A Cappella in Chicagoland: From March 29 to April 6, Chicago a cappella will perform “Jazz a Cappella,” at venues throughout the Chicago area. The ensemble of 10 singers, unaccompanied by instruments, will blend vocal standards with original works.
What to Hear: Chicago a cappella will perform jazz songs originally like “My Funny Valentine,” “Satin Doll” and “Embraceable You.” Others, such as “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Birdland,” began as instrumentals and had lyrics added later. The group will also premiere arrangements of “A Night in Tunisia,” “Giant Steps” and “I Have the Blues,” as well as a piece composed by Devon Gates, a winner of CAC’s HerVoice Emerging Women Composers Competition. To get an example of CAC’s work, sample their take on Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” below.
“Many of these songs are, quite simply, great works of art that leave us with a richer sense of what it means to be human, to be alive, and to participate in the immense and mysterious gift of music,” CAC artistic director John William Trotter said in a press release.
Where to Listen
The four concerts are as follows:
- March 29: Holtschneider Performance Center, DePaul University
- March 30: Nineteenth Century Club, Oak Park
- April 5: Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston (post-show Q&A with Gates)
- April 6: Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville (post-show Q&A with Gates)
A full concert replay will be available on-demand the week of April 21.
CAC closes out its season with Cabaret Night 2025 at the Fremont at iO Theater in Lincoln Park. Proceeds from the multi-genre concert will go to CAC’s artistic and educational programs, including HerVoice.
How to Get Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase on CAC’s website. General admission tickets are $38 and preferred seating tickets are $48. Additional ticket options include student tickets for $10, pay-what-you-can tickets and discounts on groups larger than 10.
