On October 1, 2026, a group of musicians and composers gathered in Chicago’s Federal Plaza to demonstrate against A.I. generated music. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
All in Musicians
Chicago Jazzfest-Day 4
The 2026 Chicago Jazz Festival continued its four-day run on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The fourth day’s highlight was Isaiah Collier playing Coltrane. Collier paid tribute to one of his musical idols. Here are my thoughts about and images from Day 4 of the festival.
Chicago Jazzfest-Day 3
The 2026 Chicago Jazz Festival continued its four day run on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The third day’s highlight was the Miles Electric Band, an assemblage featuring some of Chicago’s top jazz musicians. Its purpose: To pay tribute to trumpet master Miles Davis and the music he produced during his electric period. Here are my thoughts about and images from Day 3 of the festival.
Chicago Jazzfest-Day 2
The 2026 Chicago Jazz Festival continued its four day run on Friday, September 4, 2026. The second day’s highlight was Dr. Emma Dayhuff’s Innovations & Lineage, a program that featured some of Chicago’s top jazz musicians. Here are my thoughts about and images from Day 2 of the festival.
Chicago Jazzfest-Day 1
The 2026 Chicago Jazz Festival kicked off its annual run on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The day’s highlight was the closing performance, a duet between vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and pianist Bill Charlap. Here are my thoughts about and images from Day 1 of the festival.
July 4th Americana
Glenview held its. annual Fourth of July Parade, with bands, brigages, and floats rolling down Harlem Avenue. Here are my thoughts about and images from the festivities.
Chicago Bluesfest--Day Whee
Today, June 7, 2026, saw the Chicago Blues Festival charge into Day 3 of its annual run. The day included performances by Melody Angel, Chris Cain, Katherine Davis, Deitra Farr, Sue Foley, Lee Kanehira, Lynne Jordan, Mary Lane, Taj Mahal, and Nora Jean Wallace. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
Chicago Bluesfest--Day 2
Today, June 6, 2026, saw the Chicago Blues Festival charge into Day 2 of its annual run. The day included performances by Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Nick Moss, Ruthie Foster, Shakura S’Aida, Dylan Triplett, and Dexter Allen. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
Chicago Bluesfest--Day 1
Today, June 5, 2026, saw the annual Chicago Blues Festival kickoff. The day included Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop performing as a duo, as well as guitar slingers Ronnie Baker Brooks, Torozon Cannon, Tinsley Ellis, Lil’ Ed and Nick Moss challenging each other in the battle of the axes. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
Isaiah Collier
Isaiah Collier brought his saxophones and the Chosen Few to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on Friday, May 1, 2026 to close out International Jazz Day week with a tribute to John Coltrane. Here are my thoughts about and images from the concert.
International Jazz Day
I had the opportunity to photograph the 15th International Jazz Day Thursday night, which was held at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House. Here are my thoughts about and images from the gala concert.
Herbie in Conversation
In honor of International Jazz Day, Kris Bowers, Marcus Miller, and Herbie Hancock sat down for a panel discussion at the Chicago Cultural Center. Here are my thoughts about and images from the afternoon gathering.
Sketches of Spain
Orbert Davis reimagines Miles Davis’s seminal work, Sketches of Spain, four days before the 15th Annual Jazz Day celebration in the host city of Chicago. Here are my thoughts about and images from the concert.
Fantastic Negrito
Vocalist and guitarist Fantastic Negrito brought his contemporary Blues and Soul to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on Saturday April 11, 2026 for an exuberant concert. Here are my thoughts about and images from Negrito’s performance.
Mallets
Third Coast Percussion and pianist Tigran Hamasyan performed at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on Friday, March 13, 2026. Here are my thoughts about and images from the concert.
Julia Keefe
Julia Keefe brought her Indigenous Jazz Ensemble to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on Friday, January 30, 2026. Keefe and Company focused on the works of Jim Pepper and Mildred Bailey, with several self-penned compositions tossed in for good measure. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
Christmas Carols
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, 15 Christmas carolers could be seen on the sidewalk adjacent to Daley Plaza, where the City’s annual Christkindlmarket is located. They hoped their songs would highlight what many believe is a genocide unfolding in Gaza. The melodies were familiar, but the words to the Christmas songs had been changed to highlight the death and destruction that the Palestinian People have been experienced during the last two years. Here are my thoughts about and images from this holiday demonstration.
Selenium Derivatization Blues
Billy Branch brought his Sons of the Blues to the Logan Center Friday night. The SOBs were larger than normal, with a horn section and three backup singers. Branch was launching his new album, The Blues is My Biography. The band the music was terrific. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
Mexican Independence Day
On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Chicago’s Mexican Community celebrated Mexican Independence Day with a parade in Little Village. Here are my thoughts about and images from the afternoon celebration.
Jazzfest, Day 3
The third day of the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival brought a variety of jazz styles to Chicago’s Millennium Park. Alto saxophonist Gary Bartz played some funk, as well as the airy sounds of early Seventies electrified jazz. Closing out the day, Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers played many familiar songs rooted in the New Orleans jazz tradition. Here are my thoughts and images from the day’s performances.