Jazz@Guarneri Hall Winter 2026

The second annual Jazz@Guarneri Hall features the multi-talented pianist-vocalist and composer Michael Mayo for a pair of solo shows on back-to-back evenings. Whether performing with his band, as a guest, or alone with a looper pedal and a piano, Michael Mayo’s commanding and otherworldly vocalese has been gathering critical and commercial acclaim around the globe.

An LA native, Mayo attended the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance (now the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz), only the third vocalist to be accepted into the 20-year-old program, where he learned from the likes of Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. His second full-length album, Fly, was described by The Guardian as “a bravura fusion of original work and jazz standards.” JAZZIZ recently praised his “lush, neo-soul sound that adroitly showcases his clear tenor.” As a guest, Mayo has recorded and performed with Herbie Hancock, Terri Lynne Carrington, Jacob Collier, Scary Pockets, Lenny Kravitz, Josh Groban, Ben Wendel and The War and Treaty. Performing internationally, he’s also led his own band to perform at some of the world’s most revered jazz clubs and festivals. Jazz@GH will be his Chicago headline debut.