​Studio5 Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Season of Stellar Jazz

Evanston, Ill. — It’s been 10 years since Studio5 first opened its doors in a shopping center in West Evanston, and in that decade, Studio5 has become known as one of the best places to see live music on the North Shore, especially if you are a fan of high-quality jazz.

“I have always loved jazz of all different types, and I strive to bring in musical guests who are either already well-known in the jazz world or up-and-comers that should be,” said Steve Rashid, artistic director of Studio5 and host of WDCB’s ‘Chicago Jazz Live.’ “And audiences have come to know that no matter who they see at Studio5, they will experience a great performance with studio-quality sound.”

Located in Evanston’s west side business district, Studio5’s location may be unassuming, but inside, audiences are treated to an intimate experience with tiered theater seating, cabaret seating, alcoholic drinks and more. Emmy Award-winning author, critic, and filmmaker Howard Reich commented, “Stepping into Studio5 is like casually walking into a friend’s living room, then somehow encountering world-class performances there.”

This spring, Rashid is back with another stellar line-up of jazz musicians. Several groups, such as The Chicago Jazz Orchestra Septet (March 27) and Petra van Nuis/Dennis Luxion Quintet (April 24), will be honoring the jazz greats of the past, such as Freddie Green, who was Count Basie’s guitarist, and Chet Baker, one of the most legendary jazz trumpeters of the 1950s. Other groups will be performing music that is original, such as New Nostalgia (April 17), a high-energy, horn-based fusion band, which will be playing music from their latest album; and the female trio The Oh Yeahs (May 8), who mix gorgeous harmonies with a great rhythm section; and guitarists Donovan Mixon and Dave Onderdonk (May 15).

But one of the most anticipated shows of the spring is actually Rashid’s own performance on May 1 and 2, where he will be releasing his latest EP. In addition to live music from a stellar ensemble, this multimedia concert will also incorporate stories, film, and dance. And the evening will be an entire family affair as well. Rashid’s son, Los Angeles-based actor/director Daniel Rashid, created films to accompany the music; his wife, Bea, choreographed the dance; and his other son, Robert, will be playing drums in the show.

“One of the great joys of my life continues to be creating art with members of my family. I’m excited to share their work as well as my own,” Rashid said. “I co-produced this album with my friend, Paul von Mertens, Brian Wilson’s former music director, who will also perform in the concert. I’m very proud of the EP and I think the multi-disciplinary element of this show will deepen the experience for the audience.”

If you can’t attend any show in person, Studio5 offers a streaming option for their music events. The shows are broadcast in high resolution audio and video using multiple cameras, and viewers can watch the show live online or for up to seven days following the event. Tickets for all streaming shows are $12, and the links to purchase streaming tickets are usually available a few days before each show.

Tickets for all shows in-person range from $35 to $50, depending on the date and include all taxes and fees. For tickets, please visit https://studio5.dance/calendar.

STUDIO5 SPRING EVENTS

Feb. 20 — Silent Movies with Larry Schanker
7:30 p.m.
Watch classic silent films by Buster Keaton on screen while you hear a live piano score improvised by Chicago theater music legend Larry Schanker. Schanker uses his encyclopedic knowledge of music to spin melodies that perfectly fit the action on the screen to create an experience that is as breathtaking as it is entertaining.
Tickets: $30 for theater seating, $40 for cabaret seating

Feb. 27 — Soul Message Band
7:30 p.m.
Chris Foreman is a true giant of the B-3 organ, and his powerful group delivers a performance that is absolutely electrifying. Blind at birth, Foreman started playing piano at age five, and as teenager he began to pursue playing jazz on the organ. He has arrived at a most exciting blend of blues-gospel and jazz and has developed a stunning command and range on the instrument. This concert will celebrate his 43-year friendship and musical collaboration with Greg Rockingham, his drummer, and will also feature saxophonist Greg Jung. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for theater seating, $45 for cabaret seating

March 6 — Joel Paterson
7:30 p.m.
Internationally renowned Chicago guitar ace Joel Paterson and his A-team bring blues, classic jazz, Chet Atkins, and much more! Paterson has been a mainstay of the Chicago roots music scene for years, and his Quartet plays weekly at the iconic Green Mill Cocktail Lounge. Joel is known worldwide for his instrumental recordings reminiscent of Les Paul. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for theater seating, $45 for cabaret seating

March 27 — CJO Septet: Freddie Green Tribute
7:30 p.m.
The Chicago Jazz Orchestra Septet celebrates Freddie Green’s 115th birthday — who was Count Basie’s legendary guitarist for decades — with Green’s recently discovered original charts. This exciting evening will feature Eric Schneider on saxophone, Art Davis on trumpet, Michael Petterson on guitar, Reggie Thomas on piano and guest vocalist Alyssa Allgood. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $40 for theater seating, $55 for cabaret seating

April 10 – Bobby Lewis Quintet
7:30 p.m.
Curtis Mayfield, Natalie Cole, Ramsey Lewis, Jerry Butler, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight — those are just some of the people that jazz trumpeter Bobby Lewis has performed with in his career. Lewis has done more than 7,500 recording sessions and recorded over a dozen of his own CDs, which means musically, he has seen, played, and heard it all. Join us as we celebrate Lewis’ 90th birthday with an evening of outstanding music and fascinating stories from Lewis’s legendary career. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for theater seating, $45 for cabaret seating

April 17 — New Nostalgia
7:30 p.m.
Extraordinary, high-octane horn-based fusion band returns to Studio5 to perform selections from their powerful new album, the eponymously titled, “New Nostalgia,” which just came out in December. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $40 for theater seating, $55 for cabaret seating

April 24 — Petra van Nuis/Dennis Luxion Quintet
7:30 p.m.
Legendary trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker was revered for being a centerpiece of the cool jazz sounds in the 1950s. In this show, entitled “Remembering Chet — Songs & Stories of Chet Baker,” well-known Chicago vocalist Petra van Nuis will team up with Baker’s former pianist Dennis Luxion to share personal stories and perform Baker’s iconic music. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for theater seating, $45 for cabaret seating

May 1 and May 2 —Steve Rashid
7:30 p.m.
Studio5’s Artistic Director presents new music in a multimedia EP release concert incorporating stories, film and dance with a stellar ensemble. The evening will be an entire family affair. Rashid’s son, Los Angeles-based actor/director Daniel Rashid, created films for the event; his wife, Bea, choreographed movement set on professional dancers; and his other son, Robert Rashid, will be playing drums in the show. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $40 for theater seating, $55 for cabaret seating

May 8 — The Oh Yeahs
7:30 p.m.
The acoustic female trio The Oh Yeahs, made up of Leslie Beukelman, Allison Orobia, and Sarah Marie Young, is known sensitive songwriting and ability to perform across multiple genres in sublime harmony. The Oh Yeahs will perform with a great rhythm section, featuring Jim Tashjian and Matt Gold on guitar, Bryan Doherty on bass and Michael Caskey on drums. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $35 for theater seating, $45 for cabaret seating

May 15 — A String Thing
7:30 p.m.
Donovan Mixon, a guitarist who was the 2025 recipient of Evanston’s “Mayor’s Award for the Arts,” teams up with fellow guitarist Dave Onderdonk in a modern musical adventure with their quartet. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $30 for theater seating, $40 for cabaret seating

May 22 — Metropolitan Jazz Octet
7:30 p.m.
Now led by Jim Gailloreto, the Metropolitan Jazz Octet is a musical love letter to Tom Hilliard, founder of the original group in the 1950s. Their new CD, “Jazz Unearthed,” presents Hilliard’s unreleased music that was the beginning of the MJO’s vision and mission. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $40 for theater seating, $55 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 half an hour before each performance.