br>This one's not a double-header, but I'm also really looking forward to playing with trumpet player James Davis at the Whistler on <a contents="April 30th" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/event/930267/47135798/james-davis-quartet-plays-the-music-of-the-gerry-mulligan-chet-baker-quartet" target="_blank">April 30th</a> -- we'll be playing music by the classic Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker Quintet from the '50s. I've been a fan of that group's music for years and it was the original inspiration for the instrumentation of Many Blessings, so I'm pretty excited to have a chance to play it. The Whistler's bartenders will be making drinks from the book <em><a contents="Left Coast Libations" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.amazon.com/Left-Coast-Libations-Bartending-Cocktails/dp/0982631502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398276399&sr=8-1&keywords=left+coast+libations" target="_blank">Left Coast Libations</a> </em>all night to go along with the music.<br><br>Why don't you go ahead and indulge in some great tunes by the GM/CB Quartet?<br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SArrG0rsnnY" width="420"></iframe><br><br>As always, keep your eye on the <a contents="Gigs page" data-link-label="Gigs" data-link-type="page" href="/gigs" target="_blank">Gigs page</a> to see what else is happening. I'd love to see you out there in the real world soon.<br><br>Happy spring!<br> LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/28707672014-04-14T19:10:29-05:002022-07-19T01:35:28-05:00SXSW Wrap-upIn the better-late-than-never department: hey, I went to South By Southwest [a month ago]! I play drums with <a contents="Bonzie" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bonzie.net" target="_blank">Bonzie</a>, an indie-rock/folk(?) project led by singer-songwriter Nina Ferraro. I had fun. <br><br>Bonzie played a total of 5 shows throughout the week, and each of them couldn't have been more different. There was the ready-to-party, bursting-at-the-seams crowd at the official City of Chicago showcase (the audience's size and energy level <em>might</em> have had something to do with Chance the Rapper headlining…), the way-too-fashionable (but gift-bearing!) Nylon Magazine party, a polite, seated crowd in a reverberant room at the Hilton, and a couple of bars, on crazy 6th Street and out in the suburbs, respectively.<br><br>Bonzie was received well at every show we played, and even got some pretty high-profile press; one of the polite, seated audience members at that Hilton show happened to be Jon Pareles of the New York Times, who wrote a <a contents="very favorable review" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/at-sxsw-the-music-plays-on-after-a-somber-scene/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0" target="_blank">very favorable review</a> on the NYT blog. Not gonna lie, seeing a picture of me on the New York Times website was a pretty rad feeling. The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot also had <a contents="some kind words" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-03-17/entertainment/ct-sxsw-wrapup-kot-20140317_1_car-crash-lollapalooza-sxsw/2" target="_blank">some kind words</a> to say.<br><br>Of course, everyone's SXSW experience was affected by the <a contents="tragic accident" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://pitchfork.com/news/54339-sxsw-crash-update-eight-people-remain-in-hospital-festival-will-continue/" target="_blank">tragic accident</a> that killed 4 festival-goers and injured many more. It really made me angry to wake up to that news on Thursday morning -- to take something so full of joy and life, a music festival, and tarnish it with an act of destructive recklessness. I'm praying for the victims who are continuing to recover, and for people who might potentially be at risk for becoming drunk drivers, that they would wake up to their actions and learn to act responsibly.<br><br>Despite the tragedy, the festival hummed right along with very few cancellations or changes. I tried to muster the energy to see bands whenever my presence wasn't required somewhere, and I ended up seeing plenty of good music. On Thursday 3/13, my one whole day off, I counted up 17 bands that I saw. Among my highlights were Ava Luna (who were the favorites going in to the week), Lucius, Damon Albarn, Youth Code, Lunice, Wye Oak and Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger. <br><br>Along with the music, I was glad to take advantage of some sun and warm weather, especially on my quick trip to <a contents="Barton Springs Pool" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/ed/af/e6/barton-springs-pool.jpg" target="_blank">Barton Springs Pool</a>. Unfortunately, I can't say I had any good BBQ while there :(<br><br>In other Bonzie news, we're playing a one-off show in NYC on <a contents="May 9th at Joe's Pub" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lucasgillan.com/event/920494/44173277/bonzie" target="_blank">May 9th at Joe's Pub</a>. We've done a few video sessions this year, and I've been pleased to see how they turned out. Here are a couple of vids filmed by <a contents="My Old Kentucky Blog" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.myoldkentuckyblog.com" target="_blank">My Old Kentucky Blog</a> in Indianapolis:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="mOeiuZv0DWA" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/mOeiuZv0DWA/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mOeiuZv0DWA?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="A9q5kpxWre0" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/A9q5kpxWre0/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A9q5kpxWre0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br>And here's an interview/performance we did for <a contents="Consequence of Sound" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://consequenceofsound.net/" target="_blank">Consequence of Sound</a>:<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="iElmXJLfvKo" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/iElmXJLfvKo/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iElmXJLfvKo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><br><br><br><br> LUCAS GILLANtag:lucasgillan.com,2005:Post/25452652014-02-08T14:57:17-06:002023-12-10T11:56:55-06:00New[ish] Year UpdateWelcome!<br><br>Thanks so much for taking the time to visit. A quick update on what I've been up to so far in the first month of 2014, and what I'll be doing in the coming months:<div>
<br><strong>Intervarsity</strong>
<div>I started off the new year by drumming and music-directing in the worship band for the Intervarsity Staff Conference in St. Louis. <a contents="Intervarsity" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.intervarsity.org" target="_blank">Intervarsity</a> is a campus ministry that has had a huge impact on the lives of countless college students over the past century, and I was honored to be a part of their triennial staff conference -- it was a fun and surprisingly relaxing week of worship and fellowship.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/534ace568247640834a77ae992273d5903b3fb94/medium/ivgroup.jpg?1391892754" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#A9A9A9;">The team at Intervarsity Staff Conference</span></div>
<br><strong>The Right Now</strong><br>I've been playing a lot lately with excellent Chicago soul band <a contents="The Right Now" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.therightnow.com" target="_blank">The Right Now</a>. We rang in the new year by opening for the legendary <a contents="Bernie Worrell" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bernieworrell.com" target="_blank">Bernie Worrell</a> at a free New Years Eve show at Reggie's in Chicago. Later in January, we took a trip to Cincinnati to play a couple of gigs and record a 7-inch single at the cozy confines of Colemine Records, an awesome funk/soul label in Middletown, OH. Listen to some of Colemine's other tasty releases on their <a contents="YouTube Channel" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/coleminerecords" target="_blank">YouTube Channel</a>. Here's some <a contents="behind-the-scenes Instagram footage" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://instagram.com/p/jkRfEWKVV0/" target="_blank">behind-the-scenes Instagram footage</a> of the session! Coming up, I'll be doing some more recording and touring with TRN.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/54a48c1d80b7c8c3feda89b08422afb5cee353fb/medium/trncolemine.jpg?1391890029" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#A9A9A9;">Tracking with The Right Now at Colemine Records</span></div>
<br><strong>Hush Train</strong><br>Most every Wednesday you can find me playing with a new soul/R&B cover band called <a contents="Hush Train" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/hushtrain" target="_blank">Hush Train</a> at the <a contents="Back Room" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://backroomchicago.com" target="_blank">Back Room</a>, a swanky joint in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. Hush Train is sort of a spin-off of The Right Now, sharing some of the same members and repertoire, but focusing exclusively on playing covers -- everything from Stevie, Otis and Aretha to Rick James, Mary J., Cee Lo, and even some Zeppelin. It's a super-fun band, and we're getting better every week. Come out to the Back Room any Wednesday, or check us out at our new "Sinful Sundays" series, which happens the last Sunday of each month at the <a contents="Double Door" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.doubledoor.com" target="_blank">Double Door</a> and features super-funky DJ sets by <a contents="DJRC" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.thisbonavita.com/djrc/" target="_blank">DJRC</a>.<br><br><strong>Bonzie</strong><br>I've also been staying busy with <a contents="Bonzie" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bonzie.net">Bonzie</a>, the project of 18-year-old singer-songwriter Nina Ferraro. I've been playing drums with Nina since she was 15 (!), and it's been amazing to see how far she's come since then. Not only did Bonzie release a full-length album in August (<a contents="Rift Into the Secret of Things" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rift-into-the-secret-of-things/id606548718" target="_blank">Rift Into the Secret of Things</a>), but we've also been hitting the road, touring with <a contents="Ivan &amp; Alyosha" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ivanandalyosha.com" target="_blank">Ivan & Alyosha</a> back in November and making it to Indianapolis for a show and video shoot in January. In March, we're doing a run of dates opening for <a contents="Cayucas" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.cayucas.com" target="_blank">Cayucas</a> right before heading down to Austin for <a contents="SXSW" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.sxsw.com" target="_blank">SXSW</a>. I'm super excited to finally experience for myself the phenomenon of South By Southwest, having spent way too many hours reading about other people's experiences there. We're already confirmed for 3 shows at the fest, including a <a contents="Chicago-centric showcase" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/music/redeye-sxsw-2014-chicago-music-showcase-to-premiere-this-year-at-annual-festival-20140206,0,259158.story" target="_blank">Chicago-centric showcase</a> headlined by Chance the Rapper. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/57426/13cfda1526ed3008f5bc4fd8769fbb59c71188e7/medium/bonzindy.jpg?1391892904" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color:#A9A9A9;">My stripped-down setup for Bonzie's </span><a contents="My Old Kentucky Blog" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://myoldkentuckyblog.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#A9A9A9;">My Old Kentucky Blog</span></a><span style="color:#A9A9A9;"> show in Indianapolis</span>
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<br><strong>Jazz(?)</strong><br>What about jazz, you ask? Well, my group <a contents="Many Blessings" data-link-label="Many Blessings" data-link-type="page" href="/many-blessings" target="_blank">Many Blessings</a>, hasn't played together in a while, but that's about to change! We're set to play at Jerry's Sandwiches' Ears & Eyes music series on Tuesday, March 18th. We're going to be debuting some new music, too, so don't miss it. Also, I've played a few ridiculously fun gigs in January with a new group featuring guitarist Nate Baker and bassist Charlie Kirchen; we're planning on playing together much more this year. I'm also looking forward to June, when I'll be playing in the <a contents="Terry Bartolotta Group" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://terrybguitar.com/" target="_blank">Terry Bartolotta Group</a> at the Elkhart Jazz Festival in Elkhart, Indiana!<br><br><strong>Teaching</strong><br>On top of all this playing, I spend most of my days teaching other folks how to make music. Last summer, I was hired to teach piano, guitar and drums for <a contents="Piano Power" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.pianopower.org" target="_blank">Piano Power</a>, a great company run by pianist, songwriter, funnyman and educator <a contents="Abraham Levitan" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://people2013.chicagoreader.com/music-nightlife/abraham-levitan/" target="_blank">Abraham Levitan</a>. I'm also very happy to be back at <a contents="Wheaton College" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.wheaton.edu" target="_blank">Wheaton College</a> this semester, where I'm an adjunct faculty member, teaching jazz drum set to a talented and hardworking group of students.<br><br>As always, check out the <a contents="Gigs page" data-link-label="Gigs" data-link-type="page" href="/gigs" target="_blank">Gigs page</a> for details about where I'll be when, and come out to a show if you're so inclined. Have a great day now!</div>LUCAS GILLAN