Ravinia 2019, Issue 5, Week 9

Robert Lamm happily continues to stride between roles as keyboardist, vocalist, and composer for Chicago, as he has since its formation. From top: Brett Simons and Neil Donell are the first seSDrDte bDssist DnG YocDOist to be SDrt oI the Chicago lineup since the band’s formation. Transit Authority . I guess ‘Listen’ could work. But ‘Free Form Guitar,’ how do we do that? We could have a break and just play the track. And sit there and marvel.” e band also recently nished work on a new album that Loughnane says they are working to have out this fall. “Peter [Schivarelli, the manager of Chicago,] asked if anybody had any Christmas songs. Our Christmas stu usually sells pretty well for Rhino, and they were wondering if we might have a couple of new things that we could record for use as bonus tracks. And as it turned out, the guys had songs, so we’re going to have a whole new album. Of songs, seven of them are originals. is is not just ho, ho, ho, a little Christmas fun —it’s like a real record. is is our fourth Christmas album, but really the rst one with original songs, especially this many. ere were maybe one or two on the other three albums.” A er having been eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since , an unprecedented million votes nal- ly put Chicago there in , reuniting them with Seraphine at the induction, but infamously not with Cetera a er a row over song keys, repertoire, and personnel. Cetera was also a no-show to participate in Peter Pardini’s Now More an Ever: e History of Chicago (currently on Net ix), although he and the other original members did appear separately in Michelle Kath Sinclair’s Chicago: e Terry Kath Experience (currently on Amazon Prime). THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN person- nel changes since the band last played Ravinia in that were necessitated by the departures of singer and bassist Jason Sche , who replaced Cetera in , and drummer Tris Imboden, who replaced Seraphine in . “Jason needed a lot of time o and we were still working,” says Loughnane, “so we had to move on. He needed months and months and we were like, ‘But Jason, we have gigs booked. We can’t not go. ey’re expecting us.’ We knew he was going to take some time o so we kept asking, ‘So, how long?’ And when it got to be a month or more, ‘Jason, we’ve got to keep moving.’ So that’s when we made the switch.” e switch was to singer and bassist Je Co ey, who joined the band in but le in early ; it is Co ey who can be seen and heard on two Chicago Soundstage performances recorded live at WTTW in late . “We have traditionally always had someone who played an instrument as well as sang,” says Loughnane. “But when Je le , we brought in singer Neil [Donell], who is better than we could have ever imagined. Neil’s great to work with. He had been with tribute bands of Chicago and other groups, as well as his own career singing in Canada. He warms up; he sings scales. He takes sing- ing very seriously.” at mandated the hire of Chica- go’s rst-ever dedicated bassist, Brett Simons. “Brett is a session guy,” says Loughnane, “a wonderful player who has played with a lot of people. He’s great, and that has brought us up to a -piece band.” It also placed Walfredo Reyes Jr., the band’s percussionist, in the new role of drummer. “As soon as Tris le , Wally knew it was over [as a percussionist]. It was a smooth transi- tion, as Wally had been a drummer for lots of folks. I was surprised that Tris le . at was going well and was sort of a shock. But things happen. Guys make decisions. If you want to keep going, you just get somebody else and go. “When Terry died, we thought we were going to break up. We have probably almost broken up as many times as years as we have been together. Many times we’ve thought, ‘ is might be end.’ But it never has been. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to be anytime soon, either. Once stu happens, you just make a decision and move forward. ere’s no looking back. We’ve got work to do. And we go do it.” Award-winning veteran journalist, broadcaster, critic, author, and educator Dennis Polkow played with Madura, a progressive rock trio that toured with Chicago in its early days and is an alumnus of the DePaul University School of Music, where Chicago formed. PATRICK GIPSON/RAVINIA (BOTTOM LEFT) 16 RAVINIA MAGAZINE | JULY 29 – AUGUST 11, 2019