Hi Folks.

It was quite the busy day so I’m hoping this gets to the newsletter in time. Did you ever stop and think how lucky you are to have amazing music teachers in your life? I had three rehearsals today in Naperville at the Highland Elementary School where I’m accompanying the second and fifth grade music programs. I couldn’t be more proud of my daughter Jen and the wonderful music program she has put together. When she was in second grade she had a wonderful music teacher named Fred Koch! I’ll have the honor of helping record Fred’s last spring music concert this May at Lake Bluff Elementary School. When I was in second grade I had a wonderful music teacher named Joan Gauntlett (now Joan Reynolds). Joan is still leading and performing locally with the Red Rose Ragtime Band. When Joan was teaching music in Lake Bluff at East School, my mom, Blanche Hall, was teaching music at West School in Lake Bluff.  We have more great music teachers that attend our church.  Daryl Beese at the Lake Bluff Middle School and Christina Trulio, a retired teacher from the Evanston school district. Christina’s husband Bob Hasty teaches conducting at Northwestern University. Dana Gillis runs tunes2teach which tutors children in many subjects, including music. Tom Bowling is another great teacher and violinist recently retired from Glenbard South. Of course Elliott Delman is a wonderful teacher as well, and to top it all off I had the pleasure of taking my granddaughter Evy to music and movement classes with the amazing Teddi Koch. All I can say is wow! I couldn’t possibly express how much I appreciate all of you and your contributions to us, our children and grandchildren.

This weeks music includes:
Friday: Soul Message Band at Big Ed’s BBQ & Grill 9 pm.
Saturday: Terry Moran & The Hellhounds will be playing at the Humble Pub in Highwood from 8 pm - 10 pm. This is the annual St. Patrick’s Day event and will also feature Irish Dancers at 7:30 pm. Suede, Lynette & Dave will be at Primo Italian American Cuisine in Gurnee starting at 8 pm.
Sunday: Terry Moran will be performing his memorable Irish music at the church, accompanied by his Irish wannabe friends, Fred, Ken and Elliott.

Mark your Calendars:

March 22: Jazz Conceptions will be playing at Little Ricky’s Restaurant in Winnetka from 8 pm - 10 pm.
That night David Hawkins will be at Cellar Gate in Highwood, joined by Fred Koch and Elliott Delman.

March 23: Ally Ahern & Ken Hall live at Be Market in Lake Bluff from 7 pm - 9 pm.

April 6: Soul Message Band at Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro 7:30 pm

May 3: Elliott Delman will be performing his solo act at Little Tails in Lake Forest.

June 30: Foodstock on the Village Green in Lake Bluff starting at 4 pm

September 22nd: All day fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association at Barbara’s Bookstore in Vernon Hills. This is a new event that I’ll be managing music for and the Community Church will be helping as well. We’ll be featuring Nic Barnum, Terry Moran, Christina Trulio, Dana Lawrence Gillis, Daniela Sloan, Bruce Williams, Fred Koch and The Promenade Players theatre group, Artwork that depicts memories by local children and much more! Stay tuned for more specific details as we plan the event. 

Recordings:  Our friend LG Taylor has penned lyrics for the song Hold My Hand Dear and it’s now available on iTunes and Google Play. In my opinion the song is an instant classic and should be on everyone’s playlist! Also the CD Soulful Days by our friends the Soul Message Band is now out on the classic Chicago Blues label, Delmark Records. The schedule didn’t quite work out to have them at the chapel this winter/spring so I’d suggest getting your Soul Message fix by purchasing your copy here: “Soulful Days

See you soon...
Ken

Always inspiring: the opening address to the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

God has wrought many things out of oppression. He has endowed his creatures with the capacity to create—and from this capacity has flowed the sweet songs of sorrow and joy that have allowed man to cope with his environment and many different situations.
Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life's difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph.
This is triumphant music.
Modern jazz has continued in this tradition, singing the songs of a more complicated urban existence. When life itself offers no order and meaning, the musician creates an order and meaning from the sounds of the earth which flow through his instrument.
It is no wonder that so much of the search for identity among American Negroes was championed by Jazz musicians. Long before the modern essayists and scholars wrote of racial identity as a problem for a multiracial world, musicians were returning to their roots to affirm that which was stirring within their souls.
Much of the power of our Freedom Movement in the United States has come from this music. It has strengthened us with its sweet rhythms when courage began to fail. It has calmed us with its rich harmonies when spirits were down.
And now, Jazz is exported to the world. For in the particular struggle of the Negro in America there is something akin to the universal struggle of modern man. Everybody has the Blues. Everybody longs for meaning. Everybody needs to love and be loved. Everybody needs to clap hands and be happy. Everybody longs for faith.
In music, especially this broad category called Jazz, there is a stepping stone towards all of these.

-Ken
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Hi folks.
Recently, after hearing Eva B Ross and company rehearsing, Christine, who is involved in the music business for a living and has been worshiping with us asked me, “Where do you find all these wonderful musicians”? I’ve often thought about that and I would like to highlight a couple reasons. Number one is Fred Koch! He is kind of like the Tree that all the branches have grown from. I met Fred when my kids were toddlers attending
“Lil’ Cow Band” concerts and since then he has introduced me to a countless number of amazing musicians. Those musicians introduced me to more amazing musicians, and so on. If you see Fred, please say thank you for what he has done. I couldn’t be more grateful for his unselfish support through the years. Number two is all of you! When any musician plays for people that, as Eva put it, is “a good listening crowd” and ever so appreciative, that not only affects the performance, but naturally makes them want to come back. So thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown the musicians who have come to share their talents! The beauty is that the branches of the tree are still growing and you all nurture that.  
Fred Koch

Announcements

MUSICIANS: I regularly check out Facebook and your home pages to see where you all are playing, but often I miss or don’t get the information in time for the newsletter. If you’d like me to advertise your gigs, please let me know when and where you're playing.