Music 45: Who rocks the music world in Chicago

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	Who rocks the music world in Chicago 1998	BACK
	Nos. 37-45	MUSIC 45 HOME
	37 ROB MILLER, NAN WARSHAW OWNERS, BLOODSHOT RECORDS	Whiskey river
	In 1994 Rob Miller and Nan Warshaw (along with original partner Eric Babcock, current owner of Checkered Past records) formed Bloodshot Records and released "For a Life of Sin: A Compilation of Insurgent Chicago Country." There's no way they could have known that, soon enough, they would be naming and becoming the most worthwhile progenitors of a musical trend still going strong nearly five years later. As the self-proclaimed home of insurgent country, Bloodshot has signed, released records by and seen move on Robbie Fulks and Whiskeytown. Many would say the label's profile is higher than its actual sales. But with continuing stalwarts the Waco Brothers and, possibly a big seller on the horizon in the Blacks (formerly the Black Family), Bloodshot has weathered the storm that any fledgling record label faces, and can only look to do better. TOP
	38 KEN VANDERMARK	No bounds
	Free jazz is said to be the mark Ken Vandermark has put on the Chicago music scene. While he won't readily admit to that, he does say that, without a doubt, free jazz is his passion. "Every time we play," he says, "something surprising happens or we'll be challenged in a different way." Ideally, Vandermark says, that is the way jazz should beÐnew, fresh, different every night, at the mercy of no rules, but the ability of the musicians themselves. Vandermark, 33, displays his own ability every Tuesday night at the Empty Bottle and in a veritable slew of CDs currently on the market or about to be released. "Meeting in Chicago" (Okka Disc), an introspective jazz album with Chicagoans Kent Kessler and Joe McPhee, and "Hidden in the Stomach" (Silkheart), with Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson's AALY Trio, and "Bejazzo Gets a Facelift," with the NRG Ensemble, not to mention the Vandermark 5's "Target or Flag." Moreover, Vandermark is working with Boston's Joe Morris and the DKV Trio on albums, and with Peter Brotzmann for a three-CD collection with several Chicago musicians. TOP
	39 RAMSEY LEWIS	Piano man
	A lifelong Chicago resident born in Cabrini-Green, Ramsey Lewis' impact as a jazz artist peaked in 1965 with his hit instrumental "The In Crowd," recorded with Red Holt and Eldee Young. With more than sixty records on his resume, Lewis' real impact comes through what he has done for jazz. In addition to being a Grammy winner and hosting a show on WNUA-FM 95.5, Lewis was selected as the spokesperson for the BET on Jazz cable channel, he's served as the art director for jazz at Ravinia, and this year joined a committee to build a jazz museum in Chicago. Additionally, Lewis was also integral in forming a mentor program in Chicago schools designed to introduce young children to jazz. Earlier this year, Chicago marked "Ramsey Lewis Week," during which he was personally honored by Mayor Daley for his civic contributions. TOP
	40 TONY BRUMMEL OWNER, VICTORY RECORDS	Hardcore triumph
	It's the oft-forgotten record company in Chicago, but Tony Brummel's Victory Records, began in 1989, ranks as one of the premier hardcore labels in the country. With a roster of more than twenty bands, only one of which (Hi-Fi and the Roadburners) is from Chicago, Victory has released seventy records in just nine years. Sure none of them are exactly household names; All Out War, Cause for Alarm, Earth Crisis and Warzone don't blow out of record stores by the tens of thousands, but throughout the country and the world, Victory is the hardcore label of the nineties. TOP
	41 JEREMY FREEMAN PRESIDENT, SCRATCHIE RECORDS	Dragon claw
	Former member of Deadly Dragon Sound System, Jeremy Freeman is president of the much-ballyhooed Scratchie Records, which garnered its biggest claim to fame in the press because of its high-profile co-owners: James Iha and D'Arcy of the Smashing Pumpkins (the other two are Adam Schlesinger and Jamie Stewart). Launched just three years ago, Scratchie has since released eleven full-length records, seven singles, two 12"s and three EPs, the top seller ranking as the Fountains of Wayne self-titled release. The label took a small blow when it severed ties with distributor Mercury Records, but with the pedigree of the owners and Freeman's diligence, Scratchie has made waves in a very short period of time. TOP
	42 CHEAP TRICK	No surrender
	Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of "Live At Budokon," Rockford rockers Cheap Trick refuse to surrender to the nursing home, instead Rick Neilsen and Co. continue to crank out their way-influential brand of midwestern power-pop. While most of their seventies-era chartmates are the source of remorseful chuckles, Cheap Trick reecntly sold out four nights at the Metro and even snagged the Smashing Pumpkins as an opening act. TOP
	43 PERVIS SPANN	Blue nights
	The city probably still won't forgive him for the Great Soldier Field Fiasco of 1991. (James Brown showed up; Little Richard and Aretha Franklin, also advertised, did not.) Some might not even know he's done anything else. But in Chicago's black communities, Spann is a recognized institution, and his marathon blues revues (featuring the likes of Tyrone Davis and Denise LaSalle) sell out the same halls as some of the better known white rock bands. He's also gotten plenty of mileage as a late-night blues DJ (WVON-AM, 1450) with a fat-woman fixation, and as the co-host (with Rev. Carl Wright) of "Blues And More," a public-access show that features blues videos and outrageous comedy, giving you a solid reason to keep the cable bill paid up. TOP
	44 BOBBY VILLALON EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER, THOUSAND WORDS	Electric company
	Villalon and Chad Sommer co-founded this Chicago-based magazine in 1995, but Sommer recently left his position as editor-in-chief to pursue other opportunities. Villalon, 31, expects even more changes in the near future for his 20,000-circulation mag covering the dance and techno music scene. However, he believes those changes will make the publication better. In the coming months, Villalon plans for the magazine to also increase in size and in the addition of glossy color. Moreover, by the end of 1998, thousand Words hopes to double its circulation across the Midwest and Canada and expand into Central and South American markets. Villalon believes the electronic music scene will continue to grow, moving from the fringe to the mainstreamÐsomething he would like to think he helped foster. But don't worry, thousand Words is not about to crawl off the cutting edge. "It looks more like a real publication, so to speak," Villalon says. "But it still has that underground feel." TOP
	45 ROBERT PRUTER	Doo wop ditties
	Chicago had astounding doo-wop and soul scenes in the fifties and sixties, respectively, but they were always overshadowed by the city's big bad blues heritage. Robert Pruter covered these areas for years in zines like Goldmine, but his two books, "Doo Wop" and "Chicago Soul," helped put these sorely neglected phenomenons in the right perspective, spotlighting streetcorner heroes like the Flamingos, Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, and almost every major and minor player in between. TOP
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