Jazz Thaw
March 8 @ 1:00 pm - March 9 @ 2:00 pm
2025 Jazz Thaw Schedule
Sip, sizzle, and swing during Jazz Thaw!
Shake off the cold weather blues by enjoying FREE live jazz music at establishments throughout the Downtown Oak Park district!
Presented by Downtown Oak Park in partnership with 90.9 WDCB “Chicago’s Home for Jazz!”
Saturday, March 8, 2025
1PM – 4PM
Q-BBQ
124 N Marion St
(708) 628-3421
www.q-bbq.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Tommy Bradford Trio
This trio plays interpretations of master composers like Davis and Parker along with modern music like Wonder and Clapton along with Funk.
Listen to Bradford play here.
“The band’s innovative genre-melding original compositions are also a continuing surprise and delight to fans of all backgrounds.”
Watch Bradford perform here.
Guitarist Scott Hesse is a well-respected figure in the Chicago jazz community. Known especially for his harmonic and rhythmic inventiveness, Scott is equally at home in straight-ahead or avant garde settings.
“Hesse’s music is all about dialogue and development within an expert ensemble; students of next-generation improvised musical art should benefit from the advanced ideas presented here.”
-James D. Armstrong, Jr., JazzNow Magazine
Watch Hesse perform here.
ENCORE! by Little Gem Café
187 N Marion St
(708) 613-5491
encorelittlegem.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
PARISIAN SWING Featuring Steve Kelly, Teri Foster + Friends
This group performs jazz manouche — a style of jazz music that originated in France and is inspired by the Romani jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Vigo Coffee
1100 Lake St Ste 100B
vigo-coffee.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
This solo guitarist has a melodic approach to jazz, which utilizes his finger-style technique and he encompasses a wide variety of styles across the jazz spectrum.
“In addition to his own music, his repertoire includes selections from the great composers: Thelonius Monk, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Jerome Kern, and others. Tony loves all kinds of music and finds inspiration from many sources.”
Watch Richards perform here.
3PM to 6PM
Nando’s PERi-PERi
1138 Lake St
(708) 434-6296
www.nandosperiperi.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
.Sushi House
1107 Lake St
(708) 660-8899
www.mysushihouse.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Entre Amigos
Entre Amigos is a creative collaboration featuring award-winning Chicago-based musicians Roy McGrath (sax), Gustavo Cortiñas (drums), Hana Fujisaki (piano), and Kitt Lyles (bass). Featuring original compositions by each member, Entre Amigos’ music masterfully blends the sounds of Jazz tradition and innovation through hard-hitting arrangements that cut-out the fluff and reveal each musician’s singular voice.
“The group draws on more than a decade of rich musical friendship to create honest and exciting sonic experiences.”
Watch them perform here.
Lou Malnati’s
1038 Lake St
(708) 358-0800
www.loumalnatis.com/oak-park
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Comedy Plex Comedy Club
1128 Lake St Lower Level
(708) 665-7539
https://www.comedyplex.com/
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Dudzienski plays music that is inspired during his youth by the jazz of the late 1950s and 1960s and has since then continued to be influenced by the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic language of that era.
Listen to his music here.
“Saxophonist and composer Gregory Dudzienski is Chicago’s most eloquent proponent of the mid-20th century jazz sound. His lean and elegant compositions, warm and soulful tone, and expressive playing mark his work that is rooted in tradition yet refreshingly modern. ”
Watch him perform here.
Tre Sorelle
1111 Lake St
(708) 445-9700
tresorelleoakpark.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Michele Thomas’s music is a bold synthesis of styles incorporating her gospel roots, her love of folk and neo-soul, and even a passion for rock. Though it siphons from a broad array of stylistic sources, it just feels like the spirit of jazz—an improvisatory music always shapeshifting, never stagnant.
“(She) has her own vocal sound, which is beautiful by the Grace of God.”
Watch her perform here.
5PM to 8PM
Q-BBQ
124 N Marion St
(708) 628-3421
www.q-bbq.com
Harry Tonchev Trio
Harry Tonchev’s high-energy trio focuses on improvisational music by exploring a mixture of originals and standards from the Great American Songbook.
“His conversational approach keeps audiences engaged and on their toes.”
Watch the trio play here.
Beer Shop
1026 North Blvd
(847) 946-4164
www.beershophq.com
Paul Abella Trio
This trio performs a fusion of pop melodies, Jazz harmonies, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and Funk rhythms, and jammy improvisations with punk ferocity.
The Paul Abella Trio was recently referred to as “earthy jazz funk.”
Watch the trio play here.
Katy’s Dumplings
1113 Lake St
(708) 383-9888
www.katysdumplings.com
Smoothie King
1016 Lake St.
(708) 972-1016
SmoothieKing.com
Karli Bunn Trio
7PM to 10PM
Guitarist Terry Bartolotta and tenor saxophonist Alex Beltran have been playing together for over fifteen years. They are influenced by players like Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Jim Hall, Grant Green, and many others. Terry and Alex play some of their favorite Tin Pan Alley songs, jazz standards, and a few originals of their own.
Watch them play here.
Nando’s PERi-PERi
1138 Lake St
(708) 434-6296
www.nandosperiperi.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Chicago-influenced stamp on the Latin Jazz classics of artists like Tjader, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, and others.
Watch them perform here.
Sushi House
1107 Lake St
(708) 660-8899
www.mysushihouse.com
*Seating is first, come first serve*
Rosenberg performs Jazz standards along with the latest generation of jazz music.
“One of Jazz, Bass, and Music world’s treasures! There is a great bass tone, great swing, and lovely fire in everything that Marlene does.”
Listen here.
Khyber Pass
1031 Lake St
(708) 445-9032
khyberpassrestaurant.com
*Seating is first, come first serve*
10PM to Midnight
Comedy Plex Comedy Club
1128 Lake St Lower Level
(708) 665-7539
https://www.comedyplex.com/
*Seating is first come, first serve*
The band focuses on all original material penned by Shawn, is his own unique voice. The results are a high energy mixture of bebop, rock, hip hop, classical and fusion.
Listen to the band play here.
“Reviews marvel at Maxwell’s willingness to invent various ensembles to surround his sumptuous alto playing, never settling into a consistent albeit comfortable motif. Yet the music he creates continually satisfies the appetite of jazz fans wanting something creative rather than conventional.” – Chicago Jazz.com
Watch the band play here.
Jazz Brunch
Sunday, March 9
11AM to 2PM
ENCORE! by Little Gem Café
187 N Marion St
(708) 613-5491
encorelittlegem.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Their performances capture the essence of gypsy jazz and beyond, offering the perfect blend of timeless melodies and innovative arrangements.
Listen to the band play here.
“Whether you’re a jazz aficionado or someone new to the genre, our tunes are engaging, easy to listen to, and will make you want to dance, swoon, or croon along with them!”
Little Gem Café
187 N Marion St
(708) 613-5491
encorelittlegem.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
He performs and improvises styles of Classical, Jazz, Latin, Funk, R&B, Motown, and Acoustic Rock to current top hits.
“This guy plays with texture, and not all the players can produce emotion in their music. He plays with technicality and feelings.”
Watch him perform here.
Lea French Cafe
106 N Marion St
(708) 613-5994
leafrenchcafe.com
*Seating is first come, first serve*
Erik Skov Duo
A jazz duo that leans into contemporary jazz compositions.
“Kov has established himself as an up-and-coming new jazz guitar voice in a city whit an abundantly rich jazz & blues heritage.”
Watch him play here.
