The ChickenFat Klezmer Orchestra believes in using the smallest vehicle that your instrument will allow.   If you play a clarinet, take a bicycle to practice. But if you play an upright bass, you do this: (it’s hard to see, but that’s a double bass sticking out of the top of a convertible Smart Car.)… Read More


This Saturday ChickenFat will be playing (as a quintet) at “Put the Garden to Bed,” a benefit for NeighborSpace. NeighborSpace is …a nonprofit organization whose mission is to acquire and support the community based management of small parks, gardens, natural areas, river edges, and scenic landscapes in the City of Chicago for preservation, conservation, and… Read More


In case you missed it, Chicago’s World Music Festival is going on this week. They always draw many amazing bands from around the globe–it’s difficult to choose which shows to see. I’ve already seen great performances by Mostar Sevdah Reunion, Little Cow, and Phyllis Chen. I’m hoping to catch a few more (including Mongolian overtone… Read More