Tag: #Grapes&Grains

by C. Schandelmeier

On a frigid, windy Saturday night in February, S@n!c Healing, heated up the stylish,  and exquisite venue at Grapes and Grains (also known as G&G) with an exuberant and exhilarating performance to a packed room of delighted guests. The band on the evening of February 17, 2024 was a talented trio consisting of Airius Reeves (saxophone), Hysien Govan, (piano and lead vocals) and Andrew Thomas (drums). Located at 858 West Lake Street, in the hot, happening area of the  West Loop, their repertoire was determined by the guests of the club whose song requests ranged from “I Would Die for You” by Prince to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”, and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”  through Oasis’ “Wonderwall.”  Jahari Stamps, their talented lyricist and front man, normally performs with them, however, this evening, he said, “I just got done performing at the Willis Tower with the House Chi, I’m only here to watch my boys secure this room!” Because of his commitment, he arrived in time to support his band members. 

Jahari’s insightful and compelling song lyrics are what compelled this photo essay for Poetry in Chicago. In a sense, he did perform because he was there, at G & G, supporting his band, interacting with the crowd, taking photos, and dancing in his own unique and expressive style.  Jahari has reimagined life on earth through his interstellar lyrics, which include such titles as Intergalatic Soul Groove, and Moon Vibes. Jahari, is a true artist and poet whose work is tremendously newsworthy, however, his singing talent was not on display at G&G on Saturday night. Jahari is also a Superhero, because he has leaped over many obstacles (for example, drug addiction) on his path to becoming a popular performer in his own right. His song-writing is profound, and his showmanship is equally fascinating.

Stamps began challenging traditional male stereotypes at a young age, as he started his artistic career as a dancer at a fine arts high school, and has gone on to become the singer and front man for his band, S@n!c Healing.

The unique way Stamps challenges gender norms,  his ability to turn a phrase, his political activism (he was an emcee for several events supporting Chicago’s new mayor, Brandon Johnson),  as well as his dancing all combine to liberate the spirit while supporting a new era of alternative music. As James Bennet and Niki Strange put it in their book Media Independence: Working with Freedom or Working for Free? “A key concept here is the relationship in everyday musical discourse, of independence as an institutional and organizational matter to more fundamental ideas of artistic freedom which are in turn related to the hugely complex and distorted notion of autonomy.”  Jahari’s artistic freedom is closely tied to his identity as a gay black man who does not need drugs to imagine a better world while supporting a candidate that is striving to make a difference (Brandon Johnson recently cast the deciding vote in the city of Chicago’s stand against the Isreali-Hamas war, for example)  through a complex and distorted system.

These photographs from S@n!c Healing’s performance at G&G Saturday night are evidence of excellence in entertainment, service, and commUNITY. To reach Jahari Stamps or find out more about S@n!c Healing email: Jahari.stamps2015@gmail.com or follow the band on Instagram.