Corky Siegel with Kalyan Pathak
Friday, May. 30 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)
Corky Siegel "A Piano and harmonica virtuoso of remarkable invention and wit" (BILLBOARD MAGAZINE) + Indian tabla ace Kalyan Pathak in concert together on The Acorn stage!
About the Artists:
Corky Siegel is known internationally as one of the world's great blues harmonica players, blues pianist, singer-songwriter, a Chamber Blues progenitor and sole pioneer/composer of award-winning revolutionary works that weave blues and classical forms together. He is celebrating 60 years of performance and composition.
Siegel is a co-founder of the popular Siegel-Schwall Band, a Chicago Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, two-time Emmy winner, and Lifetime Achievement awardee. Corky Siegel has a catalogue of recordings on RCA, Vanguard, Alligator, and best selling blues/classical recordings on the iconic classical label Deutsche Grammophon – who call his works “American classics.”
In the earlier days of Chicago blues, Siegel was an essential part in the blues rock revolution, and his surprising and continuing success in bringing together blues and classical audiences (with his symphonic and Chamber Blues recordings and performances) make him a pivotally unique figure in modern music history. Downbeat Magazine calls Corky a “National treasure.” Siegel’s newest album was released in November 2024 titled Symphonic Blues No.6. It is described as “A masterpiece of stunning proportions” by Goldmine Magazine with “Four Stars" from Downbeat Magazine. “Stone cold innovator...ground breaking” says Americana Highways.
Fourteen years ago, Corky helped found the Illinois Chapter of Common Cause, a prominent national watchdog organization. He has just soft launched an interesting new project called Jingles for Democracy that brings common ground to the political world with positive unifying messages in the form of song and leads people to join the 1.5 million digital march for democracy. “Every time a jingle is shared a better angel get’s its wings.” - Corky Siegel [For more information about Jingles for Democracy, visit jinglesfordemocracy.com]
Sagacious songs and instrumentals from the trail blazing legend of Siegel-Schwall and Chamber Blues, with Indian tabla master Kalyan 'Johnny Bongo' Pathak and his "fleet fingered virtuosity" - CHICAGO TRIBUNE - Howard Reich
"Corky Siegel is a force to be reckoned with - a magnificent musical hurricane creating musical masterpieces, tearing down the expected..." NEW JERSEY BLUES SOCIETY Raymond Muller
"They Love Corky Siegel in Lincoln Center." NEW YORK TIMES
Born in Ahmedabad, India, Kalyan Pathak was formally trained from age 9 in classical tabla with the great Ustad Kader Khan and with India’s most prominent drummer, Ranjit Barot, who brought Kalyan to Bombay where he did regular studio session work in Bollywood. A scholarship to a university in Chicago brought him to the U.S. in the 1990s. Kalyan quickly became sought after by major names in Jazz, Pop and World music, performing in 2017 with the late Dr. Lonnie Smith at Pritzker Pavilion for the Chicago International Jazz Festival. The Chicago Tribune remarked the set was “the high point of the entire week-end.” Pathak was the favorite percussionist of Aretha Franklin, and was the only artist who performed all 7 hours at her televised memorial that included a star-studded musical extravaganza. Kalyan has recorded and performed with Fareed Haque, and as part of Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues for many years. Kalyan is heard performing on all 15 percussion instruments on the newest orchestral release, Symphonic Blues No. 6. Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune hails that Pathak exudes “fleet finger virtuosity.”
RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.
