tune in to elastic arts!

Two trios (almost alike in instrumentation), bringing unique sensibilities at the edges of jazz: loose compositions and tight improvisations by Fred Jackson Paul Giallorenzo and Bill Harris, and the Indo-Jazz fusion of the Amarkalam Project.

An evening of serious play at the Improvised Music Series: vocalists Gabrielle Lochard and Julian Otis present an in-progress experimental opera project synthesizing improvisation, jazz, folk, children's songs, and spirituals; Adam Shead’s microplastique celebrates the release of its second album “Many Roads,” turning multi-instrumentalism and everything including the kitchen sink into introspective presence and a whimsical embrace of the avant-garde.

Join us for a night of decibels and thrashing(trashing) to kick off our Pleiades Series curation in 2026 with Shrift and Trash.com!

Shrift unites the bass guitar of toxic nerd Jill Lloyd Flanagan, the vocals of local funnyman Carly Wicks, smooth sax by the large-mitted Sonia Monet and the solidly punishing beats of museum replicator Janice Lim.

Trash.com is Hedra Rowan, Alex Maerbach and Linda Sherman. Self proclaimed ‘Jock Jams for Ham Hocks’

Come for a wild time! There will be no open jam this evening, but do come out for our annual Jan Jam on January 12th!

We’re excited to host an evening with two of Chicago’s finest songwriters with their respective ensembles, Lindsay Anderson and Angela James!

We’re happy to once again welcome Norman Long back to the CLEAT system to celebrate his new album Scenes of Contestation...And the Expanded out now on Amalgam. Joining the evening will be another CLEAT alum, Regina Martinez performing solo.

Solo set featuring saxophone and electronics by the extraordinary Sarah Clausen followed by Naydja Bruton and the drummer-led ensemble The Rhythm Ninjas

For the last 24 years, Trio WAZ has performed together, making it one of the longest standing experimental music trios in Chicago.  Trio WAZ is an eclectic experimental group made up of the time honored members:  Edward Wilkerson Jr. - one of the great saxophone and clarinet players on the Chicago scene, Tatsu Aoki - a prolific artist, composer, musician, educator, and consummate bassist and Shamisen Lute player, and Michael Zerang - a percussionist focusing extensively on improvised music, free jazz, contemporary composition, puppet theater, experimental theater, and international musical forms.  Each brings their own unique arsenal of musical savvy mixing it up with their distinct dispositions to interplay and an incomparable synthesis of musical actuality.  Come listen and burn off the extra carbs from celebrating National Fettuccine Alfredo Day, remember to bring your own leftover Chardonnay!"

Please join us for our first AfriClassical Futures event of 2026 with Caitlin Edwards and John Bitoy presenting Modern Roots! This program offers a vibrant exploration of contemporary classical music, centering the voices of Black composers such as Julius Eastman, David Baker, Nathalie Joachim, James Lee III, and additional composers.

The one and only Jason Roebke celebrates the recent release of his tape, "lights are low", with a performance for double bass and a variety of cassette players.

Shake Shook Shaken is a dream of what a safe space could allow. A vision of a place for everybody to gather, look at each other, play and create in a non judgmental, trauma-informed way. It’s an invitation, a journey within and out, a surprise. Each workshop is unique. This month we’ll have David Seeber and Julie leading on the topic of PLAY.