JIMMY BURNS & Soul Message Band at Evanston SPACE, Tuesday May 26. Blues Music Awards and Living Blues Awards nominees Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band bring to Evanston SPACE the repertoire of their acclaimed Delmark album “Full Circle” and more! Guitar superstar Dave Specter will join the show as a guest musician too! Don’t miss it
Tue May 26
Jimmy Burns and The Soul Message Band
| Start | Doors: 6:30PM |
Join us for a very special evening of blues and jazz as the legendary Jimmy Burns and The Soul Message Band perform songs from their Blues Music Award nominated album, Full Circle on Delmark Records.The Soul Message Band has long been co-led by organist Chris Foreman and drummer Greg The Rock Rockingham. Foreman and Rockingham were part of the Deep Blue Organ Trio along with guitarist Bobby Broom, and they also recorded together with guitarist Henry Johnson and saxophonist Red Holloway. Long-time fixtures in Chicago, they opened for Steely Dan for eight years and were inducted into the Hammond B3 Hall of Fame.The Soul Message Band previously recorded such albums as Soulful Days, Live At The Blue Llama, and People. On Full Circle, in addition to its co-leaders, The Soul Message Band features its newest member altoist Greg Jung on two songs and has appearances by guitarist Lee Rothenberg, tenor-saxophonist Geof Bradfield, and Steve Eisen on baritone and tenor with Typhanie Monique contributing background vocals on four numbers.Jimmy Burns, who turned 82 in 2025, was born in the Mississippi Delta as the youngest of 11 children. When he was 12, he moved with his family to Chicago where he has lived ever since. He recorded a series of singles starting in 1964, took some time off to raise his family, and in the early 1990s became active again, leading six albums for the Delmark label during 1996-2007.Full Circle teams Jimmy Burns with the Soul Message Band and is a joyful listening experience. With the instrumentalists playing in the tradition of such classic 1960s soul jazz groups as those of Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, and Jimmy Smith, Burns sounds quite comfortable, contributing soulful and expressive vocals on eight of the ten songs. He particularly excels on the blues World Of Trouble, over the funky groove of I Really Love You, the rollicking Too Much Lovin, and Rock Me Mama, playing a bit of guitar on the latter.The Soul Message Band takes Aint That Funk For You and Since I Fell For You as instrumental features for altoist Greg Jung, Chris Foreman is a major force throughout the date both as an accompanist to the singer and as a soloist, and Greg Rockingham keeps the music grooving. Full Circle is a fine showcase for Jimmy Burns and the Soul Message Band and is easily recommended for fans of high-quality blues, soul jazz, blues ballads, and soulful music.
https://www.ticketweb.com/event/jimmy-burns-and-the-soul-space-tickets/14761123
https://www.soulmessageband.com/post/jimmy-burns-soul-message-band-full-circle
SOUL MESSAGE BAND
A soulful and infectious style crafted around classic organ grooves, and rooted in the tradition of great Hammond B3 organists like Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, and “Groove” Holmes.
Soul Message Band is founded on the enduring partnership of Chris Foreman, the Chicago-based and nationally celebrated Hammond B3 Jazz Organist, and award winning solid swinging drummer, Greg Rockingham, aka “The Rock.”
Greg and Chris have a 40 plus-year history of collaboration, including groups like the award winning Deep Blue Organ Trio. Mr. Rockingham and Mr. Foreman have an unmistakable chemistry that has taken them from Chicago to Jazz Clubs and Arenas around the world as both headliners (Umbria Jazz Festival Italy) and opening group for Steely Dan for 8 years.
Soul Message band featuring Chris & Greg were inducted into the Hammond B3 Hall of Fame. Soul Message can be seen in a worldwide attraction at Navy Pier, called Fly Over Chicago. The band adds the captivating alto saxophonist, Greg Jung. Greg Jung is the trio’s newest and youngest member. He is a wonderful human being and educator. He also is a world class musician. The powerful trio is not to be missed
FULL CIRCLE (2025)
“Reached #1 on the global radio chart!”
Nominated for the “2026 Blues Music Award” for the Best Soul Blues Album
