The CheckOut

Saturday at the CheckOut, Rush presents Dance! From the lyrical charm of Nino Rota to the rhythmic spark of De Falla’s Spanish Dance and Iturralde’s Pequeña Czarda, this program is full of color, character, and momentum. Also featuring several works by Chicago composers including Seth Boustead's Three for Zhou B., Amos Gillespie's The Entertainment of Being, Soul Food, and Maloik, and a highlight of the evening is the second performance of Larry Axelrod's Thunder Dragon —written especially for Lakeshore Rush.

Rooted in Chicago and dedicated to championing the music of living composers and forgotten chamber music masterpieces, Lakeshore Rush brings curiosity, energy, and heart to everything they play.

Join them for a concert of groove-driven new music, bold contemporary textures, and some seriously good playing!

Friday at the CheckOut, join 113 Composers Collective and Fonema Consort . Shimmering between madness and meaning, Fürstliche Rubine explores the legacy of Pierrot Lunaire through the voices of three generations.

Join us Thursday night at the CheckOut for Jazz Stories. Jazz Stories is an intimate jazz night with some of Chicago’s most seasoned artists, blending soulful performances with stories from lives spent on the bandstand. Between tunes, musicians share memories of the gigs, mentors, and moments that shaped their careers, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the city’s rich jazz legacy.

Jeremy Kahn is a versatile pianist known for his sharp humor and expressive playing. Comfortable in a wide range of musical settings, he has performed with an impressive array of artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Joni Mitchell, Phil Woods, Terumasa Hino, Charlie Haden, Aretha Franklin, and Barbara Cook, bringing a playful, seasoned voice to every stage.

This evening is sponsored by WDCB Listener-Supported Jazz & Blues

Wednesday night at the CheckOut, Nova Linea Musica presents an evening of discovery and first listens, featuring the world premieres of three new works selected from the 2025 NLM Score Call.

Chosen through a blind review process, Midwest composers Graham Meyer, Joel Y. Hoo, and Jason Zhang have spent the season developing their pieces through mentorship and workshop sessions with Grammy-nominated composer Clarice Assad.

This concert marks the culmination of that process: the live unveiling of three distinctive musical voices at a pivotal moment in their creative evolution.
The works will be performed by the NLM Piano Trio—Rabia Brooke, violin; Nathanael Canfield, piano; and Daniel Dorsey, cello—artists known for their expressive clarity and commitment to new music.

Join us for a rare opportunity to experience three world premieres in the intimate setting of the CheckOut, where audience and performers share the excitement of music heard for the very first time.

This Sunday at the CheckOut, Luke Gullickson (piano) and Amanda DeBoer Bartlett (soprano) collaborate on a rare performance of Peter Garland's Songs of Exile and Wine (1999), along with other unique contemporary works for voice and piano.

Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, DMA, is a classical vocalist and singer-songwriter based in Chicago. She is a founding member of Quince Ensemble, a contemporary treble voice group, and Hasco Duo, an experimental improvisation and songwriting project. She is also a member of the award-winning Ensemble Dal Niente and regularly performs her original songs solo, with duo partner Jesse Langen, or with a full band.

Pianist/composer Luke Gullickson (b. 1985) bridges styles and genres as a versatile performer and collaborator. He is Company Manager and core performer with New Mexico’s Chatter ensemble, presenting 120+ concerts annually. A member of the Grant Wallace Band (“spidery original bluegrass” — New York Times), he has worked with Houston Grand Opera, Ensemble Dal Niente, and Chicago Composers Orchestra. Luke has recorded extensively as a singer-songwriter and bandleader, including 2014’s Open, called a “minimalist gem” by the Chicago Reader. He holds degrees in composition (University of Texas-Austin) and piano (University of New Mexico) and has received residencies at Banff, PLAYA, High Concept Labs, Brush Creek, Ucross, VCCA, and Joshua Tree National Park. He frequently performs with New Mexico Philharmonic, Opera Southwest, and Santa Fe Symphony.

Satureday night at the CheckOut, Luminous Duo, cellist Lewis David Rawlinson and pianist Mo Xu, will play a rousing concert of pieces composed by 20th-century q***r composers.

The program features a rarely-heard, imaginative piece by living composer John Corigliano, an energetic exploration contrasting piety and secular pleasures in Francis Poulenc's sonata, and the emotionally-charged melodies of Samuel Barber’s sonata, we hope that audiences will be informed, entertained, and inspired by this program celebrating these incredible contributions to music history by q***r artists.

Friday night at the CheckOut, join us for MAD SCIENCE!: a cabaret of transgender transgressions and experimentations with bodily autonomy. A communal celebration of joy and independence through performance and personal expression. Featuring a mixture of music, drag, and performance art, MAD SCIENCE! is a one-of-a-kind showcase not to be missed.

Broken Radiator will be donating 50% of all profits to Trans Up Front, an IL-based organization providing trans healthcare access, community support, and training/advocacy programs.

AS A REMINDER: Please remember to show our amazing performers some love & treat them with respect by bringing cash singles (especially for our drag performers)!

Thursday night at the CheckOut is Jazz Night. This week, Chicago-based saxophonist and composer Arman Sangalang has been garnering attention as one of the up-and-coming jazz musicians on the scene. Sangalang composes intricate originals, weaving together lyricism and colorful textures to deliver atmospheric soundscapes. Drawing inspiration from Chicago’s genre-bending creative music scene, his music ranges from contemplative to groove-oriented.

His current project, the Arman Sangalang Quartet, brings freewheeling and fiery improvisations to audiences. His debut record Quartet (2023, Calligram Records) was awarded Best First Release as Leader by RadioRadioX. Throughout his career, he’s had the honor of sharing the stage with notable jazz artists such as Jon Irabagon, Clark Sommers, Bruce Forman, Sylvia Cuenca, and countless others. His music has been performed at prestigious venues like the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, and Chicago Jazz Festival.

Tonight’s double bill organized by Aerophonic Records features two improvising trios who contribute to the ongoing dialogue of the Chicago improvised music scene in very different ways. For the first set, saxophonist Dave Rempis is joined by virtuoso violinist Mark Feldman and longtime collaborator Tim Daisy on drums. This trio released their debut album Sirocco on Aerophonic Records in 2023. For the second set, saxophonist Mai Sugimoto presents her working trio, featuring acclaimed Chicago musicians Joshua Abrams on bass, and Isaiah Spencer on drums.

May 17th at the CheckOut, join de Chats Noirs for an evening of expressive and dynamic chamber music, featuring works by Shostakovich, Morricone, Brahms, Wilder, Mozart, and Gershwin. This program showcases the trio’s signature blend of lyricism, virtuosity, and stylistic versatility, from classical masterpieces to jazz-inspired favorites.

Featuring:

Rachel Velvikis – horn
Mark Fry – bass trombone and euphonium
Christopher Powell – piano

Experience the artistry of horn, bass trombone/euphonium, and piano in a program that spans centuries and genres. Don’t miss this unique and captivating performance.