Outdoor Jazz Shows in Chicago

Mon, Nov 23, 8:00 PM CST

Dakarai Barclay

Jazz Showcase / South Loop / Map

Dakarai Barclay is a trumpet player and educator based in Chicago, Illinois. With each performance, Dakarai seeks to pay homage to the origins of Black American music, in all its forms, and those whose legacies we are indebted to. Outside of leading his own projects, Dakarai has played with musicians such as Willerm Delisfort, Winard Harper, Marlene Rosenberg, Jarrard Harris, Ernest Dawkins, Emma Blau and many more.

Tue, Nov 24, 8:00 PM CST

Kyle Swan Quartet

Jazz Showcase / South Loop / Map

Grammy Award winning drummer Kyle Swan has been working on mastering his craft for over 18 years. He has demonstrated true dedication to enhancing his artistry in every way. He attained his Undergraduate and Graduate degrees from University of Miami’s Frost School of Music from the years 2013-2018. He studied Criminology and Jazz Studies in his undergraduate degree and became the TA for the Jazz Drum Department during his graduate studies. He has participated in many music festivals across the world which include the Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada, 2016), The Jazz Cruise(2017, 2023, 2024), University of Wyoming Jazz Festival (2024), Port Au Prince Jazz Festival(Haiti, 2018), Dromos Jazz Festival(Italy 2018) Guatemala Jazz Festival(Guatemala 2019), Menorca Jazz Festival(Spain 2019), Leavenworth Jazz Festival (Washington 2023), and many others. He has had the honor of performing/recording/touring with many esteemed artists such as, @Grammy Award winning artists Kurt Elling, Brian Lynch, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and Paquito D’Rivera. He has also had the privilege of playing/recording with other phenomenal artists such as Sean Jones, Orrin Evans, Peter Bernstein, Rodney Whitaker, Cyrille Aimee, Bobby Broom, Martin Bejerano, Ira Sullivan, Alex Brown, etc. Kyle can be heard on recordings including @Grammy Winning “Omni American Book Club,” “Gola Akoustik,” “Kemet (The Black Land),” “Hallways,” and others. Kyle has also taught/performed at various jazz camps/festivals including Tonica International Jazz Festival (Guadalajara, 2016), Festival de Jazz de Antequera (Spain, 2022), and Leavenworth Jazz Festival, (Seattle, 2023). As he currently resides in Chicago, Il., you can find him performing at jazz clubs and teaching master classes and privately around the city, country, and abroad. As a student of the Black American Artform that is Jazz, Kyle has devoted quality time to his musical evolution, instruction, and mastery. Eventbrite is the official & sole seller of tickets to all events at Jazz Showcase. Only the original buyer will be admitted into our events, and your name/ID must match the name on your ticket. Tickets purchased outside of the Eventbrite platform will not be admitted into any event.

Wed, Nov 25, 8:00 PM CST

Sabertooth Organ Quartet

Jazz Showcase / South Loop / Map

Cameron Pfiffner/ Saxophones and Flute Pat Mallinger / Saxophones Pete Benson / Organ Neil Hemphill/ Drums Founded around 1990, Sabertooth is led by two saxophonists: Cameron Pfiffner & Pat Mallinger. The band started out with the unique pairing of its two lead reedmen at an old musicians hang called Jazz Bulls in Lincoln Park West neighborhood of Chicago. From that night’s collaboration the idea of Sabertooth began to take shape with a driving force behind the widely varied stylings best summed up as, “just groove it”. Sabertooth has often ventured beyond soul-jazz and hard bop and moved into post-bop and modal territory with John Coltrane’s modal recordings of the early to mid-’60s influencing the groups sound. Sabertooth is both a post-bop group and a soul-jazz/hard bop group with a highly diverse repertoire that includes many original compositions and jazz classics by Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, Lester Young, John Coltrane, as well as covers by the Beatles, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Bob Marley. Special invited guests who have performed with Sabertooth have included Harry Conick Jr., Kurt Elling, Joe Lovano, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis Band, Jack McDuff, Joey DeFrancesco, Umphrey’s Mcgee Band, and many others. Sabertooth has also performed for numerous jazz festivals, concerts and private engagements.

Tue, Dec 1, 8:00 PM CST

Steve Schneck Quartet - CD Release The Second Set

Jazz Showcase / South Loop / Map

Steve Schneck - trumpet/flugelhorn Peter Saxe - piano Scott Mason - bass Phil Gratteau - drums Join the Steve Schneck Quartet as we celebrate the release of their new recording, The Second Set ! In the liner notes for The Second Set , music critic and Grammy Award-winning journalist Neil Tesser writes, “When I listen to Steve Schneck, it’s his tone that stops me in my tracks. … his full and fulfilling tone, pure, clear and clean, eschewing idiosyncrasy— the dictionary definition of what a trumpet or a flugelhorn should sound like. Maybe that seems like an easy thing to achieve; it is not. … I admire Schneck’s continuous flow of lively ideas; … the technical facility that allows those ideas to unspool, effortlessly and elegantly, and … his unhurried swing at any tempo. … Schneck doesn’t play like Satchmo. Yet he plays in part because of Satchmo. In the thoughtful flow of melody and the seamless technique behind it, he channels and updates principles that guided Armstrong’s elevation of the jazz solo a century ago. … At the end of 'New Orleans,' you’ll hear Saxe’s impromptu assessment of the performance: 'Oh, that had character,' the pianist exclaims. He’s right, of course. It resides in Gratteau’s rocking-chair, lemonade-in-hand shuffle; in Mason’s laid-back lyricism; in Saxe’s contextually perfect, piano-tickling flamboyance, and in the crackling electricity of Schneck’s N’Awlins-steeped solo. They all melt into a portrait so vivid, you can almost see the paint starting to peel off the balconies in the Vieux Carré .” Steve Schneck grew up in New York with jazz and classical music in the background and a photo of Louis Armstrong in his bedroom. From the beginning, his mother wanted Steve to be a trumpet player. After learning to play the ukulele (from his Dad) and piano (from his Mom), Steve began studying trumpet at age 9 and he’s been playing the trumpet and flugelhorn for more than 50 years. Steve’s mother taught classical piano, and his father played folk guitar. His extended family, including 4 generations of mandolin players, regularly played music whenever they got together, and they still do. While in high school, Steve studied at the Juilliard, Manhattan and Eastman schools of music, and was a member of the New York State Music Association All-State Jazz Ensemble, McDonald’s Long Island Jazz Ensemble, and Nassau County Jazz Ensemble. He also taught trumpet for two summers at Camp Encore/Coda in Maine. Throughout college, Steve played in the Cornell University Jazz Ensemble, which he also directed during his junior and senior years. While in law school, Steve played in the New York University Jazz Ensemble and in a jazz quintet directed by Joe Lovano. Soon after moving to Chicago, Steve regularly joined jam sessions and gigs with local musicians, and in 1990, Steve started his own group. The Steve Schneck Quartet ( www.steveschneckmusic.com ) has been playing throughout Chicago for the past 34 years and previously released 2 other CDs: “Together Again” in 1994, and “Dedicated to You,” in 2012. The Steve Schneck Quartet performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival in 2016. Steve was also a member of Marshall Vente’s Project Nine for several years and he has performed throughout Chicago as a side man with other musicians including Pat Mallinger, Jeff Newell, Jim Massoff, Richie Fidoli, Bob Centano, Bob Ojeda, Stuart Rosenberg, John Mose, Frank D’Rone, Don Stiernberg, Dave Baney, Curt Morrison, Neil Soroka, Jimmy Ryan, Don Stilley, Frank Caruso, John Baney, Eric Hochberg, Nick Tountas, Alejo Poveda, Izzy Perez, Mo Jennings, Tim Davis and Barrett Deems. In September 2022, Steve joined New Orleans clarinetist Doreen Ketchens and her quartet at the Sisters Folk Festival in Oregon. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VckPQkgF578 ) Since 2009, Steve has volunteered as the Director of the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy (a Chicago public elementary school) Jazz Ensemble, for musicians in grades 5 through 8. Steve created the ensemble and arranges all of its music. In 2016 and 2018, the Hawthorne Jazz Ensemble performed at the Chicago Public Schools Jazz Festival. In September 2024, while continuing to lead the Hawthorne Jazz Ensemble, Steve started another elementary school Jazz Ensemble at the Rogers Park Montessori School, where he arranges all of the music and directs an ensemble of musicians in grades 4-8.

Thu, Nov 5, 7:00 PM CST

Thursday: Ben Paterson Organ Trio | Bobby Broom Guitar | Greg Artry | Honoring Laurens Hammond's B3 Organ

Le Piano / Rogers Park / Map

While hosting his residency at Le Piano, Paterson has become one of the top Hammond B3 players on the jazz scene today, combining influences from his home town of Chicago, in addition to his 10 year residency in NYC. Together, this trio follows Paterson's lead, bringing unique style and sound renderings to the classic organ trio format! Don't miss the opportunity to hear this internationally acclaimed, award-winning artist. Doors open at 6 Show THURSDAYS 7-10. There will always be guest artists in the house. $15 Cover

Thu, Nov 5, 7:00 PM CST

Soul Message featuring Chris Foreman on the Hammond B3 Organ with Greg Jung (sax) and Greg Rockingham (drums)

Le Piano / Rogers Park / Map

Soul Message Band is founded on the enduring partnership of Chris Foreman, the Chicago-based and nationally celebrated Hammond B3 Jazz Organist, and award winning solid swinging drummer, Greg Rockingham, aka “The Rock.” Greg and Chris have a 38-year history of collaboration, including groups like the award winning Deep Blue Organ Trio. Mr. Rockingham and Mr. Foreman have an unmistakable chemistry that has taken them from Chicago to Jazz Clubs and Arenas around the world as both headliners (Umbria Jazz Festival Italy) and opening group for Steely Dan for 8 years. Soul Message band featuring Chris & Greg were inducted into the Hammond B3 Hall of Fame. Soul Message can be seen in a worldwide attraction at Navy Pier, called Fly Over Chicago. The band adds the captivating alto saxophonist, Greg Jung. Greg Jung is the trio’s newest and youngest member. He is a wonderful human being and educator. He also is a world class musician. The powerful trio is not to be missed. Doors open at 6 Show THURSDAY NOV 5th 7pm-10pm. $15 Cover

Fri, Nov 6, 6:30 PM CST

Friday: Chris White Quartet

Le Piano / Rogers Park / Map

Le Piano is thrilled to present our newest ensemble in residence. Experience the pinnacle in jazz with an unforgettable night featuring the incomparable Chris White on piano with a rotating roster of featured guest performers. These artists are seasoned pros and no strangers to Le Piano. Loaded with talent, they present stylistically, seamless renders of jazz classics. Who knows, it could lead to dancing! Doors open at 6 Show runs 6:30 - 9:30 General Admission $20 See you at the show! EARLY SHOW ENDS AT 9:30PM! There is a second seating for our Late Night show from 9:30 - midnight. To ensure a smooth transition between shows, we kindly ask that tables be returned at the conclusion of your performance time. Thank You!