Articles by Sandra Kozintseva

In Pictures

Joscho Stephen Trio at Chicago Temple

by Sandra Kozintseva
June 20, 2026

What was scheduled as a single performance on June 9, 2026 at The Chicago Temple quickly became two shows on the same day after the first one sold out. By the time the evening performance began, there wasn't an empty seat in the house. Joined by guitarist Sven Jungbeck and bassist Volker Kamp, Joscho Stephan delivered a masterclass in gypsy jazz--virtuosic, joyful, and effortlessly musical. The trio's chemistry was remarkable, with dazzling solos, tight interplay, and an energy ...

In Pictures

Christian McBride and Ursa Major at Garcia's Chicago

by Sandra Kozintseva
June 19, 2026

Christian McBride and Ursa Major performed at Garcia's Chicago on June 6, 2026 delivering an engaging set to a packed Chicago audience. Joining McBride were Nicole Glover on saxophone, Ely Perlman on guitar, Mike King on piano, and Savannah Harris on drums. Much of the evening featured material from the group's upcoming debut album, Points of Light, expected to be released in August. One of the highlights of the night came when Ely Perlman stepped into the role of vocalist ...

In Pictures

Too Many Zooz at the Metro in Chicago

by Sandra Kozintseva
March 12, 2026

Too Many Zooz are on a tour and on March 6, 2026 they made a stop in Chicago. They might have started in New York's subway, but this time they were playing for a packed hall at Metro. Leo P definitely knows how to get the audience's attention--his energy was palpable in the whole space, from the pit to the balcony. What stood out just as much as the music was the audience. Unlike a typical jazz show, ...

In Pictures

Buddy Guy at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago

by Sandra Kozintseva
January 16, 2026

In January, as he has done for decades, Buddy Guy returned to Chicago for a residency at his Buddy Guy's Legends club. This year the 89 years old blues legend presents 16 shows to a packed audience. ...

In Pictures

Pink Martini at Auditorium Theatre in Chicago

by Sandra Kozintseva
December 25, 2025

On December 17, 2025 Pink Martini on its New Year Celebration Tour presented “Pink Martini All-Stars: A Season of Stars" holiday show at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. They performed seasonal songs, mixing classic Pink Martini compositions with new material. ...

In Pictures

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones at the Salt Shed in Chicago

by Sandra Kozintseva
December 16, 2025

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones stopped by the Salt Shed in Chicago on their “Jingle All the Way" reunion tour in December 2025. The band, with original members Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, and Roy Future Man" Wooten, was joined by Jeff Coffin, Sierra Hull, and the Alash Ensemble for this holiday show. They played tunes from across their catalog, including reinvented holiday classics from Jingle All the Way (Rounder Records, 2008). ...

In Pictures

Marcus Miller at The Promontory

by Sandra Kozintseva
November 27, 2025

A collection of photos from the Marcus Miller concert at The Promontory in Chicago on November 13, 2025 featuring Marcus Miller, Xavier Gordon, Anwar Marshall, Donald Hayes and Russell Gunn. ...

In Pictures

Samara Joy at Thalia Hall

by Sandra Kozintseva
November 26, 2025

Wednesday night might be the middle of the week, but on November 19, 2025, Thalia Hall in Chicago was sold out--Samara Joy was in town. The Grammy Award winner opened with a few tracks from her album, Portrait (Verve Records, 2024). The whole album was recorded in just three days, but, as Samara put it, the group has been performing these songs for 2.5 years, so they have had enough rehearsals. Out of 16 recorded songs, only eight ...