Live jazz revels at Shedd Aquarium! Join us for the popular midweek Jazzin’ at the Shedd series with unforgettable evenings of music, mingling and marine life.
Stroll through the aquarium to the soundtrack of jazz styles from around the world as you encounter animals from every corner of the map. Grab a drink, eat delicious food and spend time with friends exploring all the aquarium has to offer in the evening.
We are in the process of transforming our building as part of Shedd's Centennial Commitment. You may see construction fences, walls and trailers that indicate these changes are in progress.Relax and enjoy all entertainment and activities fully indoors: the North Terrace will be unavailable as we build new exhibits that will enhance your future visits and make events even more spectacular! We appreciate your patience and look forward to sharing these incredible updates with you!
The event includes all exhibits, touch experiences and entertainment. Some exhibits may close early due to animal care needs, and lights in certain habitats will be dimmed to create a natural nighttime environment for the animals. Wild Reef closes at 9 p.m. Oceanarium and Amazon Rising close at 10 p.m. Please refer to event signage for more information.
Please note, this year’s event festivities are fully indoors - the North Terrace will be unavailable as we build new exhibits that will enhance your future visits and make events even more spectacular!
Rio Bamba (May 27, July 1 & August 5)
The Rio Bamba sound is a unique blend of bossa nova, samba, American jazz and Latin jazz, played by world-class musicians. The group moves easily from classic and swinging jazz, vocal or instrumental to a Brazilian samba that brings everyone to the dance floor.
Soul Message Band (May 27 & July 15)
With a soulful and infectious style crafted around funky grooves, the Soul Message Band’s sound is rooted in the tradition of great Hammond B3 organists like Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland and Groove Holmes. The Soul Message Band consists of organist Chris Foreman, drummer Greg Rockingham, and guitarist Lee Rothenberg.
Detour JazFunk (June 3 & September 2)
Chicago-based Detour JazFunk’s roster boasts some of the nation’s premier musicians, including guitarist/vocalist Phil Seed, percussionist/vocalist Ben Johnson, bassist Kenery Kent Smith and keyboardist Tim Gant. From smooth jazz to funky old and new school R&B and neo-soul, Detour JazFunk delivers.
Lake Effect (June 3 & July 22)
Guitarist Bob Davis and keyboardist Neil Artwick have been playing together with their group, Lake Effect, for 20 years. Over the course of their careers, they have released two CDs, “Pandora” and “CD Baby.” Bob and Neil are joined by Larry Beers on drums, serving up R&B, Latin and soul.
The Ava Logan Quintet (June 10 & July 15)
Ava Logan is a veterinarian by day and a jazz singer by night! She has performed at clubs and festivals from Bel Air and Beverly Hills to Moscow, Minsk, Paris and Rome, along with local festivals in Chicagoland. Ava’s theater performances include “Ella Fitzgerald & Friends” and “Lena Horne & Friends” at the Skokie Theater, as well as portrayals of Ella and Nancy Wilson at Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theater. For relaxation and excitement, don’t miss this dynamic performer!
Tom Lowery Trio (June 10 & August 5)
The Tom Lowery Trio is based in Chicago, playing jazz classics and standards from the Great American Songbook. While rooted in jazz, the trio incorporates tastes of funk, Latin and rock into some of their tunes. The Tom Lowery Trio has traveled the Chicagoland area playing events, restaurants, stages and festivals including the Merchant Street Music Festival in Kankakee and a monthly residency with Sauce and Bread Kitchen in Chicago. The trio: Michael Crane on bass, Steve Kaiser on guitar and Tom Lowery on drums, have played a variety of music throughout the country and have come together to respect and share the music they love: jazz.
Aniba & The Sol Starz (June 17- HBCU/Divine 9 Jazzin’)
Aniba & The Sol Starz is a six-piece, authentic soul/R&B band out of Chicago, with the ability to authentically perform songs by soulful greats such as Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Earth, Wind & Fire, Patti LaBelle and Donny Hathaway, as well as contemporary artists like Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Adele and Rihanna.
ConQuestThe Band (June 17- HBCU/Divine 9 Jazzin’)
ConQuest The Band is a group of young, eclectic musicians bringing a unique blend to the music scene. Their goal is to grasp each crowd’s attention and win them over with their smooth rhythms, distinct harmonies and musical innovations. ConQuest’s music is a mixture of jazz, funk, classical, gospel and fusion thrown together to create a sound you will always remember.
DJ Lil Tiff (June 17- HBCU/Divine 9 Jazzin')
Tiffany "Lil Tiff" Moore, the self-proclaimed "HustlePreneur,” was born and raised on the southside of Chicago and is an HBCU alum of Clark Atlanta University. She’s the owner of three private event venues in Chicago and a party bus company. She’s an event emcee/DJ, vendor for Chicago Public Schools where she hosts a traveling School Tour, and a radio co-host and DJ for Raw Radio on Power92.3.
Lil Tiff has DJed and hosted on many stages and platforms in Chicago, across the country and internationally. She has also performed with several local and mainstream celebrities. Lil Tiff is dedicated to community service and uses her platform to sponsor special events to give back. She is also a member of Chicago Women in Trades and the founder of Hypnotiq Dance Team in Atlanta.
Michele Thomas Quartet (June 24 & July 22)
Jazz singer-songwriter, entrepreneur and educator Michele Thomas is a suave innovator. With silken grace she eases in her formative background in gospel and her love of R&B, soul and neo-soul into a musical language that shows a dedication and a passion for jazz, spanning its defining eras. Michele’s restless creativity reflects jazz’s improvisatory spirit — for jazz, like life, is a journey and not a destination.
Javier Red Quartet (June 24 & August 12)
Comprising Javier Red on piano, Dan Thatcher on bass and Tim Davis on drums, the trio presents a performance centered around their interpretation of Thelonious Monk's compositions. They skillfully meld Monk's distinct rhythmic nuances with their own improvisational styles.
Christopher Lucas Wilson Trio (July 1 & August 19)
Christopher Lucas Wilson is a hard-swingin’ jazz pianist, originally hailing from metropolitan Detroit. His musical journey brought him to Los Angeles for a decade before he eventually settled in Chicago, where he continues to perform, record and hone his craft. Influenced by the blues, hard swing, bebop and the rich lineage of jazz piano trios — Christopher’s music celebrates the uplifting nature of swing and the beauty of the jazz piano trio. His arrangements are thoughtful, his touch lyrical and his energy contagious!
Isaiah Spencer Quintet (July 8)
With his edgy style and innovative beats, jazz and blues drummer Isaiah Spencer has carved out a unique reputation in Chicago and beyond. Critics have called his sound propulsive, fiery, and incendiary. He has performed at the Chicago Blues Festival, the Englewood Blues Festival, Jazz Showcase, House of Blues, and Rosa’s, and shared the stage with greats including Fred Anderson, Pine Top Perkins, Eddie Clearwater, Buddy Guy, Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, Tom Harrell, Donald Harrison, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, James Moody, Cyrus Chestnut, Johnny O'Neil and Nicole Mitchell. He has toured with William Parker, Ernest Dawkins and Guy King, among others.
Joe Policastro Trio (July 8)
The Joe Policastro Trio was hailed by Downbeat for its “deft analysis of choice repertoire,” and by the Chicago Reader for its “diversity of approaches to all kinds of source material.” The group is a forward-thinking, Chicago-based jazz trio led by bassist Joe Policastro featuring guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Avery. While firmly rooted in jazz, the band’s open-minded, inclusive nature draws upon a wide array of musical styles and sources while keeping the aesthetic of an acoustic trio intact.
Herbsaint(July 29)
The Herbsaint Band is a traditional jazz quartet that features the music of New Orleans master musicians Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dodds and more. The group came together specifically during the development of the "Got You Some" New Orleans party series, created by Hunter Diamond and Chris Reed. For this project, musicians play the clarinet, drums and sing, with the aim of capturing the sonic spirit of the crescent city at the turn of the 20th century.
Bill Boris Trio (July 29)
The Bill Boris Trio performs an exciting blend of jazz, pop and original compositions with a vibrant contemporary sound. Bill has performed with David “Fat Head” Newman, Fred Wesley, Tony Monaco, Marco Pignataro and Arthur Prysock, and has recorded with Eric Alexander, Charles Earland and Irene Reid. Bill’s latest CD, “Bright Moments,” features original compositions. He has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Bill is associate chair of the music department at Columbia College, coordinator of guitar studies, and director of the Fusion Ensemble.
Yoko Noge & The Jazz Me Blues Band (August 12)
Yoko Noge, a transplant from Osaka, Japan, is an inventive band leader/singer/pianist. Yoko's band, the Jazz Me Blues, melds an incredible mix of Chicago blues, jazz, Japanese music and Yoko's compositions. The band, composed of Yoko and legendary Chicago musicians played every Monday at Chicago’s famed HotHouse for more than 15 years and also played at Andy’s Jazz Clubs and Green Mill. Yoko also performed at the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Asian American Jazz Festival and many special events in the United States, Japan, China and Europe.
Victor Garcia Quintet (August 19)
Examiner.com’s Neil Tesser calls him “one of the most exciting young musicians.” Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich says that he “stands out as an ebullient soloist offering a formidable technique and a radiantly polished tone.” JazzChicago.net’s Brad Walseth regards him as a “young lion trumpeter.” Victor Garcia is as versatile as he is creative. His trumpet talent heralds his international acclaim. He also sings, plays percussion and his songwriting, arrangements and charts have led him to perform with a lineup of greats: Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Wynton Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, La India, the Temptations and Paquito d’Rivera.
La Tosca (August 26)
La Tosca is a little orchestra — the kind you could find in a Parisian Café Chantant. It is a unique historical and geographical fusion of musicians with different musical backgrounds from Italy, France, Poland and America. La Tosca tells the stories of places, people, their imagination, expectations, dreams and disillusions through songs. These songs represent an irreplaceable testimony of great European music combined with the rhythms of the Americas. The band takes you on a journey through 100 years of Italian musical heritage and repertoire that saw the traditional music of Naples and Sicily meet the early American jazz in the roaring 20s. The timeless melodies of voice, accordion, violin, mandolin, bass and serenading guitars are reminiscent of passionate romance under candlelight.
Anthony Bruno Quartet (September 2)
Anthony Bruno has dedicated his life to music as a performer, educator and creator. Born into a musical family, playing music has been a hallmark of his existence. He believes creativity and connection is the essence of music performance. Anthony brings pop sensibilities to the concept of improvised music in both his composition and performance. Rooted in jazz but drawn to R&B, Anthony writes and plays unapologetically from the soul. His latest album, “Cefalù,” is a sonic story about places known and fantasized, reflecting on experiences both real and imagined. A thoughtful mix of indie rock, R&B and jazz, Bruno's latest record is an exploration of instrumental, improvised pop music.
Food will be available for purchase in Soundings Cafe and Bubble Net until at least 9:00 p.m. Outside food and beverage are not permitted. Last call is at 9:30 p.m.
Entrées Big Easy Gumbo with Andouille & Seafood Shrimp, Chicken and Andouille Sausage Jambalaya Vegan Jambalaya (Veg, GF) Classic Chicken Sandwich Spicy Wings
Plus a selection of freshly made sandwiches and salads
Small Bites & Snacks Bayou Crab Cake Bite with Cajun Aioli (5pcs) Charcuterie Parfait (V & Regular)
Specialty Cocktails Hurricane (Rum, Lime, Passion Fruit Juice) Blue Rhythm (Vodka, Blueberry, Lemon, Spirulina)
Outside food and drink are not allowed at evening Shedd events. Food and drink are available for purchase.
All of them!
For an exclusive experience attend Members Jazzin', 6-10 p.m. on May 27, 2026. This event is free to all members with special, members-only programming. Members receive discounted pricing on all other Jazzin' at the Shedd events every Wednesday evening through September 2.
Yes, groups of 15 or more should contact our Shedd Group Reservations Team at [email protected] or (312) 692-3333 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. CT) for assistance with planning your visit.
Please fill out our Performer Interest Form and a member of our team will contact you. Thank you!
We believe there should be no boundaries to your Shedd Aquarium experience. If you have an accommodation request related to a disability, please contact us at [email protected].
