THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER

78 E. WASHINGTON ST. 11 A.M. - 5 P.M.

PRESTON BRADLEY HALL 3RD FLOOR SOUTH

11 a.m. - Noon - Shy Shēks. Presented by Illiana Club of Traditional Jazz

12:15-1:15 p.m. - Tom McCarthy Quartet performing John McLaughlin's 1969 EXTRAPOLATION. Presented by Fulton Street Collective

1:45-2:45 p.m. - Larry Brown Jr. Quartet. Presented by South Side Jazz Coalition

3:15-4:15 p.m. - Julius Tucker Quartet. Presented by Hyde Park Jazz Society

Shy Shēks

No jazz festival is complete without a dose of swinging trad jazz, which is what guitarist Nick Ruiz and his singing sister Cassondra Porayko will offer in the Shy Shēks. Featuring violinist Ethan Adelsman and guitarist John Garza, the band draws merrily from the music of Josephine Baker, Maurice Chevalier, Ruth Etting and Django Reinhardt, among other historical figures. The Shēks, who take their name from the silent film The Lady of the Night, in which Norma Shearer approvingly refers to some “shy sheiks from Cheyenne,” pride themselves on their ability to relate to the lyrics and times they represent.

Tom McCarthy Quartet – John McLaughlin’s Extrapolation

Before he he made his mark as the electric jazz-rock guru of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and champion of Indo-African jazz, guitarist John McLaughlin showed off his skills in a more traditional but no less challenging setting on his 1969 debut album, Extrapolation. An inspired choice for a “cover” performance, the recording affords veteran guitarist Tom McCarthy and band the opportunity to explore that music in a contemporary setting. Having emerged from the Guitar Craft program inaugurated by King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp (like McLaughlin a Brit), McCarthy is more than up to the challenge of making the album come alive. Saxophonist Brian Gepart will step into John Surman’s shoes on tenor rather than baritone, Eric Montzka will “fill in” for Tony Oxley on drums and Chris Damman will play the part of respected session player Brian Odgers on bass.

Julius Tucker Quartet

Over the last several years, Julius Tucker has been one of the hardest working musicians at the Chicago Jazz Festival, backing up any number of artists on piano and electric piano – something he has done on recordings and in club performances with the likes of Victor Garcia, Thaddeus Tukes, Alvin Cobb Jr. and Christian Dillingham. Today, he’ll get a chance to show off his own quartet, which is equally comfortable in soulful hard bop and post-bop styles. A product of the Merit School of Music and Northwestern University, where he earned a degree in civil engineering as well as one in jazz piano, he will be accompanied by trumpeter Dakarai Barclay, bassist Christian Dillingham and drummer Kyle Swan.

CLAUDIA CASSIDY THEATER 2ND FLOOR NORTH

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Extraordinary Popular Delusions Presented by Elastic Arts Foundation

12:45-1:45 p.m. - The Young Masters directed by Ernest Dawkins Presented by Live the Spirit Residency

2:15-3:15 p.m. - The Toyoaki Ensemble Presented by Asian Improv aRts Midwest

3:45-4:45 p.m. - What is This Thing Called Jazz?

Music to Movies, Scoring Master Class with Robert GlasperModerated by Robert Irving IIIPresented by DCASE with the Jazz Institute of Chicago

Extraordinary Popular Delusions

With their weekly North Side performances over the past 15 years, the collective band Extraordinary Popular Delusions has made the Beat Kitchen a Monday night destination for out of towners as well as locals. Once boasting three alumni of the great NRG Ensemble – saxophonist Mars Williams, bassist and electric guitarist Brian Sandstrom and drummer and percussionist Steve Hunt – the group kept on keeping on when Williams was out on tour with the Psychedelic Furs and after his sad passing in 2023. With the great tenor saxophonist (and clarinetist and didgeridoo master) Edward Wilkerson Jr., singular pianist and keyboardist Jim Baker and onetime Fred Anderson bassist Christopher Dammann in the lineup, EPD boasts a sometimes immersive, sometimes robust sound, as captured on their 2025 album, The Last Quintet.

The Toyoaki Ensemble

An expansion of bassist and Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival founder Tatsu Aoki’s longstanding MIYUMI Project, the Toyoaki Ensemble blends electro acoustic jazz and traditional Japanese okiya (Geisha House) chamber music. Today, the ensemble will perform a series of improvised pieces based on pre-determined frameworks. The band features Aoki, onetime member of local jazz legend Fred Anderson’s quartet, on shamisen (three-stringed lute); the ever-surprising Mai Sugimoto on alto saxophone, Lori Ashaikawa on violin, Kioto Aoki (the leader’s daughter) on taiko drums and Koichi Hiraishi on bass.

JAY PRITZKER PAVILION

7:45 - 9 p.m. - Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap Duo

Those seeking the art of jazz singing at its most buoyantly expressive need look no further than Dee Dee Bridgewater, a veteran of bebop combos, big bands and Broadway who can create a living room intimacy in a big outdoor setting like Millennium Park. Those seeking the art of the piano accompaniment at its most elegant and understated need look no further than Bill Charlap, a master of the Great American Songbook. Together, Bridgewater and Charlap have helped redefine the vocal and piano duo. Reviewing their 2025 album, Elemental, critic Will Friedwald praised them for “pushing interpretation to its limits” and “creating variations on the tunes as originally written.” Which means if you think you’ve heard definitive versions of jazz classics like “Mood Indigo” and “Caravan,” you’ve only gotten started.

6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Joel Ross Good Vibes

“This is gospel music,” vibraphonist Joel Ross told a recent crowd – more as a statement of purpose than explanation. Since emerging as the leader of the band Good Vibes 15 years ago, the Chicago native has devoted himself to musically interpreting the Bible, both in its promises of redemption and joy and its depictions of darker events. Layering his interpretations of the Scripture beneath a moody post-bop sensibility, he brings a highly personal approach to his source. Raised on the South Side and now living in Brooklyn, Ross played drums at his family’s Baptist church, where his father (like his mother a police officer) led the choir. He switched to vibes when his twin brother Josh laid claim to drums in their middle school band and developed his skills at the Chicago High School of the Arts. On his most recent album, Gospel Music, he ranges from the stirring, minimalistic “Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)” to “The Giver,” a setting of a poem by James Baldwin. His band today will include saxophonist Devin Daniels, pianist Tyler Bullock II, bassist Kanoa Mendenhall and drummer Jeremy Dutton.

6 - 6:15 p.m. - 2 Brown Sisters: Maggie and Africa Brown

Together and apart, singers and composers Maggie and Africa Brown have paid earthy and eloquent tribute to their late, great father Oscar Brown Jr., and joyously celebrated their African roots. In their brief set today, a sort of sampler for newcomers to their art, they will talk about those origins, show a short tribute video and perform with pianist Theodis Rodgers, Jr.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4

JAY PRITZKER PAVILION

7:45 - 9 p.m. - Robert Glasper

One of the most influential music artists of his generation, Robert Glasper has left his mark all over the musical map. The pianist, synth player and groove master is best known for his 2012 Grammy-winning album Black Radio and its two sequels, which meld jazz, R&B and hip-hop. He also played on rapper Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, has produced artists ranging from Anderson Paak to Brittany Howard, written for films and plays and seized opportunities to demonstrate his formidable skills as a bop-influenced mainstream jazz pianist. Today, the Houston native will perform with his boldly flexible, keyed-in band, featuring bassist Burniss “Boom Bishop” Travis II, drummer Justin Tyson and DJ Jahi Sundance. It’s the same lineup that performed at the recent International Jazz Day Global Concert in Chicago, but as one critic noted, you can’t base your expectations on past shows considering “the certainty that whatever happens tonight won’t be what happened last time.” That includes the possibility of surprise guest performers.

6:25 - 7:25 p.m. - Dr. Emma Dayhuff Innovations & Lineage: The Chicago Project featuring Dee Alexander, Corey Wilkes, Isaiah Collier, Michael King, and Jonathan Pinson On her live 2025 debut album, Innovations & Lineage: The Chicago Project, bassist and composer Emma Dayhuff reflected on her time in Chicago with a cast of local notables. Today, in what will be both a continuation of her exploratory work on that album, with a sampling of her new studio album, Mountains, the Montana native will reunite with beloved singer Dee Alexander and the phenomenal young saxophone star Isaiah Collier in a band including celebrated trumpeter Corey Wilkes, pianist Paul Cornish and drummer Jonathan Pinson. Described by one critic as “a powerful, Charles Mingus-esque bassist with a thick, loping groove,” Dayhuff, now Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, will be joined on one tune by vocalist Aikenya Seymour.

5:05 - 6:05 p.m. - Luciano Antonio Octet

Guitarist and singer Luciano Antonio, who owns the distinction of opening for three legends in his native Brazil – Caetano Veloso, Vinicius Cantuaria and Virginia Rodrigues – has become a headliner with his own following since moving to Chicago. He first came here, commuting from Kansas City, to play in the popular Brazilian music group Chicago Samba. He has since recorded two albums of original material plus Live at the Jazz Showcase, on which he shows off his considerable range in moving from notes of plaintive simplicity to harmonies of great fullness and complexity. His band today will include Hana Fujisaki on piano, Marcel Bonfim on bass, Gerald Martinez on reeds, Chad McCullough on trumpet/flugelhorn, Matt Kowalski on trombone, Luiz Ewerling on drums and Heitor Garcia on percussion.

4 - 4:45 p.m. - The Jo Ann Daugherty Trio with special guest Henry Johnson

Pianist Jo Ann Daugherty, a frequent performer at the festival, returns with her trio, including bassist Joshua Ramos and longtime drummer Ryan Bennett – plus standout guitar veteran and singer’s favorite Henry Johnson. Daugherty’s playing “has kick, bounce and a structural precision that recalls the nimble smarts of Cedar Walton” (DownBeat). One hopes that as an interpreter of songs by Abdullah Ibrahim she will pay tribute to the recently deceased South African legend.

VON FREEMAN PAVILION

3 - 3:45 p.m. - Scott Burns Quintet

If you judged an artist by the company he keeps, hard-hitting tenor saxophonist Scott Burns would score impressively high. His 2006 debut album Passages features an A-list rhythm section with Ron Perrillo, Dennis Carroll and George Fludas. On the acclaimed 2022 album, Tenor Time, he joins forces with the superb tenorists John Wojciechowski and Geof Bradfield. As fierce a swinger as Burns is, wrote one critic, “He is always melodic and telling a story.” Today, performing mostly originals, the Ohio native will lead a formidable quintet including trumpeter Eric Jacobson, pianist Ryan Cohan, bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Neil Hemphill.

1:50 - 2:45 p.m. - Maison Électronique

The ever-inventive electric guitarist Nathaniel Braddock returns to the festival with an expansive, grooving trio that reflects the Chicagoan’s recent time living in the Congo and touring in Ghana and Togo. He established his interest in West African and Central African music as leader of the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, which featured musicians from Ghana – and drew upon the indie rock he grew up on, including the music of the Smiths and Sonic Youth. Maison Electronique, featuring Ugandan bassist Alex Donsal Kateregga and Italian-born drummer Giuseppe Paradiso, continues Braddock’s exploration of a particular kind of world music.

12:40 - 1:35 p.m. - Lily Finnegan’s Heat On

When you’ve played with remarkable artists such as Nicole Mitchell, Tomeka Reid, Dave Rempis, Katie Ernst and Ken Vandermark, your reputation precedes you in all CAPS. And that list doesn’t include the non-Chicago greats drummer Lily Finnegan has backed, including James Brandon Lewis, Fay Victor and Brandon Seabrook. But it’s as the leader of her own band, Heat On, that Finnegan gets to show off the full range of her creativity. Featuring the great saxophonist Edward Wilkerson Jr., first-rate reed player Fred Jackson Jr. and versatile bassist Nick Macri, the group pays the best kind of tribute to Chicago jazz – one that connects the dots from the AACM on the South Side to the Green Mill (or “Green Milk,” as one of her originals is titled) up north. In addition to tunes from her terrific debut album, Heat On, today’s set will feature compositions from her forthcoming effort, 150 Swirl.

11:30 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. - Stephen Parisi with Kabir Dalawari

Bassist Stephen Parisi and drummer Kabir Dalawari have created plenty of memorable moments together, both as a deep-diving acoustic duo and in larger settings including Buffalo native Parisi’s quintet (featured on his recent album Buddy!) and DePaul alum Dalawari’s sextet (featured on his album Last Call). The sextet drew comparisons to the Brian Blade Fellowship, high praise indeed. Today’s band will feature saxophonist Jordan Lerner, pianist Oliver Scott and guitarist Josh Achiron.

WDCB JAZZ LOUNGE

6:45 - 7:45 p.m. - Marlene Rosenberg Quintet

Kenny Barron, Joe Henderson, Nancy Wilson, Roy Hargrove, Stan Getz, Joe Williams, Frank Morgan, Christian McBride, Cedar Walton, Marian McPartland, Frank Wess – the list of greats with whom bassist Marlene Rosenberg has performed and/or recorded with goes on and on. The steadiest and most adaptable of accompanists, she has the skill to disappear into the music while leaving her melodic as well as rhythmic mark. In recent times, she has emerged as a leader on such albums as Dialogue and MLK Convergence. The letters on the latter effort stand for Marlene, drummer Louis (Nash) and pianist Kenny (Barron) while also evoking the legacy of Martin Luther King. Today, she’ll lead a quartet including trumpeter Dakarai Barclay, alto saxophonist Eli Sullivan, pianist Lara Driscoll and drummer Kyle Swan.

4:30 - 6:15 p.m. - Constantine Alexander Firetet

As you might guess from a band called Firetet, trumpeter and flugelhornist Constantine Alexander’s longstanding quintet – including tenor saxophonist Roy McGrath, pianist Julius Tucker, bassist Ben Dillinger and drummer Greg Essig – has energy to burn. Inspired by trumpeters including Clifford Brown, Nicholas Payton and Sean Jones, Alexander mixes hard bop burners inspired by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and reflective pieces. There’s a good chance the Firetet will add to the festival’s celebration of John Coltrane with “Deez,” their playful “contrafact” of his famous tune “Giant Steps.”

2:15 - 4 p.m. - Raices Latin Jazz Quintet

Thriving on a pared-down, tuneful, lightly swinging approach, vibraphonist Joe Sonnefeldt’s hornless band recalls the popular sound of Cal Tjader’s sixties ensembles. The quintet features pianist Stuart Seale, bassist Eric Ferrer, drummer and timbales player Bobby Delgado and conguero Jorge Leal. It’s perfect afternoon music, filled with sunlight and welcoming shadows.

Noon - 1:45 p.m. - Chris Greene Quartet

Now on the roster of Chicago’s classy Pravda label – he was the first jazz artist it signed – saxophonist Chris Greene proudly represents Evanston, where he frequently performs at Space and contributes to his hometown in ways that go beyond music. In a remarkable streak, he has been leading his quartet – pianist Damian Espinosa, bassist Marc Piane and drummer Steve Corley – for more than 20 years. During that time, they have been named Best Jazz Ensemble in the Chicago Reader’s annual Best of Chicago poll three times. In their first appearance at the festival in a decade, the CGQ will draw from their deep body of work, including their excellent 2004 album Conversance. Expect smart originals and offbeat covers, with touches of funk, blues, Latin jazz and beyond.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5

JAY PRITZKER PAVILION

7:45 - 9 p.m. - MEB “Miles Electric Band” celebrating The Miles Davis Centennial

In this, the 100th anniversary of Miles Davis’ birth, there have been plenty of tributes to his great acoustic bands of the ‘50s and early ‘60s. But the trumpeter’s extended foray into electric music, including In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, On the Corner and Jack Johnson, is less frequently saluted. A sizable portion of Davis’ following has never cottoned to his shift from tradition-minded jazz to fusion music that drew from Jimi Hendrix rock and James Brown funk, however brilliant and groundbreaking those efforts were. Big shout out, then, to Miles’ nephew and former band member Vince Wilburn Jr. for putting together the star-studded Miles Electric Band. Guaranteed to light up the sky over Millennium Park with its combustible playing, the band features the imposing front line of trumpeter Theo Croker (taking the place of band regular Keyon Harrold); tenor saxophonist and bass clarinetist Antoine Roney and Hendrix-influenced guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, making a rare return to his hometown, where he came up through the AACM and played with Von Freeman and Muhal Richard Abrams. Chicago will have its fingerprints all over the performance. Wilburn, MEB’s drummer and artistic director; music director and pianist/ keyboardist Robert “Baabe” Irving III; bassist Darryl Jones (yes, the Rolling Stones’ longtime member) and keyboardist Greg Spero all hail from the Windy City. Rounding out the band will be percussionist Munyungo Jackson; DJ Logic and DJ Hapa on turntables and Nigerian master Rasaki Aladokun on percussion.

6:25 - 7:25 p.m. - Paul Marinaro’s “Mood Ellington”

Drawing from his new album, Mood Ellington, Marinaro will today lead a terrific nonet on a selection of classics including “I’m Beginning to See the Light” and “I’m Just a Lucky So and So,” with arrangements by the distinguished likes of Alan Broadbent, John Clayton and Bill Cunliffe. The band includes pianist Tom Vaitsas, guitarist Mike Allemana, bassist John Tate, drummer Neil Hemphill, reed and flute players Rich Moore and Scott Burns, baritone saxophonist and bass clarinetist Ted Hogarth, trumpeter Eric Jacobson and trombonist Raphael Crawford. True to the album title, this is music of many moods, ranging from upbeat swingers to darker-toned tunes – some of which, Marinaro says, are “slightly sardonic, adult and exotic.”

5:05 - 6:05 p.m. - Patricia Brennan Septet

One of the great success stories in jazz in recent years, vibraphonist Patricia Brennan has made her mark in multiple stylistic and band settings in rapid fashion, boldly departing convention every step of the way. Her 2024 album, Breaking Stretch, which she’ll perform from today, was embraced for its bold vision in blending futuristic sounds, Afro-Cuban rhythms, electronics and edgy percussion. Boasting reeds, brass and rhythm, it was named top album in the DownBeat Critics Poll, in which she also was named vibraphonist of the year. On that breakthrough and her more recent effort, Of the Near and Far, an exploration of and meditation on astronomy that invited listeners to “seek the light of hope amidst the darkness of the abyss,” her originality as a vibist comes through every step of the way. Today, performing material from Breaking Stretch and a new tune or two, she will lead an all-star septet including Cuban virtuoso Kali Rodriguez-Pena on trumpet; the prolific Chicagoan Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxophones; Mark Shim on tenor saxophone; Kim Cass on bass; Dan Weiss on drums, and Mauricio Herrera on percussion.

4 - 4:45 p.m. - Prodigio Claudio

Touted as the most popular cuatro player in the world (cuatro in his case being the 10-string national instrument of Puerto Rico), Eligio “Prodigio” Claudio Diaz saw his life take a decisive early turn at age seven when his family moved from New Jersey to Puerto Rico. Recognized from early on for his musical skills, he studied with master player Maso Rivera and earned the tag El Niño Prodigio. Heard in multiple genres, he played with salsa great Willie Colon, brought his personal, virtuosic skills to tropical jazz and traditional jibaro music, recorded more than 50 albums including Prodigio’s Delights and became a prolific producer as well. Today, he will be accompanied by Osvaldo Aviles on congas, Fredy Quintero on bass and Angel Salas on vocals and flute.

VON FREEMAN PAVILION

3 - 3:45 p.m. - Miguel de la Cerna Trio

Miguel de la Cerna is such an outstanding accompanist of vocalists and so skilled as a music director (for artists including the stupendous Dee Alexander), his achievements as a pianist and leader of his own groups can get overlooked. That certainly won’t happen today, when he leads a crisp trio with bassist Eric Hochberg and drummer Greg Artry. The grandson of General Morgan, who played piano with Billie Holiday, Miguel is an elegant stylist who moves seamlessly from bop to blues to classical touches.

1:50 - 2:45 p.m. - Joan Collaso – Joan Collaso & The Family

A well-travelled crowd-pleaser, Joan Collaso started out as a jingles singer in Chicago (back when that was a prime source of employment for vocalists) and developed into a jazz, blues and gospel stylist with an international following. The founder and executive director of the Timeless Gifts Youth Program for the Performing Arts, which pairs aspiring young artists with seasoned mentors, she has appeared with such greats as Stevie Wonder, Ramsey Lewis and Jeffery Osborne. A fest favorite, she will perform today in a special setting, backed by a trio of vocalists (Rayzine Collaso, Jessica Walton and Justice Walton). The band will include her husband Larry Hanks on piano; James Perkins on saxophone; Ron Hall on bass; Keith Henderson on guitar and Kenari Allison on drums.

12:40 - 1:35 p.m. - Kevin King Regime

Oboe, bassoon, flute, clarinet, saxophones: South Side artist Kevin King has all the bases covered in the woodwind department. Today, he’ll concentrate on tenor saxophone (plus synth and effects) in leading the Kevin King Regime, a culmination of his vision of a heavy metal instrumental band with improvisation – “as if Pharoah Sanders was the frontman to Black Sabbath instead of Ozzy Osbourne,” he says. King, who has played with everyone from avant-garde heroes the Art Ensemble of Chicago to blues legend Buddy Guy, will be joined by Nick Litman on electric bass and effects and Shravan Raghuram on drums.

11:30 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. - Josh Berman & Jason Stein Quartet

Two of the most distinctive and some would say indefatigable players on Chicago’s free-improvising scene, cornetist Josh Berman and bass clarinetist Jason Stein have long proven unpredictable as musicians and conceptualists. You never know what puckish sounds, structures or textures are going to emanate from Berman’s horn or what melodic as well as harmonic depths Stein is going to reach with his challenging instrument. Ultimately, it’s the way they interact with their fellow players that counts most. They’ll show off those skills today in the company of the ever-more-impressive bassist Katie Ernst and drummer Jeremy Cunningham – both leaders in their own right. Berman likely will draw from his superb new album, Everybody Else’s Life, Too.

HARRIS THEATER ROOFTOP STAGE

3 - 3:45 p.m. - Kenwood Academy High School Jazz Band

2 - 2:45 p.m. - Dekalb High School Jazz Ensemble

1 - 1:45 p.m. - New Trier High School Jazz Ensemble 1

Noon - 12:45 p.m. - Whitney Young High School Laflin Collective

11 - 11:45 a.m. - MYAC Jazz Combo

WDCB JAZZ LOUNGE

6:45 - 7:45 p.m. - Frank Russell Quintet

Celebrated Chicago bassist Frank Russell, who has played with everyone from Freddie Hubbard to the Headhunters, Willie Pickens to Wallace Roney, has embarked on an album tribute to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the legendary South African a cappella group that attained prominence in the states via their appearance on Paul Simon’s Graceland. Having worked with Ladysmith in a pair of plays at the Steppenwolf Theater (he won the 2020 Jeff Award for Original Music in a Play for Lindiwe) and conversed with its founder, Dr. Joseph Shabalala, he’s primed for the salute. Today, the fest audience will get a sampling of the album in progress, as performed by Russell, Tim McNamama on saxophone and flute, Kevin O’Connell on keyboards, Malcom Banks on drums and Tony Carpenter on percussion.

4:30 - 6:15 p.m. - John Hanrahan Quartet – Coltrane Celebration

The jazz festival is offering numerous tributes to John Coltrane in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the tenor giant’s birth. For fans of his inescapable masterwork A Love Supreme – especially those who have never heard it performed live – this is the place to be. With Anthony Bruno holding forth on saxophone, drummer John Hanrahan’s quartet will take its own approach to the music, with Hanrahan following in the footsteps of Elvin Jones, pianist John Kattke taking pages from McCoy Tyner and bassist Chris Bernhardt honoring Jimmy Garrison. And if A Love Supreme isn’t enough to stir your soul, the quartet also will perform tunes by the late, great, sorely missed Wayne Shorter.

2:15 - 4 p.m. - Ella Grace Sextet

A fresh voice on the Chicago scene, trumpeter Ella Grace came here from Minnesota, where (how can we not include this?) she studied with Steve Strand, a founding member of Prince’s NPG Hornz. As she will demonstrate with originals from her recent debut album, Figments, Grace is a lyrical player with the kind of poise it takes most musicians years to attain. Keen on details and uncovering hidden connections in the music, she will lead an impressive group of fellow DePaul alums: vocalist Julie Danielle, saxophonist Garrett Munz, pianist Aval Stanley, bassist Marion Mallard and drummer Jayden Richardson.

Noon - 1:45 p.m. - Gabriel Wade Quintet

A gifted young trumpeter who hails from Little Rock, Arkansas, Gabriel Wade has steadily attracted attention in Chicago with his mature reflective sound, characterized by a warm tone, relaxed sense of time and post-bop confidence. His closeknit quintet consists of fellow alumni of Northern Illinois University: alto and tenor saxophonist Jared Schultz, pianist Isaiah Jones Jr., bassist Nat Lin and drummer Sid Smith IV. They’ll be playing material from Wade’s debut album, Live at the Jazz Showcase.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6

JAY PRITZKER PAVILION

7:45 - 9 p.m. - Paquito D’Rivera Just as Tito (no need for a last name) emblemized the Latin jazz of the ‘50s and ‘60s, Paquito (ditto) has long been the poster boy for a broader version of Latin jazz in the modern era. A 2005 NEA Jazz Master, the Cuban-born alto saxophonist and clarinetist would be deserving of all-time honors had he done nothing but co-found (with Chucho Valdes) the group Irakere, which boldly introduced rock and classical music into the Latin jazz mix. Its recordings made a loud noise in the states when they were released. More than 45 years after defecting from Cuba and emigrating to the U.S., the 78-year-old D’Rivera is as active as ever in a broad a range of settings including small groups and orchestras and venues ranging from jazz clubs to symphony halls. (Earlier this year, a new recording of his circus-inspired work for clarinet octet, “The Elephant and the Clown,” was released by the Barcelona Municipal Band.) Today, he will be backed by the great Diego Urcola on trumpet and valve trombone, Alex Brown on piano, Oscar Stagnaro on electric bass and Chicago native Mark Walker on drums.

6:25 - 7:25 p.m. - Bethany Pickens Soulful Coalition For pianist Bethany Pickens, family has always come first, as it should. Her late father Willie was one of the most beloved musicians in Chicago and beyond. And her mother, who was always at Willie’s side, was equally dear to those who knew her. Today, in addition to her original compositions – all kissed by her father’s bountiful spirit – she will perform “Irma in July,” which Willie composed for his wife of 56 years after her passing. The Coalition includes vibraphonist and festival regular Thaddeus Tukes, acoustic bassist Joshua Ramos and drummer Charles Heath.

5:05 - 6:05 p.m. - Isaiah Collier – Collier Plays Coltrane

If any young musician can be entrusted with the music of John Coltrane on the 100th anniversary of his birth, it is Isaiah Collier. From the start of his quickly accelerating career, the saxophonist has had a Trane-like presence with his curiosity, spirituality and ability to connect with listeners while maintaining an inner intensity. Best known for his work with his band the Chosen Few, Collier has drawn upon his experiences with the AACM (Ari Brown was a mentor), teamed with singer Dee Alexander and played with strings and horn section, as he does on the title track of his probing but uplifting new EP, Joy. On another of the songs, he plays all the instruments himself. There’s no telling which aspects of Coltrane’s legacy he will take on today; even he may not know until he takes the stage. But whether he plugs into the religiosity of A Love Supreme or journeys to the outer reaches of Ascension, the music will be in good hands. Joining Collier will be pianist Davis Whitfield, bassist Way Campbell and drummer Tim Regis.

4 - 4:45 p.m. - Bruce Henry Quintet

Based on his three-and-a-half octave range and the ease with which he moves from up to down and back, you can say that Chicagoan Bruce Henry is four singers in one: a baritone, a tenor, an alto and a falsetto. A crowd-pleaser with his spirited, socially minded tributes to such greats as Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye, he shows off his skills as a songwriter steeped in gospel and the blues on his most recent album, A New Song, a collaboration with guitarist Dean Magraw. Today, he’ll be backed by pianist Miguel de la Cerna, bassist Joshua Ramos and drummer Charles “Rick” Heath IV, with saxophonist Kevin King joining in on selected tunes.

VON FREEMAN PAVILION

3 - 3:45 p.m. - Jeremiah Hunt

Is it possible to lay claim to the tag “bassist’s bassist” while still in your thirties? Having played and recorded with new generation artists such as Isaiah Collier, Makaya McCraven and Marquis Hill as well as distinguished mainstream veteran players such as Pharez Whitted and Bobby Broom, Jeremiah Hunt has earned such a distinction. He’ll continue enriching his profile today leading a sextet including alto saxophonist Brent Griffin, trumpeter Alphonso Horne, guitar great Broom, pianist Richard Johnson and drummer Jonathan Pinson. They’ll perform original tunes from Hunt’s forthcoming debut album as well as songs by Chick Corea, Cedar Walton and Charles Mingus – a towering influence to whom Hunt has paid tribute on other occasions.

1:50 - 2:45 p.m. - Chuck Webb and Guru Tonic

Veteran bassist Chuck Webb, who has accompanied such jazz greats as Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner and David Sanborn and been one of Chicago’s first-call studio players, became a headliner in his own right in an amusing way. To celebrate his birthday, his wife arranged for a party at the Hyde Park Jazz Society – and booked her husband as the featured performer. Webb has enjoyed the spotlight ever since. With his band Guru Tonic – pianist and keyboardist Tom Vaitsas, guitarist Tim Fitzgerald and drummer Linard Stroud – he will today celebrate the soul jazz of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Music, he says, “that bridged the gap between straight ahead jazz and emerging funk and soul music.”

12:40 - 1:35 p.m. - John Wojciechowski Quartet

In a town know for its tough tenors, John Wojciechowski has been part of a contemporary wave of saxophonists honoring that legacy. On the classically named 2022 album, Tenor Time, he teamed up with Geof Bradfield and Scott Burns to salute such Chicago tenor greats as Johnny Griffin, Von Freeman and Clifford Jordan. A Detroit native, Wojciechowski has left his mark on the local scene as a member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the Chicago Yestet, the Ryan Cohan Sextet and the New Standard Jazz Orchestra. Today he will offer a sneak listen to his forthcoming album, Live at the Jazz Showcase, in the expert company of pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Clark Sommers and drummer and cymbals artist Dana Hall.

11:30 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. - M.A.D.D. Rhythms

Jazz and tap dance have made for lively partners going back to vaudeville and the swing era. M.A.D.D. Rhythms, a Chicago-based collective dedicated to performing and preserving the art, has been an important force in Making a Difference Dancing. The troupe includes tap artists Star Dixon, Donnetta “LilBit” Jackson, Caleb Jackson and Andrew Carr, with vibraphonist Thaddeus Tukes, trumpeter Dakarai Barclay, bassist Joshua Ramos and drummer Charles Heath IV providing the lively rhythms and airy melodies.

HARRIS THEATER ROOFTOP STAGE

3 - 3:45 p.m. - Carmani Edwards

Bassist and composer Carmani “Mani” Edwards, a South Side native, has made an important contribution to Chicago culture in celebrating the artistry of Black women and queer folks via improvised jazz, soul and poetry, which they frequently perform with vocalist Indigo. Today, Edwards and Indigo will be joined by other members of their artistic crew including trombonist Tromblau, whose Tromblau and Friends blends house music and klezmer; trumpeter Dakarai Barclay, whose music explores the origins of Black American music in all its forms; acclaimed young pianist Anaiet Soul and drummer and singer-songwriter Daniel Gayden. One looks forward to hearing Edwards stir all these parts together.

2 - 2:45 p.m. - Michael Davenport Quartet

Following stints in San Francisco and New York, where a major highlight was earning a Latin Grammy nomination as a student contributor to Bobby Sanabria’s big band tribute to Machito, Kenya Revisited Live, saxophonist Michael Davenport is back in his hometown to add to his many accomplishments. A soloist of soulful intensity, he will team up with pianist Elio Wijaya and drummer Macari Ramsey on a set of originals and standards – some of which will appear on Davenport’s forthcoming album.

1 - 1:45 p.m. - Miriam Goroff-Behel Quintet

It’s one thing to fall under the genius influence of Charlie Parker, as many young saxophonists do. It’s another to be able to put that into practice as excitingly as alto saxophonist Miriam Goroff-Behel has done. A graduate of New Trier High School who started playing saxophone in seventh grade, they got to tour South Africa with a 22-piece big band under the aegis of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra (Goroff- Behel was featured soloist on “Trane,” which tells you a lot about their depth and power). And now they are midway through their jazz studies at the prestigious Juilliard School. Today’s eagerly awaited set will feature a talented young group: Brandon Harper on piano, Jackson Wheeler on guitar, Micah Collier on bass and Colin Dorion on drums.

Noon - 12:45 p.m. - Blue Aura

As they demonstrated with their mesmerizing performance in June at the Fulton Street Collective, Blue Aura is one of those bands that isn’t easy to categorize, and they’re all the better for it. Led by drummer and composer Francis Bassett-Dilley, they draw you in with their exploratory, mysterious and sometimes disruptive collective sound. With a cool blues sensibility beneath it all, this is music to get lost in. The band features Aaron Kaufman-Levine on alto saxophone, Sam Butler on trumpet, Brandon Harper on piano and Brendan Keller-Tuberg on bass.

11 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. - Victoria Aliz Quintet

Singer Victoria Aliz, like several performers at this year’s festival a product of the Chicago High School for the Arts, bridges jazz, musical theater and music rooted in her Puerto Rican heritage through her experience as a worship leader. A music education student at North Park University, she helped re-establish a vocal jazz ensemble there early this year. That effort will be reflected in her performance today with vocalists Andrea Hernandez and Stephanie Garcia, acoustic guitarist and electric bassist Talha Waqar and pianist Yash Pawar.

WDCB JAZZ LOUNGE

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. - Ricardo Jiménez Quintet

For a young artist, Chicago singer and trumpeter Ricardo Jiménez has compiled an impressive amount of air mileage and the musical rewards to draw from it. As a recipient of a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, which requires recent college graduates to travel around the world for a year without returning home, he contributed to Bollywood productions, taught music in Senegal and performed in Austria, India, Sri Lanka and Brazil. All the while, he has dedicated himself to examining and connecting with his Puerto Rican roots – and the Great American Songbook. One in a minority of singers of his generation who embrace vocalese, he was influenced early and often by the singing legends including Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. It’s safe to say that having studied trumpet performance and biology, he has a unique musical sensibility. Today, he’ll lead a band including Oliver Scott on piano; Joshua Achiron on guitar; Stephen Parisi on bass and TJ Thompson on drums.

4:30 - 6:15 p.m. - Michele Thomas Septet

Veteran Chicago singer Michele Thomas has taken up residence in a category of jazz vocalists who both dedicate themselves to original compositions and interpretations of works by artists who have inspired her. Today she will display both sides of her artistry and connect the dots between them by drawing from The Assumption, her conceptually bold album of of personal reflections, and Messenger, which gathers arrangements of songs by Stevie Wonder. What makes today’s set extra-special is the opportunity to perform with a full septet, the setting in which the songs were written. The band will include drummer (and co-producer) Darren Scorza, saxophonist Matt Shevitz, trumpeter Chris Davis, guitarist Tim Fitzgerald, keyboardist Chris Mahieu and bassist Cory Biggerstaff.

2:15 - 4 p.m. - Alex Beltran - Sunday Soul

Having played in bands supporting the likes of Aretha Franklin and the Temptations, Chicago tenor saxophonist Alex Beltran brings a keen appreciation for soul music to his jazz endeavors. His quartet, including guitarist Terry Bartolotta, organist Andrew Lawrence and drummer Greg Artry, will share that sensibility today via an intriguing selections of songs that will draw from a list including Duke Pearson’s “Chant,” Wayne Shorter’s “Venus Di Mildew,” Carla Bley’s “Lawns” and his own arrangement of “Mrs. Robinson” from The Graduate. His Sunday Soul will provide an interesting alternative to Beltran’s praised 2024 quartet album, Rift, which draws on the joys and challenges of growing up in a Mexican American household.

Noon - 1:45 p.m. - Arman Sangalang Quintet with Special Guest Jon Irabagon

One of the rising stars on the Chicago scene – “A revelation and a delight, and a quantum leap into another orbit entirely,” wrote critic Neil Tesser – tenor saxophonist Arman Sangalang plays with a rare kind of intensity and risk-taking approach for an artist in his twenties. With his two albums, 2023’s Quartet and the new Waypoints (on which he passes the “Body and Soul” tenor test with flying colors), he has given the new, locally based Calligram label a major boost. What makes today’s performance even more noteworthy is the guest appearance of star saxophonist Jon Irabagon. The band will feature guitarist Dave Miller, bassist Ethan Philion and drummer Quin Kirchner.