Jazz Orchestra

Lakeside Pride Jazz Orchestra (LPJO) is a roaring 20-piece big band, dazzling audiences with contemporary and classic jazz interpreted through the lens of the LGBTQ experience. The band engages and entertains, vividly illuminating music composed by people of color, women, and other marginalized voices. LPJO and its constellation of chamber ensembles perform regularly throughout Chicago at the Center on Halsted, Adler Planetarium, and in support of non-profit galas or large-scale events throughout the year.

All members and friends of the LGBTQ community are welcome to perform with us. Weekly rehearsals are held in the theater at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St, Chicago.

Recordings

The Jazz Orchestra’s most recent studio album, Feeling Good, is available to stream on this website and on a number of streaming services.

Lakeside Pride Jazz Orchestra recordings are available on these following music services:

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Jazz FAQs

Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles is Chicago’s premier family of performance groups for members and friends of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. The Lakeside Pride Jazz Orchestra was founded in 2000, embodying the vision of the original Chicago-based Great Lakes Freedom Marching Band, which formed in 1979 as one of the first LGBTQ bands of its kind.

Many of our members have had decades-long gaps in their performing history. We understand you’ll be rusty – there’s no shame in taking it down an octave, dropping out and letting the rest of your section cover for you, or doing whatever works for you. Your section will be friendly and helpful and do their best to get you back in the groove of things. A few years in, when you’ve got your chops back, we just ask you help other newbies remember how it all works, too.