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My name is Gary Zidek. Welcome to The Arts Section. Tune into the radio program every Sunday morning on WDCB 90.9 & 90.7 FM or listen to it online here. I'll be showcasing a variety of arts & entertainment stories.

The JuJu Exchange Creates New Work For Peace In Chicago Concert

The JuJu Exchange Creates New Work For Peace In Chicago Concert

WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with Nico Segal and Julian Reid of The JuJu Exchange to talk about their approach to making music and the new work (PRICE OF PEACE) that will make its world premiere at Fulcrum Point New Music Project’s Peace In Chicago concert.

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WDCB's Gary Zidek talks to members of The JuJu Exchange and the artistic director of Fulcrum Point New Music Project about the 20th Peace in Chicago concert.

“Once you start coming up with labels for stuff and definitions for instrumental music, which is why I keep harping on jazz and classical. Although, I do think this exists in hip-hop very prominently, that people have to make this very boxy definition of this is hip-hop, this is rap, this is trap music, this is drill music, I just hate all that stuff, I just hate it. I think it’s a marketing tool, it’s used to divide people.” - Nico Segal talking about his disdain for labeling music.

Nico Segal

Nico Segal

One of the Chicago’s most exciting bands is defying genre labels and rules with a boundary-crossing approach to music creation. The JuJu Exchange (made up of Nico Segal, Lane Beckstrom and brothers, Julian and Everett Reid) released its debut album last year and will participate in the 20th anniversary of Fulcrum Point New Music Project’s Peace in Chicago concert.

WDCB’s Gary Zidek caught up with trumpeter Nico Segal and pianist/composer Julian Reid for a conversation about the band’s approach to creating music. 

Segal(formerly known as Donnie Trumpet) has collaborated, produced and toured with some of the most talented hip-hop, pop and jazz artists making music today.

Nico Segal playing in the Social Experiment alongside Chance The Rapper

Nico Segal playing in the Social Experiment alongside Chance The Rapper

Segal reconnected with high school friend and bandmate, Julian Reid, and the two formed a new band, the JuJu Exchange. The group’s debut album, THE EXCHANGE, received critical praise in 2017. This year, Fulcrum Point New Music Project founder Stephen Burns reached out to Segal to create a new work for the organization’s 20th annual Peace in Chicago concert. Segal, made it a group project, and Reid composed a three-movement oratorio titled PRICE OF PEACE.

Julian Reid playing piano on the 9th floor of the Fine Arts Building

Julian Reid playing piano on the 9th floor of the Fine Arts Building

“What would be sacrificed if we actually were to take the calls to peace seriously? How would economic systems need to change? And people really feel the burden of that, if we were to actually have peace for the people who still live in the shadow of the ‘black belt’, which is the part of the southside where black people were forced to live back during the 20th century.” - Julian Reid talking about the questions he wants to raise in PRICE OF PEACE.

Stephen Burns, the founder and artistic director of Fulcrum Point

Stephen Burns, the founder and artistic director of Fulcrum Point

Fulcrum Point New Music Project is partnering with The JuJu Exchange, Young Chicago Authors, The Poetry Foundation, and The Chicago Children’s Choir to present Peace in Chicago: An Intergenerational Celebration on Wednesday, December 19 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

Go to fulcrumpoint.org for more details about the program. And also check out thejuju.life for more info about the JuJu Exchange.

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