Category: HPJ Music Act

Smooth Jazz • 7:30pm CST Soulful, passionate, stirring…these are the words most often used to describe Kirk Whalum’s music. Forged from his Memphis, (TN) gospel roots and his 1980‘s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The 80’s were highlighted by Kirk’s stepping out of his… Continue reading 2025 HarborPark Jazz: Snap-On Main Stage Headliner – Kirk Whalum

Blues • 5:30pm CST Sheryl Youngblood is a rising star blues singer/songwriter/drummer from Chicago. Sheryl has been prominently featured in the most prestigious venues of the world capital of the blues, as well as the notable Chicago Blues Festival and many other venues and festivals in the US and Europe. Sheryl composed “Red Hot Women in Blues”… Continue reading 2025 HarborPark Jazz: Music Act – Sheryl Youngblood Band

Blues • 3:45pm CST Alexander’s musical journey began in Chicago in 2001, immersed in the blues culture. Raised in Florida, he found solace in music amid life’s challenges. Returning to Chicago at age 10, he reunited with his bluesman father Linsey Alexander, igniting his passion. Guided by his father, Nicholas honed his talent, performing at… Continue reading 2025 HarborPark Jazz: Music Act – Nicholas Alexander

House • 2pm CST The Minister of Sound kicks off the music 2 p.m. In the bustling world of house music, few names resonate as powerfully as Carroll. Born in Chicago in 1968, Carroll’s journey in music began in the harmonious corners of his church choir. As a teenager, his early admiration for rock band Kiss evolved… Continue reading 2025 HarborPark Jazz: Music Act – Ron Carroll

Headlining • 7:30PM CST Jonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who leads a life few can imagine. Born in South Africa under the shadow of apartheid and raised in poverty, Butler was the first non-white artist to be played on South African radio and appear on national television. Though his musical abilities would take… Continue reading 2024 HarborPark Jazz: Main Stage Headliner – Jonathan Butler

R&B + Steppers Set • 5PM CST Christopher’s Project has been entertaining fans for over 20 Years. The band is led by Christopher Pipkins; A 3-time winner of Showtime At the Apollo, recipient of The Black Excellence Award in Music, and current member of the Milwaukee Bucks Entertainment Team. Back by Popular Demand, Stepping Returns… Continue reading 2024 HarborPark Jazz: Music Act – Christopher’s Project

Blues • 3:15PM CST Demetria Taylor has been performing at BLUE CHICAGO since 2010. She is the seventh child of eight from the family of the late blues legend Eddie Taylor Sr. and is helping keep the legacy of her father alive. Eddie is best known as the rhythm guitarist in the band of Jimmy… Continue reading 2024 Harbor Park Jazz: Music Act – The Demetria Taylor Blues Band

Pop • 2PM CST Ben Woods is an aspiring artist from the Kenosha Area. A former 2019 Mahone CEO Scholarship recipient. Who currently holds a BFA in Theatre from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He released his first single in 2017 called “For You”. After receiving over 21,000 Spotify streams, he continued to release… Continue reading 2024 HarborPark Jazz: Music Act – Ben Woods & Friends

STARTS @ 3:30PM This year, the HarborPark Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Festival will host a Chicago Style Steppers Contest. This is a fun competition designed to entertain and expose the audience to the art and performance of Chicago Style Steppin’. The first-place winner will receive $250! The following information is offered for potential contestants: Contest… Continue reading 2023 HarborPark Jazz: Chicago Style Steppin’ w/ DJ Kel-C

SALSA • 2:00PM Landy Cabrera is one of the new, fresh young voices to explode on the tropical salsa scene in the last 10 years. Heavily influenced by salsa greats such as Cano Estremera and Chamaco Ramirez, Landy has adapted a style that blends both traditional salsa with a new age edge. Born in Makati,… Continue reading 2023 HarborPark Jazz: Music Act – Landy Cabrera