Mary Susan Littlepage

Love flows between the Dallas and Chicago house music scenes. Some of the country's most talented house-music producers live or used to live in Dallas. A couple of them--most notably former Dallas-based pals JT Donaldson and Tim Shumaker--live, or have lived recently, in Chicago, where they run their Gallery Music Group label. Also, Dallas and former Dallas producers have made songs that have been featured on Chicago record labels and Chicago DJs' mixed CDs, just as Chicago producers' works appear on Dallas producers' labels and mixed CDs.

Some Chi-town house-heads like Dallas, maybe because the house music scene is smaller, so it's easier to meet the movers and shakers. Boo Williams moved to Dallas earlier this year, and after Glenn Underground and Tim Harper played in Dallas recently, they decided to stay in town an extra night to party down in the Deep Ellum club district.

Om Records has just released "San Francisco Sessions," featuring mixed discs by Donaldson and his buddy, Lance Desardi, also originally from Dallas, and also a onetime Chicago resident. The two delightful discs, packed with groovy, sexy, soulful songs and remixes by Donaldson, Derrick Carter, Brett Johnson, Cajmere and others, epitomize the Dallas-Chicago connection.

During the last year and a half or so, when I lived in Dallas, Dallas clubbers would big-up hometown DJs--like Brett Johnson, Demarkus Lewis, Luke Sardello and Daddy J--but they got more worked up when Chicago DJs--like Heather, Roy Davis Jr. or Donaldson--came to town.

When JT played at Umlaut, a swank-but-not-snotty downtown club (now called Obar), around Christmastime last year, the place was busy, yet the people there were unusually friendly and laid-back. In blending fun, funky, soulful house music, JT was bringing out the smooth dance moves and upbeat holiday spirit in everyone. One tube-topped girl with well-sculpted arms near the glass-walled DJ booth also tried to school me on Reiki, pressing her palms to mine and telling me to "feel the warmth." Alvin was feeling the warmth from stirring house music, too; the DJ/promoter was dancing, and he doesn't usually dance much.

JT Donaldson and Lance Desardi spin at Smart Bar, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203, on November 19.

(2004-11-17)

Also by Mary Susan Littlepage

STEP RIGHT UP
The game is called "High Strike," and a sign in Union Park reads, "Give us two minutes a month. We'll give you a better world."
(2002-06-20)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment