Sounding board: Hanrahan helps keep Racine jazz alive in Racine

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Thursday, December 17, 1998 3:00 AM CST

by Patrick Fineran for The Journal Times

Here's something under the category of ``huh?" A recent World News and Review article picked the Top 20 professions for the new millennium. Among them was ``music professional."

First of all, that heading is pretty much an oxymoron. Almost everyone out there doing music has a daytime job. Some even have a daytime, nighttime and part-time job as well. Second of all, huh?

Knowing how much money the music professionals I know are raking in, I figured out my own Top 10 next century jobs: Number 10 Skunk Groomer, 9) Sewage Taste Tester, 8) Fact Checker for Music Column, 7) Programming Director for Antarctica Fest, 6) Furby Manufacturer three years from now, 5) NBA Publicity Director, 4) Spice Girls Tour Promoter, 3) Daytime TV Talk Show Lawyer, 2) SS Ty-D-Bol Captain, and of course, 1) Music Professional!

It's been a while since I wrote about it, but jazz is still alive and well in Racine. As evidence, I present The Curt Hanrahan Quintet. The perennial favorite in the reed section of the Racine Area Music Industry Talent Awards is a true music professional. When he isn't doing some righteous gigging, Hanrahan is director of jazz ensembles and professor of saxophone at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He co-founded the Lakeshore Conservatory of Music in Racine. The flute, alto and tenor sax player has wored with such artists as Tony Bennett, Cab Calloway, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations and Aretha Franklin. Hanrahan also defined jazz in the area a while back with his band Opus.

Joining Hanrahan on his fine disc, ``Hang Time," is a stellar ensemble. Pianist Rick Germanson won the 1996 American Pianists Association Jazz Piano Competition. Trumpeter Mike Plog has recorded with the Luiz Diaz Quintet and performed with Richie Cole, Mel Rhyne and Woody Herman's Thundering Herd. The rhythm section is no slouch either. Drummer Dave Bayles has been guest drummer on the nationally syndicated radio show ``Whad'Ya Know?" and bass player Bob Siegel has appeared with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and is on the faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

Oh yeah, they play pretty darn well together as well. Whatever the lineup Hanrahan has with him, expect an evening of blissfully in-sync ensemble playing with stellar breakouts of tasteful soloing.

Curt Hanrahan performs at George's Tavern Dec. 26.

On his current release, Robbie Foulkes sings ``Let's Kill Saturday Night." A couple of Motor City bands just might do that this Saturday night at JJ's Confettiz. Elephant Ear has appeared at the southside club before with Level. Joining the band this go-round is an exceptional hard-rocking band called The Workhorse Movement.

The Detroit band lives up to its name. The thump and crunch thrown out is enough to carry an entire audience on its shoulders. Add funky songs like ``(We Like) Bob Marley" and you're guaranteed to have an audience movement resembling one big butt-shakin' good time. Hard and melodic, fun and funky with a blistering attack, The Workhorse Movement has the potential to be the best live show this side of The Screeming Cheetah Wheelies and Bare Jr. Check it out!

It's time to let us know who your live music faves are. You have until Dec. 21 to get in your votes. Please mail them to: Sounding Board, Journal Times, 212 Fourth St., Racine, Wis. 53403. One entry per envelope and no photocopies please.

c Favorite male vocalist

c Favorite female vocalist

c Favorite guitarist

c Favorite bass

c Favorite drums /percussion

c Favorite keyboards /programming

c Favorite winds /horns /strings

c Favorite DJ

c Favorite blues group /artist

c Favorite country group /artist

c Favorite jazz group /artist

c Favorite rock group /artist

c Favorite metal /hardcore group /artist

c Favorite festival or series

c Favorite concert (out-of-town bands appearing in Racine eligible)

c Favorite place to hear live music

c Music person of the year

That's all. Go see some bands. Keep music live

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