Chicago

Active since: 1967

Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, generating several hit ballads. They had a steady stream of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Second only to The Beach Boys in Billboard singles and albums chart success among American bands, Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups in history. According to Billboard, Chicago was the leading US singles charting group during the 1970s

Henhouse Prowlers

Born: July 13, 2004

With two decades proudly under their belts, the Henhouse Prowlers' sight remains fixed on the future.

Ever constant in the group's enthralling performances is their ability to showcase their passion for music and humanity. All four members possessing a knack for storytelling, compelling songwriting and intricate instrumentation, each offers the utmost artistic prowess, building on one another's magic night after night. Reverence for tradition coupled with willingness to explore beyond the ordinary lands the Prowlers in a category difficult to define but explosively intriguing around every bend.

Juanjo L��pez

Born: August 30, 1975

Juanjo López is a Mexican guitarist, composer, and educator whose work blends spiritual depth with musical exploration. With over two decades of experience in performance and recording, he has collaborated with renowned artists such as Iraida Noriega, Armando Manzanero, Eddie Gómez, and Kenny Werner. His music draws from a rich tapestry of influences—Jazz, Rock, and Latin American folk traditions—resulting in a sound that is both intimate and expansive.

He holds a Master's degree in Jazz Performance from Northern Illinois University, where he studied under acclaimed guitarist Bobby Broom

Jim Holman

Jim Holman is a pianist/composer/educator rooted in Chicago who has performed with Eric Alexander, {{m: Paul Wertico = 13447}}, Ira Sullivan, Ari Brown, Claudio Roditi, Jimmy Chamberlin (drummer for the smashing Pumpkins), Frank Catalano, Roger Humphries, Cecil Bridgewater, Yotam Silberstein, Donald Harrison, John Moulder, Abe Laboriel, Dennis Carroll, Clark Sommers, Richie Cole and Dana Hall and many more.

Holman’s upcoming album features New York tenor legend, Eric Alexander, along with Clark Sommers, and Tim Davis. His discography also includes two albums on the Delmark lable: “Blues Skies” feat. Ira Sullivan and Roger Humphries, and “Explosion” feat. Richie Cole and Frank Catalano. His most recent release, “Faith,” features alto powerhouse Greg Ward II and Barrett Harmon, and showcases Holman’s compositional perspective.

Gustavo Corti?as: A Jazz Drummer's Call To Action

by Lawrence Peryer
July 19, 2025

Today, the Spotlight shines on drummer and composer Gustavo Corti?as.Gustavo's latest album, The Crisis Knows No Borders (Desaf��o Candente Records), tackles climate change head-on through music that's both urgent and beautiful. Working with guitarist Dave Miller, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and violinist Mark Feldman, he's created compositions that explore how global warming sparks conflicts, drives ...

Ethan Philion

Ethan Philion is an award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader based in Chicago. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and DePaul University,  Philion has been praised by the Washington Post for his "well honed chops and astounding musicality” and his debut album, Meditations on Mingus, was commended as “a labor of conspicuous love and respect for a musical titan” by Downbeat Magazine. He has performed with an extensive list of jazz artists including Rufus Reid, Greg Ward, Dana Hall, Mark Feldman, Russ Johnson, Howard Levy, Ryan Cohan, Tito Carillo, Gary Bartz, Alfonso Ponticelli, Ernest Dawkins, Geof Bradfield, Dee Alexander, Mark Gross, Alyssa Allgood, Thaddeus Tooks, Victor Garcia, Mike Allemana, Mai Sugimoto, Paul Marinaro, and more.

Philion’s album Meditations on Mingus was released in 2022 and has garnered praise from publications including the Chicago Tribune, JAZZIZ, Jazzwise, WDCB, and more

Chad McCullough: Transverse

by Dan McClenaghan
July 13, 2025

Chance encounters can be fortuitous and fruitful. Trumpeter Chad McCullough, on a visit to Macedonia to convene with family, found his way into a small cafe in Skopje, the capital of Independent North Macedonia, where he encountered a local trio: pianist Gordon Spasovski, bassist Kiril Tufekcievski and drummer Viktor Filipovski. McCullough had his horn with him. ...

Adam Shead

Born: January, 1993

Adam Shead is an accomplished percussionist, composer, improviser, and performance curator based in Chicago. He frequently performs with the Stein/Smith/Shead trio, microplastique, and Cellular Chaos, and is a sought-after percussionist in the Chicago jazz and improvised music scene. For nearly a decade, Shead has curated performances at notable Chicago art galleries such as Slate Arts & Performance and Comfort Station, where he helps promote both emerging and established artists, enriching the local cultural landscape.

Shead has collaborated with prominent figures such as Marilyn Crispell, Roscoe Mitchell, Jason Stein, Damon Smith, John Dikeman, Angel Bat Dawid, Mary Oliver, and Molly Jones, amongst others. He has released music through various record labels, including Amalgam, Ears & Eyes, Scripts, Balance Point Acoustics, Shifting Paradigm, and Irritable Mystic. Shead is the founder and composer of the Adiaphora Orchestra, microplastique, and Adam Shead Quintet and works regularly as a sideman in such groups as Ben Zucker’s Fifth Season, the Jake Wark Quartet, and Undisclosed Sims. From 2018 to 2020 Shead curated and hosted the impro jam, a bi-weekly multi-disciplinary free improvisation jam session, at Slate Arts and Performance - from 2021 to 2022 the impro jam took place at Cafe Mustache.

'Many Moons' The New Album By Trumpeter Markus Rutz

June 17, 2025

Markus Rutz & Third Coast Sounds announce Many Moons, the latest musical expression from the well��regarded trumpeter and composer. The new work is the ninth album from Rutz following the recent albums Storybook (2023) and Penumbra (2024) and features music in small group recorded with contemporaries from the Chicago scene. The ensemble sound is reminiscent of ...

Ryan Cohan

Born: June 6, 1971

Throughout his critically acclaimed recordings as a leader and as a collaborator with numerous leading jazz figures and world-class ensembles, Ryan Cohan has masterfully walked the line of writer and player, proving himself time and again to be a composer of rare vision as well as a highly versatile, powerfully expressive pianist

Recognized for his “ingenuity and virtuosity” (Chicago Tribune), Cohan’s expansive oeuvre ranges from solo piano pieces to works for symphony orchestra and scores for independent films. He has produced six albums of original compositions: Real World (Real World Music); Here and Now (Sirocco Jazz); One Sky (Motéma), named one of the year’s best recordings by the Chicago Tribune and a number of jazz publications; Another Look (Motéma), hailed as “a model for modern jazz piano albums” by ICON magazine; and The River (Motéma) which features Ryan’s sixty-minute suite inspired by his travels in Africa.