Reader’s Choice Jeff Parker

Chicago has plenty of excellent soloists, but none applies his or her improvisational smarts in as many disparate settings as guitarist Jeff Parker. The key is that he’s a keen listener, interacting with, reacting to, and complementing everyone he works with. He can inject a refreshing vitality into the mustiest standards, wed the textures of rock to the timing of funk, be seriously blues in an organ combo setting, and crackle and seethe when set free. Next gigs: with Tortoise Sat 7/12, 10 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 773-276-3600, and Mon 8/4, noon, Millennium Park; also Thu 8/7, 6 PM, with Amir El Safar’s Two Rivers, Millennium Park; myspace.com/peffjarker. Listen: "Toy Boat" —Peter Margasak

Readers’ Choice Mike Allemana

mikeallemana.com.

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