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Sound & Gravity: Chicago's New Home For Poignant Creative Music

By Hrayr Attarian
September 23, 2025
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The inaugural 2025 edition of the ambitious Sound & Gravity Festival took place from September 10th through September 14th at seven different venues on Chicago's Northwest Side. Over 50 musicians, from several countries, performed works spanning genres from contemporary Western classical to jazz, experimental music, and indie rock. The not-for-profit Constellation Performing Arts, which drummer

Mike Reed

drums
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Reed founded in 2013, organized this five-day event. The music was very much in the eclectic style presented at Constellation Chicago over the past 12 years.

Here is a collection of photos from the Sound & Gravity in Chicago, featuring

Tara Clerkin Trio

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Tara Clerkin Trio,

Sunny Joe Paradiso

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Sunny Joe Paradiso,

Patrick Benjamin

synthesizer

" data-original-title="" title="">Patrick Benjamin,

Lia Kohl

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">Lia Kohl,

Macie Stewart

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Macie Stewart, Whitney Johnson,

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark,

Erez Dessel

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Erez Dessel,

Lily Finnegan

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Lily Finnegan,

Beth McDonald

tuba

" data-original-title="" title="">Beth McDonald,

Anna Webber

saxophone, tenor
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Anna Webber,

John Hollenbeck

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hollenbeck,

Matt Mitchell

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Mitchell,

Ganavya

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Ganavya,

Charles Overton

harp

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Overton,

Max Ridley

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Max Ridley,

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson,

Patricia Brennan

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Patricia Brennan,

Nick Dunston

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Dunston,

Tomas Fujiwara

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomas Fujiwara,

Jacob Garchik

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jacob Garchik,

Adam O’Farrill

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam O��Farrill,

Zoh Amba

woodwinds
b.2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Zoh Amba,

Lex Korten

piano
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Lex Korten,

Miguel Marcel Russell

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Miguel Marcel Russell,

Orrin Evans

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Orrin Evans,

Eric Revis

bass
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Revis and

Nasheet Waits

drums
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Nasheet Waits. View Slideshow

Patricia Brennan and Mary Halvorson at Constellation...

Nick Dunston at Constellation Chicago on September 12th 2025

Mary Halvorson's Amaryllis at Constellation Chicago on...

Patricia Brennan at Constellation Chicago on September 12th...

Jacob Garchik at Constellation Chicago on September 12th...

Mary Halvorson at Constellation Chicago on September 12th...

Tomas Fujiwara and Adam O'Farrill at Constellation Chicago...

Beth McDonald at The Hungry Brain on September 11th 2025

Ken Vandermark and Lilly Finnegan

Erez Dessel at The Hungry Brain on September 11th 2025

Tara Clerkin

Tara Clerkin Trio on the Rockwell Patio September 11 2025

Tara Clerkin and Sunny-Joe Paradison on the Rockwell Patio...

Tara Clerkin Trio on The Rockwell Patio

Orrin Evans at the Constellation Chicago on September 13th...

Orrin Evans and Eric Revis at the Constellation Chicago on...

Eric Revis at the Constellation Chicago on September 13th...

Nasheet Waits at the Constellation Chicago on September...

The Trio Tarbaby interacting with the audience

Macie Stewart at Judson and Moore

Lia Kohl at Judson and Moore

Whitney Johnson at Judson and Moore

Zoh Amba and Miguel Marcel Russell at The Hungry Brain

Zoh Amba and Lex Korten at The Hungry Brain

Miguel Marcel Russell at The Hungry Brain

Ganavya with Charles Overton and Max Ridley at...

Ganavya with Charles Overton at Constellation Chicago...

John Hollenbeck at Constellation Chicago September 12 2025

Anna Webber and John Hollenbeck at Constellation Chicago...

Matt Mitchell at Constellation Chicago September 12 2025

Anna Webber and Matt Mitchell at Constellation Chicago...

Anna Webber and John Hollenbeck at Constellation Chicago...

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