The Dark Matter Series returns for a special July edition featuring jazz hip-hop fusion stemmed from prevalent modern American protests, R&B soul styles from Dark Matter Residency alumni, and an all-vinyl DJ set presented by The Blk.Room. Chris Saint Martin’s Guerrilla Projects headlines where he is joined by MC Jonathan Chambers and experimental trumpet player Nick Yeck-Stauffer. They will perform excerpts of the Protest Suite, a multi-media installation which assembles photographic and moving images from demonstrations in Daley Plaza to End the Death Penalty, the War in Iraq, and BlackLivesMatter. Filmed by Chris Saint Martin, he along with fellow musicians will create a live excerpt from the project using horns, keyboards and percussion, mixing ambient sounds, hip-hop and elements of free jazz. Dark Matter Resident alumni and prolific percussionist Naydja Bruton meets up with pianist Anaiet.Soul presenting original compositions that bring together R&B, latin jazz, and improvisations. DJ Sidaka blends their love of many genres, including selections of electronic, R&B, dance, soul, rock, and rap. Join us as they kick the night off at 8pm!

Artist Bios

Chris Saint Martin has performed with members of Art of Culture at the Chicago Blues Festival and at venues alongside indie hip-hop artists. Chris fuses musical genres and instruments from harmonica's and glockenspiel's, to vintage synthesizers and folk percussion, to create musical hybrids. As a filmmaker and interdisciplinary artist, he is the recipient of a 2020 DCASE grant for his multimedia project entitled Protest Suite, which gathers a decades worth of moving images of protests and marches, that he photographed in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Jonathan “Emcee Jon Chambers” Chambers has gained notoriety as an emcee, producer, pianist, entrepreneur, and promoter.  Hailing from Chicago’s southside neighborhood, Calumet Heights, he made a name for himself, first as a producer, then as a formidable wordsmith. A lover of music, he uses his classical training to blend genres and create a unique sound that is well regarded amongst music aficionados. Chambers is a multitalented producer that honed his production skills creating analog and digital works. Well versed in programming, he uses a variety of musical equipment to create sonic pleasure. 

Nick Yeck-Stauffer is an itinerant trumpeter deeply indebted to early fusion. He has collaborated with noise acts and jazz groups when the spirit fits. He and Chris Saint Martin were both residents of Midwaste Space Peoples over the pandemic and first collaborated there.

Anaiet & Naydja Bruton come together to usher in the Dark Matter Residency with an inspiring blend of Soul, Latin Jazz and RnB vibes, original music from Anaiet, and spontaneous compositions.

Sidaka is a self trained performing artist, song composer, vocalist, DJ, and pianist from the West side of Chicago. He joins us with an all vinyl set playing personal selections of electronic, R&B, dance, soul, rock, and rap.

$15 - Tickets Available at the Door