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Say yes to powerful grooves that inspire the rabble-rouser in all of us.

Friday Mar 19, 2010.     By Centerstage Chicago Staff

Music Feed

Follow Friday is a weekly interview series in which each Chicago artist we talk to recommends a fellow local act.

This week's guest: Chicago Yestet
Recommended by: Sabertooth

You've heard of a nonet - a group of nine musicians - but what's a yestet? In the case of this Chicago jazz collective, it's a gathering of politically minded artists bent on creating insistent grooves. Its 2008 album, Jazz Is Politics? should give you a good idea of what you're in for, but trombonist Joel Adams gives us a little more:

Describe your sound in 140 characters or less.
I'd say that first and foremost the band grooves. It can have the power of a big band but often has the intimacy of a small group where one soloist is featured for an extended period of time.

Where and when was your first show - and what was it like?
Our first show was at the Green Mill in December 2008. It was very exciting and everyone played hard but we weren't as prepared as I think we could have been.

Name three of your favorite Chicago spots.
I'd say the Green Mill, Uncommon Ground (the restaurant), anywhere along the lake.

What Chicago artist/band should we interview next and why?
Dana Hall because he is a great musician who definitely has his own sound and has two unique projects of his own.