CONVERSATIONS with Ed Tracy

One of Chicago's most gifted jazz singers and vocal coaches, Elaine Dame, joined the conversation recorded at Winter's Jazz Club to talk about her influences, career and future performances.

Season 2 Episode 12 | Originally published April 6, 2017

Legendary Irish musician John Williams joined the conversation just prior to a community session with a dozen musicians at the Celtic Knot in Chicago to talk about growing up in a musical family and how his music has served as a bridge to the past for the next generation.

Season 2 Episode 8 | Originally published March 8, 2017

We visited the Cavalia village to speak with the production team, artists and trainers involved in mounting the 2017 version of the show, Odysseo, founded in 2003 by Normand Latourelle. Resident Artistic Director Darren Charles joined the conversation to talk about about the overall vision of Odysseo along with performers Sam Alvarez and Elise Verdoncq.

Season 2 Episode 11 | Originally published March 30, 2017

Singer Joan Curto joined the conversation to talk about the special qualities needed to balance business, performance and family and plans for the next Auditorium Theatre concert honoring Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne entitled ELLA & LENA - THE LADIES AND THEIR MUSIC on November 17th.

Season 2 Episode 10 | Originally published March 23, 2017

Actor Karl Hamilton joined the conversation to talk about Mamma Mia!, the transition of Ride the Cyclone to New York and his take on the business of show

Season 2 Episode 9 | Originally published March 16, 2017

Singer Steve Biossat joined the conversation to talk about the relaunch of Speakeasy Swing with vocalists Alyssa Allgood and Marcus Gress, growing up in the US and abroad, and how that affected his approach to music and working in Chicago's busy music scene.

Season 2 Episode 7 | Originally published March 2, 2017

Actor James Earl Jones II joined the conversation for a frank and open discussion about living with Tourette's and how the musical of The Scottsboro Boys story helps to broaden our understanding of a very dark and tumultuous time in our history.

Season 2 Episode 6 | Originally published February 22, 2017

Jim Frazier, Gold Star Family member in Illinois who leads Gold Star Survivor Outreach efforts, joined the conversation on May 25, 2016 as part of our live Skokie Theatre series in advance of the 2016 City of Chicago Memorial Day ceremony and parade. The discussion is centered on the important work being done to support Gold Star Family members in Illinois and across the country.

Originally published August 10, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 3

Singer Tammy McCann joined the conversation fresh from a concert in Norway to talk about her upcoming appearances at Winter's Jazz Club, the City Winery debut of Jeannie Tanner's Words & Music, the 8th Annual Chi-Town Jazz Festival, and the most important part of her life, raising a young family in Chicago.

Season 2 Episode 5 | Originally published February 16, 2017

Since arriving on the Chicago music scene in the late 60's, Bonnie Koloc has established herself as one of our most gifted and beloved singers, songwriters and visual artists. On October 22nd, 2013, as Monroe Anderson and Ed Tracy prepared for the Chicago Conversations PBS television program on Old Town School, Bonnie Koloc joined a live edition of the show at the Hubbard Inn in which she discussed her extraordinary career, the challenges she faced with recording companies and includes a performance of Amelia Earhart's Last Flight. Season 1 - From the Archives | Originally published May 24, 2017