Toronzo Cannon – 11/4

“Deep, contemporary Chicago blues…razor-sharp guitar and compelling, forceful singing” — The Chicago Tribune

“Cannon is at the front rank of Chicago bluesmen. He creates wide-screen modern arrangements for wry, thoughtful songs, molding an ensemble sound that’s both tempestuous and scrupulously controlled.” — MOJO

Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon defies all expectations. The blistering guitarist, soulful vocalist, singular songwriter, and city bus driver fuses muscular, rock-inspired blues guitar playing with his original, keenly detailed slice-of-life songs, blazing his own blues trail.

With the 2016 release of his Alligator Records debut, The Chicago Way, Cannon burst onto the international stage as one of the most electrifying bluesmen to emerge from Chicago in decades. His live performances earn critical praise and enthusiastic fans. He has played major cities across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and recently performed in Japan for the first time. With the release of The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp, Cannon builds on the foundation he’s laid, creating and defining his vision of contemporary blues.

The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp features twelve Cannon originals, from the burning social commentary of the title track to the wry, up-to-the-minute truths of “Insurance,” the trademark humor of “Stop Me When I’m Lying” and “Ordinary Woman,” and the haunting “The First 24,” the Martin Luther King-inspired “The Silence Of My Friends,” and the moving final track, “I’m Not Scared.” Cannon’s blazing guitar and soul-baring vocals are front and center. His songwriting draws on his deep Chicago roots, his grandparents’ wisdom, and years of observing the public while driving a bus. His songs tell timeless stories of common experiences in uncommon ways.

“It’s not about the solos,” Cannon says. “It’s about the songs. People get used to everyday life, so it’s easy to miss the things around them. I write about those things. I know the problems of Chicago, the hardship, ’cause we’re always a scapegoat. But I choose to love and respect the city because of the Chicago blues giants that came here from down south. I’m proud to be standing on the shoulders of every great Chicago blues musician who came before me.”

Toronzo Cannon was born in Chicago on February 14, 1968, and grew up near the Robert Taylor Homes. Nearby, he listened to live blues outside Theresa’s Lounge and heard blues at his grandfather’s home, as well as soul, R&B, and contemporary rock on the radio.

Cannon bought his first guitar at age 22 and quickly mastered the instrument. Though he initially focused on reggae, he was increasingly drawn to the blues. “It was dormant in me. But when I started playing the blues, I found my voice and the blues came pouring out.” He absorbed sounds and styles from Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Hound Dog Taylor, B. B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, J. B. Hutto, Lil’ Ed, and others. His biting, stinging guitar sound is all his own.

Cannon began his rise on the local club scene. From 1996 through 2002, he played as a sideman for Tommy McCracken, Wayne Baker Brooks, L. V. Banks, and Joanna Connor. In 2001, while continuing to work as a hired-gun guitarist, he formed his own band, The Cannonball Express. By 2003, he was working exclusively as a band leader. His first three albums—2007’s My Woman (self-released), 2011’s Leaving Mood (Delmark), and 2013’s Blues Music Award-nominated John The Conqueror Root (Delmark)—document his rise from promising up-and-comer to star-in-the-making.

After The Chicago Way was released, Chicago media helped launch Cannon toward blues stardom, followed by national and international attention. England’s MOJO magazine named it the #1 Blues Album of 2016, as did readers of Living Blues magazine in their annual poll. The album and Cannon were nominated for four Blues Music Awards in 2017. Cannon says, “I feel like I’ve become an ambassador for Chicago blues. People expect a lot from me. But it’s good, because I’m forced to keep upping my game.”

Cannon has played the Chicago Blues Festival ten times, progressing from sideman to main stage headliner. When he’s home, he drives a Chicago Transit Authority bus by day and performs by night. “His guitar playing has all the fire and spontaneity of the Chicago legends he carries; his songwriting is a timely and original look at the world he sees by day on a bus and in blues clubs by night, and his assertive voice is the perfect vehicle to deliver the message,” says Blues Music Magazine.

DOORS: 5:30 PM
SHOWTIME: 7 PM

The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service and seating for 75 people. Green squares and circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables; orange squares are regular-height tables.

Most seats are sold as “Tables for Two,” meaning one ticket admits two people. A limited number of single seats are available, and single attendees may share a table with other single attendees. Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will automatically be seated together, up to six people.

Requests for a specific table are reserved for VIP Patron members. For special seating arrangements—including for a walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, or low-table requirement, or to sit with another party—email the venue after placing your order.