Quick, what to Hey Nonny’s Women’s Jazz Festival and SIX, the smash hit musical, have in common? They both feature jazz pianist and music director, JoAnn Daugherty, in their shows.
Alyssa Allgood was named a “Rising Star Female Vocalist” in the 2024 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll.
Daugherty played keyboard and conducted the pit orchestra for the touring production of SIX, as well as for Jersey Boys and Motown the Musical, among her many credentials. But jazz is her passion, both as a teaching professional and performer, and she will bring her immense talent to the Women’s Jazz Festival on Thursday.
This is the third year that Hey Nonny is hosting its unique Women’s Jazz Festival, as they remain committed to promoting women in the arts — and live music in the Northwest suburbs. The festival opens today with a 4 p.m. happy hour show featuring Alyssa Allgood, followed by an evening show with Chicago artists, Katie Ernst and Carli Bunn.
The festival runs each day through Saturday, beginning with a $10 happy hour show at 4 p.m., followed by an evening show with two acts each night at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s the biggest women’s jazz event in the country,” says co-owner Chip Brooks. “I guarantee there’s no other festival or venue that’s doing a five-day festival with 15 different performers.”
Julia Danielle was a 2022 International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition winner.
Daugherty is just one of those performers bringing extensive performing credits to the stage. Thursday night opens with a happy hour show led by the Jeannie Tanner Quartet. Tanner is well known for her singing, trumpet playing and her compositions for TV and movies. Daugherty comes on at 7:30 p.m. with Sarah Marie Young, one of Chicago’s most talented young stars. The second act in the evening show will feature Anisha Rush and her saxophone, leading her band, the Encounter.
Rounding out the rest of the festival, will be Margaret Murphy Brown and her band in Wednesday’s happy hour show, while the evening show will feature longtime Chicago great Judy Roberts. She’ll be joined in the evening performance by headliner and international star singer Bobbi Wilsyn.
Friday’s happy hour show will feature Elaine Dame and her band, with selections from her upcoming new album. The evening show will showcase two great bands, which Hey Nonny is calling the Battle of the Moniques. One band led by Typhanie Monique, while the other band is Alysha Monique and the Family Divine.
Tammy McCann was named the Chicago Tribune’s 2020 person of the Year in Jazz.
“Of course the Battle of the Moniques’ thing is just some fun schtick,” Brooks says, “but the truth is, these are two of my favorite singers of all time. It’s gonna be great.”
Young Chicago singer Julia Danielle closes out the festival in the happy hour show on Saturday, before the evening show and its headlining two bands, one led by bassist Marion Mallard and the other Chicago’s great jazz diva, Tammy McCann.
“The performers lined up for the 2025 Festival represent an amazing array of styles under the big jazz’ tent,” Brooks says. “The performers are not exclusively women; but all the ensembles are led by women. It is their show.”
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