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reginald r. robinson Chicago’s Reginald R. Robinson wasn’t kidding when he named his latest album Man out of Time (88 Playa Music): the guy’s in his early 30s and a staunch devotee of ragtime, a style that pretty much vanished from the American musical landscape generations before his birth. For three albums now, Robinson, the recipient of a 2004 MacArthur fellowship, has been unwilling to acknowledge any song written after the 1920s unless it’s one he came up with himself. Man out of Time, his first new release in eight years, features 20 original compositions, all meticulously arranged and packed with lovely melodies. Robinson still makes the rhythmic and harmonic precision this sort of music demands sound like child’s play, but it’s hard not to wonder why he so steadfastly refuses to update his tunes. Cutting edge be damned–a touch of rhythm from the 40s would make for a novel twist. Allen Toussaint headlines. Robinson also plays two free shows at Navy Pier this weekend; see Saturday and Sunday for details. a 7 and 10 PM, Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln, 773-728-6000 or 866-468-3401, $28, $24 kids and seniors. The early show is sold out. A –Peter Margasak
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a 10 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 773-276-3600 or 866-468-3401, $12, $10 in advance. –Monica Kendrick
ctabadol project See Friday. Last night’s performers are joined by violist Carmel Raz and oudist Alex Wing in a collaboration with local dancer Asimina Chremos. a 8 PM, Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone, 773-241-5458. F A
reginald r. robinson See Friday. Robinson performs at “A Celebration of Jazz” with the South Shore Drill Team, the Joel Hall Dancers, Audley Reid, Yolanda Jackson, Eugene Hazzard, Marvinetta Penn, Maggie Brown, El Corazon Negro, Crosswind, and the Charlie Johnson Quartet. a Noon, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, 312-595-5184. F A
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