Showtimes: 7:00 PM | Vandojam 8:30 | Tickets: $35 at the door | 8:30 PM Jam Session – no admission Reservations: Not necessary — we recommend arriving 20–30 minutes before showtime. Seating: Available throughout the shows. Bar Hours: Open from 5:00 PM to midnight — no cover charge to enjoy cocktails and the vibe! Greg Ward is a saxophonist and composer born in Peoria, Illinois, and long recognized as one of the most adventurous and versatile voices to emerge from the Chicago scene. Now based in Chicago, Ward has performed and recorded with a wide-ranging list of artists spanning jazz, experimental, and hip-hop worlds, including Prefuse 73, Lupe Fiasco, Tortoise, William Parker, Andrew D’Angelo, and Mike Reed. Ward studied Jazz Studies and Saxophone Performance at Northern Illinois University, where his early interest in composition was shaped through work with mentors such as Fareed Haque, Ron Carter, and Joey Sellers. During his college years he became deeply immersed in Chicago’s club circuit, where he formed a lasting connection with legendary saxophonist Fred Anderson, who selected Ward to host a jam session at the Velvet Lounge for four years. Since establishing himself professionally, Ward has built a career defined by boundary-pushing projects and commissions, including work for the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series, the Peoria Ballet, and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, with music premiered at the Chicago Jazz Festival. As a bandleader, he gained major recognition with South Side Story by Fitted Shards, named “Recording of the Year” by the Chicago Tribune, and later formed the trio Phonic Juggernaut. Ward continues to tour internationally, compose across genres, and remains a leading figure in contemporary creative music. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
