All in Things to Do in Chicago
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.
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.
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.
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.
The second day of the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival brought a variety of jazz styles to Chicago’s Millennium Park. Hands down, pianist Patricia Barber outdid everyone with her lyrical wordplay rooted in the Beat poets and her piano work, but her band was also outstanding because it maintained a consistency musical line throughout Barber’s performance. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
The 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival opened its four-day run with a superb lineup. Here are my thoughts about and images from the the first day of the festival.
On July 1, 2025, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community celebrated Ukrainian Village’s recent designation as an Illinois State-Designated Cultural District. Here are my thoughts about and images from the celebration at the Ukrainian Cultural Center
The 2025 Chicago Blues Festival went out with a bang tonight at the Pritzker Pavilion. Unfortunately, C.J. Chenier was scratched from the lineup due to an hour-long rain delay, but Lurrie Bell, Avery R. Young, and Mavis Staples did take the stage. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s performances.
Saturday brought an exciting days of Blues to Chicago’s Millennium Park as the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival kept churning out exciting music for the thousands who flooded the park today. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s festivities.
The 2025 Chicago Bluesfest opened its run in Chicago’s Millennium Park today. For me, the big name of the day was Christone “Kingfish” ingram who played during the B.B. Ing Centennial Tribute on the main stage at the Pritzker Pavilion. Tomorrow Kingfish is the headliner. Here are my thoughts about Kingfish’s and all the other often incendiary performances, together with my images.
The 2025 Chicago Bluesfest kicked off this evening at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. The bill included 91-year-old living legend Bobby Rush, as well as Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues. Here are my thoughts about electrifying performances, together with my images from the evening.
Yesterday, I took a walk through Chicago’s River North neighborhood and along the Chicago River. Here are my thoughts about and the images from my stroll.
On Thursday, March 27, 2025, I attended a fundraiser for the Ukrainian military at Le Piano, a jazz club located in Chicago’s Rogers Park. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening of fun and music.
On Friday, January 31, trumpeter Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) performed an electrifying set at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. Here are my thoughts about and images from Adjuah’s performance.
On January 25, 2025, the University of Chicago staged a Southern Soul Celebration at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. Leading the charge were singers Joe Barr, Theo Huff, and Nellie “Tiger” Travis, backed by the Platinum Band. Here are my thoughts about and images from this fun-filled evening.
This past weekend saw another successful Open House Chicago. Here are my thoughts about and images following two days of walking throughout Chicago’s Downtown and surrounding areas.
Today was marathon day in Chicago. For the first time in over a decade, I took to the race course with cameras in hand. Here are my thoughts about and images from a truly memorable event.
Day 4 (Sunday) of the 2024 Chicago Jazz Festival saw another day of perfect weather and great music, particularly with Eddie Henderson, George Cables, Mike Clark, Donald Harrison, Orrin Evans, and Alfie Jackson on the bill. Here are my thoughts about and images from the festival's final day.
Day 3 of the 2024 Chicago Jazz Festival brought sunny skies and warm temperatures, with lots of excellent music from a variety of artists, including Dennis Carroll, Jeff Parker, René Marie, and Kenny Garrett (if you like sheets of notes). Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
The second day of the 2024 Chicago Jazz Festival was the first day of outdoor concerts at Chicago's Millennium Park. Here are my thoughts about and images from days performances.
