Dakota

Bob James
2026-09-02 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-03 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
“one of the biggest stars of smooth jazz” – Jazz Times

Grammy winner and Fourplay founder Bob James is a legend in the world of jazz. There, he is revered for his discography of more than fifty-eight albums. Moreover, he pioneered the sounds and style that came to be known as contemporary jazz. Thus, Bob’s shadow looms large over the music world of the last fifty-plus years.
Discovered by Quincy Jones in 1963, Bob briefly played piano for Sarah Vaughan, before becoming a solo artist in 1974. Then, many solo projects followed, as well as collaborations with such artists as Roberta Flack, David Sanborn, and Earl Klugh. Furthermore, smooth jazz supergroup Fourplay brought improvised music to the mainstream in exciting new ways. And he’s still going as strong as ever.
He also recorded Touchdown, which included his composition, “Angela,” the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi. Here, this remains possibly James’ best-known work. Additionally, Bob composed all the original music used in that television series for its entire run.
James is recognized as one of the progenitors of smooth jazz. However, his music has also had a profound effect on the history of hip hop having been sampled often. Two of James’ songs –“Nautilus” from 1974’s One and “Take Me to the Mardi Gras” from 1975’s Two – are among the most sampled in hip-hop history.
Recommended for fans of David Sanborn, Ramsey Lewis, Larry Carlton and Jeff Lorber.

Madeleine Peyroux
2026-09-09 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-10 19:00 - 21:00
“It’s rare to find someone capable of injecting such life into every single lyric.” – London Jazz News

Much like songbird Edith Piaf, Madeleine Peyroux spent her teenage years busking the busy streets of Paris. Just like the ‘little sparrow’, Madeleine befriended the city’s street musicians and made its Latin quarter her first stage. Years later, Peyroux would cite iconic Piaf as an influence on her music. There, her rendition of Piaf’s classic “La Vie En Rose”, soulfully captures the tune’s romanticism and melancholy.
Madeleine “grew up in a house filled with music” and from an early age “instinctively realized music’s soothing power”. Then, young Madeleine moved to Paris with her mother in 1987 following her parents’ divorce. “To soothe me during the upheaval”, she recalls, “I was given a guitar and took to playing in the streets almost immediately.”
The curious teenager started skipping school to frequent the city’s Latin Quarter. At sixteen, the fearless teen joined the Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band with whom she toured Europe. She discovered Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday while “voraciously picking up all the songs and all the guitar playing” she could.
Thirty years after her formative busking days Peyroux is the proud curator of nine beguiling albums. The soundtrack of Oscar-winner The Shape of Water features her atmospheric version of Serge Gainsbourg’s “La Javanaise”. Additionally, her countless accolades include the coveted BBC International Artist of the Year honor.
Madeleine might attribute her success to “mostly luck”. However, to the industry and loyal fans alike, it is the immense talent and utter dedication to her craft that shines through. “Peyroux is a tremendous talent and almost a total intuitive” reflects Larry Klein, “she has the capacity to get the magic. When she sings and plays her guitar, great things happen.”
Recommended for fans of Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Diana Krall and Stacey Kent.

Mac McAnally
2026-09-18 19:00 - 21:00
“a true storyteller” – Americana Highways

Record setting ten-time Country Music Association Musician of the Year, Mac McAnally is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee. Additionally, he is in the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame and Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The renowned songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist has written dozens of hit records for other artists, several of which peaked at Number One. He has written hits for Alabama, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, and Sawyer Brown, and has studio credits that include albums by Toby Keith, Linda Ronstadt, George Strait and Dolly Parton among many others.
McAnally notes that he typically sees three kinds of people at his shows. Those who have followed his career since his 1977 debut album. Those who recognize him as the guitarist in Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. And those who remember his notable credits in country music. The latter category is particularly impressive, with songs cut by Alabama (“Old Flame”), Kenny Chesney (“Back Where I Come From”), Sawyer Brown (“All These Years”), Shenandoah (“Two Dozen Roses”) and many others.
McAnally became a journeyman storyteller and musician. Also, he was an occasional, then full-time Coral Reefer, and duet partner on Nanci Griffith’s seminal “Gulf Coast Highway.” He can talk about recording the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans and Jimmy Buffett’s vocals in Key West. Then, he marvels about Kenny Chesney driving to Canada and back to see a girl listening to Mac’s Simple Life the entire way. He talks about, “ridiculous things. I’ve gotten to open shows for Willie Nelson, play with Ray Charles and talk music with Sir Paul McCartney. I don’t mean to name drop, but I love all those people and their music.”
Recommended for fans of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Alabama and Dolly Parton.

Shoshana Bean
2026-09-21 19:00 - 21:00
“a vocalist who could set a stage on fire with a single note.” – Broadway World

Shoshana Bean is a Grammy Award winner and three-time Tony Award nominee. She can currently be seen starring in The Lost Boys musical on Broadway. Prior to that she starred in Alicia Keys’ hit Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen. There, her portrayal of ‘Jersey’ earned her a Grammy Award, her second Tony Award nomination, a Drama League Award nomination, and a Drama Desk nomination. Furthermore, her performance in the Public Theater’s Hell’s Kitchen Off-Broadway production earned her a Lucille Lortel Award nomination.
In 2022, she received Tony and Grammy nominations as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination. Also, a Drama League Award Nomination for her role as Susan Young opposite Billy Crystal in Broadway’s Mr. Saturday Night. Additionally, she previously starred on Broadway as the first replacement for Elphaba in Wicked and as Jenna in Waitress.
Her six independent studio albums and EP’s have landed her on top of the iTunes and Billboard charts. Additionally, she haslent her voice to countless films and television shows. There, these include The Boys, Sing, Sing 2, Enchanted, Jersey Boys, Glee, and Galavant. Shoshana made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Hairspray, and appeared Off-Broadway in the 2000 revival of Godspell. Also, she performed in Songs for a New World at City Center Encores.
Regionally, she appeared in Sarah Silverman’s The Bedwetter, and won an IRNE Award for her performance in Funny Girl. Additionally, she earned a Jeff Award nomination for her portrayal of CeeCee Bloom in the pre-Broadway musical production of Beaches. She has appeared in Bloodline, Bill and Ted Face The Music, and Great Performances: 50 Years of Broadway’s Best. Recently, she filmed a solo concert special for PBS.
Recommended for fans of Toby Gad, Lawrence, Joy Woods and Andra Day.
