The City of Chicago reports that 23 people were shot and killed on its streets in January. Another 100 survived their shooting during the month. Just shy of 40% of those fatalities were people in their 30s. Almost 22% were in their 20s; more than 17% were even younger. Almost 83% were men; more than half were black.
In comparison to the same month last year, those totals represent an improvement —shooting fatalities are down 36.1%. Overall, shootings fell 7.5%. Small comfort to the friends and family of those killed or wounded.
Ian Brennan has produced a short collection of spoken-word pieces featuring Chicago residents who’ve grown up around all of this violence.
“Some rapped, sang or wrote poems,” he says in the album’s notes. “[M]ost just told their stories. And that proved more than enough.” The Forgotten Parts is out today on Brennan’s Toy Gun Murder Records label.
At first glance, Brennan seems an improbable person to document these voices. He is a screenwriter, director, actor and Grammy-winning producer. His script, based on his time in the Prospect High School show choir in Mount Prospect, Illinois, became the television series Glee.
There’s more to his story though. Brennan has recorded artists in Rwanda, Malawi, South Sudan, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Botswana and a host of other countries.
The Chicago recordings are as important as they are moving. This is audio documentary at its finest — he transforms statistics into relatable, deeply human stories.
Profits go to Cure Violence Global, an organization that helps communities build violence-prevention programs.
More new music
Rachel Beetz – Tone Keepers: The L.A.-based performer, composer and improvisor has delivered four thoughtful new pieces featuring woodwinds and electronics.
Rafael Anton Irisarri – Points of Inaccessibility: Recorded during a residency at Uncloud last spring, in the Netherlands. A looped Karen Vogt vocal is featured on “Signals from a Distant Afterglow.” Unsurprisingly majestic.
Brad Rose – The Sound Leaves: The project was an interactive sound performance and installation originally, exploring our impact on the environment and the world’s “sonic landscape.” The album features two lengthy pieces, both of them packed with beautiful imagery. Right at home on the wonderful Room40 label.
The Moderns 