​Studio5 Presents Corky Siegel, John Moulder, Howard Levy and more

Evanston, Ill. — Legendary jazz greats and young, rising musical stars will all be part of Studio5’s line-up this fall.

“I am thrilled to be bringing so many great, iconic jazz performers back to the Studio5 stage,” said Steve Rashid, co-artistic director of Studio5. “But I am equally excited to present some new artists who have fresh sounds for our audiences and who are quickly becoming must-see acts in Chicago.”

At least four of the artists performing this fall are considered masters in their genres, including blues harmonica player Corky Siegel, guitarist-composer John Moulder, Grammy-winning harmonica player Howard Levy, and jazz singer Dee Alexander.

First up is guitarist/composer John Moulder, best known for his innovative, lyrical jazz compositions, is teaming up with Howard Levy, who was a founding member of Belá Fleck and the Flecktones and who continues to have a thriving solo career. On Sept. 27, Moulder and Levy will reimagine jazz standards in entirely new ways, using re-harmonization, different time signatures, and even new melodies based on chord progressions of existing pieces.

Then on Oct. 11, Dee Alexander, who has been voted “best singer” by Chicago Magazine, will bring her soulful musicality and joyous stage presence to the Studio5 stage. And on Oct. 18, crowd-favorite Corky Siegel will return to the Studio5 stage with violinist Randy Sabien, who has performed many times on “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Austin City Limits.”

But Studio5’s line-up is also full of exciting new performers who are all considered rising stars in the jazz world. These newer artists include Sara & Kenny, a husband-and-wife duo who perform a mixture of pop, jazz, classical and folk music (Sept. 20); jazz singer Devon Sandridge, performing a tribute to the 1950s jazz vocalist Johnny Hartman (Oct. 27); Thaddeus Tukes, a vibraphonist phenom who won best high school vibraphonist in the state and now fronts his own band (Nov. 1).

In addition, Studio5 is pleased to welcome back three other beloved performers: pianist Ben Lewis, who is best known for performing with the Lt. Dan Band (Nov. 22); jazz singer Sarah Marie Young performing the greatest hits from her last six albums (Nov. 8), and the Chicago-based Latin jazz group Raíces, who will be performing all of the songs from Cal Tjader’s iconic album, Soul Sauce, which was released exactly 60 years ago.

“As we head into election season, this may be a very tense time for all of us, so it’s important that we find ways to connect with one another and find joy, and gathering together to listen to live music is one of the best ways to do that,” Rashid said.

Tickets for all shows range from $25 to $45, depending on the date. For tickets, please visit https://studio5.dance/calendar.

STUDIO5 FALL EVENTS

Sept. 20 — Sara & Kenny
8 p.m.
In this concert, Wisconsin meets Italy as composer/guitarist Kenny Reichert and his Italian wife, composer/guitarist Sara d'Ippolito Reichert, perform a unique mixture of jazz, pop, classical, and folk music to form a stunningly inventive concoction. We hope you’ll enjoy this evening of intimate musical exploration with these two wonderful young artists. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $25 for general admission, $35 for cabaret seating

Sept. 27 — John Moulder’s RE:VISION with Special Guest Howard Levy
8 p.m.
Guitarist/composer John Moulder and Grammy-winning harmonica/piano player Howard Levy team up to reimagine well-known jazz standards in entirely new ways. They will be using re-harmonization, different time signatures, and even contrafacts, which are songs with newly composed melodies based on chord progressions of existing pieces. This promises to be a highly entertaining and compelling evening of music delivered by absolute masters at the top of their game. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for general admission, $45 for cabaret seating

Oct. 11 — Alexander/McLean Project
8 p.m.
Acclaimed jazz singer Dee Alexander and guitarist John McLean return to Studio5 for another evening of memorable music. Alexander’s soulful musicality and utterly joyous stage presence is captivating, and McLean’s arranging and playing is nothing short of masterful. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $30 for general admission, $40 for cabaret seating

Oct. 18 — Corky Siegel and Randal Sabien
8 p.m.
Renowned blues legend Corky Siegel is joined by the masterful multi-instrumentalist Randy Sabien for an evening of playful musicianship. Dubbed a “national treasure” by Downbeat Magazine, Siegel is a master of the piano and harmonica who has entertained fans for decades. Sabien — who plays violin, guitar, mandolin and piano in the genres of jazz, country, and rock — has performed many times on A Prairie Home Companion and Austin City Limits. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for general admission, $45 for cabaret seating

Oct. 25 — Devon Sandridge Quartet — Johnny Hartman Tribute
8 p.m.
Devon Sandridge a talented, young, modern singer with a rich baritone who clearly respects the fact that he stands on the musical shoulders of the great jazz vocalists who have come before him. For this inaugural performance at Studio5 he will be performing a tribute to 1950s-era balladeer Johnny Hartman. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $25 for general admission, $35 for cabaret seating

Nov. 1 — Thaddeus Tukes
8 p.m.
The Chicago Tribune says talented musician/composer Thaddeus Tukes "brings poetry to the vibraphone." A graduate of Whitney Young High School and Northwestern University, Tukes was named the ILMEA top high school vibraphonist in the state at 16. He currently performs as a bandleader and special guest with ensembles throughout the country. Come listen to this true rising star as he and his band give us hope for the future of this vibrant art form. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $25 for general admission, $35 for cabaret seating

Nov. 8 — Sarah Marie Young
8 p.m.
Jazz vocalist Sarah Marie Young presents songs of peace, love and understanding in this memorable concert. Young and her band will play choice songs from her past six albums and some of her favorite feel-good music. She will be joined by Kent Wehman on piano, Bryan Doherty on bass, and Neal Wehman on drums. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $25 for general admission, $35 for cabaret seating

Nov. 22 — Ben Lewis Trio
8 p.m.
Ben Lewis is a Chicago pianist who has had a career full of diverse musical experiences. As a founding member and Musical Director of the Lt. Dan Band with actor/bassist Gary Sinise, Lewis has toured the world performing for troops, veterans and their families. Lewis has also recorded and collaborated with many artists and is prominently featured on bassist Matt Ulery’s By a Little Light, named one of the top 50 albums of 2012 by NPR. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $25 for general admission, $35 for cabaret seating

Dec. 6 — Raíces
8 p.m.
Raíces is a Latin jazz group that was founded by Rubin Alvarez and is now led by vibraphonist Joe Sonnefeldt that harkens back to the great Latin jazz groups of the 1950s and 60s. For this evening, Raíces will be performing all the music from Cal Tjader’s iconic album, Soul Sauce, which was released exactly 60 years ago. Featuring Joe Sonnefeldt on vibes and percussion, Bobby Delgado on timbales and bongos, Jorge Leal on congas, Joe Rendon on percussion, Stuart Seale on piano, and Eric Wilman Ferrer Yard on electric bass. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for general admission, $45 for cabaret seating

Tickets are now on sale at http://studio5.dance/calendar.

Studio5
Where: 1934 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202
Info: http://studio5.dance/calendar

About Studio5
Studio5 is a performing arts venue that opened in Evanston in 2016, bringing professional dance, music, and spoken word events to a 128-seat theater. Founded and curated by Dance Center Evanston director Béa Rashid and Emmy-award winning composer and jazz musician Steve Rashid, Studio5 provides North Shore arts-goers with a venue that is both state-of-the-art and intimate, connecting audiences and artists. Studio5 boasts great sight lines; comfortable seats; excellent sound; ample, free parking; and a cash bar that opens a half an hour before each performance.