Most emailed Music items

1. Michael Jackson through the years

Look back on the life of the controversial pop star, whose death was recently ruled a homicide

2. Poi Dog Pondering

Mistress Stephanie and Her Melodic Cat.

3. December concert guide

The top 20 shows of the month

4. Music of the Baroque

Jane Glover conducts. Music of the Baroque Chorus and Orchestra; works by Praetorius, Gabrieli and others.

5. Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan 1

6. John Legend

7. Lincoln Hall

The new spot from the Schubas guys is here!

8. Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret

Everything in Davenport's is swank: from the piano bar's blue velvet walls to the cabaret room's local and touring acts.

9. Buddy Guy's Legends

As Buddy himself has become more of a household name, so has his nightclub become an icon of the local music scene. Although its large size may be less welcoming than many of the city's older clubs, it offers amenities that are a factor of that size: a tasty Creole/Cajun menu and a great collection...

10. Protege Philharmonic

Joseph Glymph conducts. Holiday concert.

11. Raphael Saadiq

12. Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Christoph von Dohnanyi conducts. Paul Lewis, piano; works by Bartok, Mozart, Schumann.

13. Redhead Piano Bar

A swinging crowd of veteran nightclubbers hovers around the piano in the front, occasionally helping weekend favorite Kenny Phelps sing "Sweet Caroline," a Jerry Lee Lewis medley and Phil Collins' "Take a Look at Me Now." The Redhead attracts a core of upscale regulars, most of them nattily dressed...

14. Chicago Bar Association Chorus and the Chicago Bar Association Brass Ensemble

Holiday concert.

15. Cross Canadian Ragweed

Seth James.

16. Milly's Almost All Kid Holiday Spectacular

17. McCoy Tyner Trio

Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

18. Shirley Johnson Blues Band

19. Merner Fieldhouse, North Central College

20. Top 10 weirdest Christmas albums

If you thought Bob Dylan croaking 'Silver Bells' was odd, wait'll you hear these

21. Cold War Kids

Alec Ounsworth, Flashy Python.

22. Welcome Yule!

Duain Wolfe conducts. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus; Welcome Yule! Children's Ensemble; Welcome Yule! Dance Ensemble; holiday concert.

23. Joan Curto

24. Yoko Noge and the Jazz Me Blues Band

25. Christina Castelli, violin; Grant Moffett, piano

Works by Brahms, Prokofiev, Vaughan Williams, Tao.