The Auditorium Theatre presents "Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah" for the 15th year

Too Hot to Handel, photo by Kristie Kahns

As the city kicked off the “Year of Chicago Music,” the Auditorium Theatre celebrated 15 years of presenting "Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah" this past weekend. This concert, which features a soulful rendition of the classical music of George Frideric Handel's "Messiah," is a yearly tradition that honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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According to Dr. King, “Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tells the story of life's difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music.” This captures the essence of what took place on stage.

There was plenty of excitement as the 100-voice choir, orchestra, and jazz band performed in front of a packed house. The crowd was uplifted as the powerful, anointed voices of the soloists filled the room.

The music was bold, unexpected, and enlightening. It could be described as a perfect blend of jazz, blues, R&B, traditional spirituals, and classical music with a dash of hip-hop, all wrapped up in soul. One moment, there were classical vocals paired with jazz instrumentation. At another point, after an uproarious drum solo, the musicians seamlessly transitioned from jazz to R&B to traditional African rhythm, with a classical finish. Throughout the show, pianist Alvin Waddles gave a compelling performance infused with breathtaking improvisation as his fingers danced across the keys.

The lively finale was a refreshing twist on the “Hallelujah Chorus,” which brought the crowd to its feet.

The Auditorium Theatre, which celebrated its 130th anniversary last year, offers a variety of performances and programs throughout the year. For more information, visit https://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/ or call (312) 801-2312.

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