Chicago jazz artist Pat Leary is known for playing the piano, but he abandoned the instrument when growing up and focused on guitar. He only rediscovered his passion for playing the keys in his early twenties, after being deeply moved by jazz pianists like Bill Evans and Glenn Gould.

He first began lessons at age six but didn't dive into honing his keyboard chops until the age of 24, when he said he locked himself in his room for five years to study everyone from Bach to Ravel or Wynton Kelly to Bud Powell. After spending years of studying and practicing, Leary's own music has been blossoming.

The Pat Leary Trio is one of Leary's projects, who is joined by Alex Santilli (the drummer behind Late Nite Laundry, songwriter known as The Adventures of Anacleto, and has joined artists such as Thee Sacred Souls and KAINA on stage), as well as Jeff Wheaton. Tonight they’ll be joined by special guest Livia Gazzolo.

Every Wednesday at the Relax Attack Jazz Series, we present Chicago’s top jazz artists in a lively atmosphere, full of cocktail-shaking and spirited conversation.

6pm doors / 9pm show / no cover