Faculty Recital Series - An Evening of Jazz with Alyssa Allgood

Friday, September 18, 2026
7:30 p.m.
Madden Theatre
Pricing: $15

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The North Central College Jazz Faculty is excited to welcome back alumna Alyssa Allgood as the first guest artist of this season’s Jazz Faculty Concert Series. One of Chicago’s most celebrated jazz vocalists, songwriters, and educators, Allgood has established herself as a leading voice in contemporary jazz. A two-time DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star, she has performed at renowned venues and festivals including Birdland, Dizzy’s Club, the Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai. As a recording artist, she has released four full-length albums and continues to earn critical acclaim for her original compositions, expressive storytelling, and instrumental approach to improvisation. This special concert celebrates the connection between North Central College and its alumni, highlighting the lasting impact of our graduates on the jazz community. Joining Allgood will be members of the North Central College Jazz Faculty for an evening featuring original compositions, fresh arrangements of jazz standards, and inspired improvisation. We are proud to welcome Alyssa back to campus and celebrate her remarkable career while sharing the stage with one of our own.

Alyssa Allgood is a jazz vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, and 3X DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Star based in Chicago, praised for her “force, clarity and jazz integrity” (NYC Jazz Record). Drawing from both the vocal and instrumental jazz traditions, Allgood performs heartfelt originals and contemporary arrangements of standards with a voice that moves from tender to bold and “improvisational prowess” (DownBeat) that puts her at the center of the band’s conversation. The inaugural winner of the Ella Fitzgerald Competition, Allgood has commanded iconic stages including Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, Dizzy’s, Birdland, Mezzrow, the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase, and Blues Alley. She has recorded with internationally renowned musicians Geoffrey Keezer, John Patitucci, Kendrick Scott, and Greg Ward, and had compositions selected as finalists in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and International Songwriting Competition. Dedicated to mentorship, Allgood teaches jazz voice at Loyola University and offers private voice lessons online, empowering students to develop authentic expression and musical freedom. She has led masterclasses at the Jazz Education Network Conference, the University of North Texas, and the Illinois Music Educators Association. Her next album is scheduled to release in Spring 2027. Co-produced by 2X GRAMMY-winning artist Nicole Zuraitis and developed through the Chamber Music America Performance Plus Grant, the album represents Allgood’s most powerful work to date.