Chevere at The Green Mill,  Chicago Illinois
18 February 2012

(Review and all photos by Bill Tilford, all rights reserved)

Chevere (also known as Chevere de Chicago) was founded by percussionist/leader Alejo Poveda in 1976, originally as an Afrocuban percussion ensemble but later evolving into the Latin Jazz powerhouse that it is today.  The core group for several years has been Alejo Poveda, leader/percussionist; Howard Levy, piano/harmonica; Chris "Hambone" Cameron, Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Moog, Clavinet; Ernie Denov, electric guitar; Steve Eisen, reeds, flute and percussion; Mark Ohlsen, trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion; Eric Hochberg, bass; Ruben Alvarez, percussion/vocals and Joe Rendon, percussion/vocals.    The group is equally adept at Afrocuban and Brazilian jazz along with, frankly, almost anything it chooses to play for an occasion including blues. The group performs live relatively infrequently because of the numerous other commitments of the band members, but the long-term cohesiveness of the group keeps them tight in spite of this,  and their appearances are always an event. 
One thing that sets Chevere, which does a combination of covers and original material, apart from most groups of its type is that while the band stays rhythmically authentic, Ernie Denov's electic guitar work, Howard Levy's harmonica work and Chris Camerson's keyboard work lend a healthy element of psychedelia to the material, and the end result appeals not just to serious jazz listeners but also to fans of groups like Santana.   They have only recorded one CD, Secret Dream, and it is worth acquiring. 
The February 2012 concert had all of the core group except for Joe Rendon, who was replaced for the evening by Jean Claude Leroi, who was an effective substitute.   The band played some extended versions of cuts from Secret Dream and some other material that we had not heard from the previously including a section of Howard Levy's Recuerdos de Nueva York and an excellent cover of the late Manfredo Fest's Brazilian Dorian Dream (Alejo Poveda was in Manfredo's original recording of that piece.)  Another highlight of the evening was an instrumental version of Ou Bola Ou Búlica, a Brazilian funk classic originally made popular by the late Elis Regina.   Pity that there is no way for her to sing that piece with this band; the original was wonderful enough, but this combination would have been incredible.  
Chevere's too infrequent schedule is posted on their website:
http://www.cheveredechicago.com/