Harlan In the NEws!

Race and R Place
The south-side music club deals with fear and stereotypes
ISTHMUS | The Daily Page, Madison Wis.
Rich Albertoni on Thursday 05/13/2010

The key to making a jam work is to follow the harmonic progression.

Richard Hildner has his mouth at my ear, shouting this secret between sips of Korbel and Coke. It's Wednesday night at R Place on Park Street, neo-soul open jam night, and Hildner has brought his guitar.

I can feel his warm breath on the side of my face, but I can't hear all of his words. The band is playing a song by Erykah Badu. The way the sax and keys and drumbeats converge on us mutes some of his words and amplifies others.

"Basis of blues...loop the melody over and over...drop the melody and improvise...learn to recognize the different progressions...something that comes with time." ......read more