The First Mondays Jazz series features Chicago artists the first Monday of every month. This event takes place at the Green Line Performing Arts Center, and is free and open to the public. In addition to showcasing local artists, First Mondays Jazz includes light refreshments and the opportunity to mingle with community members.

2020 Scheduled First Monday Jazz Performances

• March 2, 2020: Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few
• April 6, 202: Victor Garcia Trio
• May 4, 2020: Tatsu Aoki
• June 1, 2020: Guru Tonic 
• July 6, 2020: LUA
• August 3, 2020: Rashada Dawan (Dinah Washington Tribute) 

2019-20 Year of Women in Jazz Initiative

A Year-Long Celebration Of Chicago’s Emerging & Legendary Women Jazz Artists

For the past six years, Arts + Public Life has hosted the monthly jazz performance called First Monday Jazz. To celebrate First Monday Jazz's five year milestone in 2019, Arts + Public Life, in partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago, dedicated an entire year of its First Monday Jazz programming to women artists and women-led musical projects and programs. Starting in March 2019 through Feburary 2020, audiences were treated to live, monthly jazz performances by emerging and veteran women jazz artists.

2019-2020 Year of Women in Jazz Performance Dates:

• March 4: Dee Alexander
• April 1: Tiaybe
• May 6: Kenya McGuire Johnson
• June 3: Gira Dahnee
• July 1: Son Monarcas
• August 5: Christian JaLon
• September 9: Sytarsis
• October 7: Jovia Armstrong
• November 4: Ugochi
• December 2: Sarah Marie Young
• January 6: Hanami
• February 3: Megan McNeal

2019 First Monday Jazz Performers:

• January 7: Second Nature Jazz Quintet
• February 4: Crosswind

2018 First Monday Jazz Performers:

• January 8: Sam Trump
• March 5: Gira Dahnee
• April 2: Greg Carmouche
• May 7: M + N
• June 4: Ernest Dawkins
• July 9: Participatory Music Coalition
• September 10: Angel Bat Dawid
• October 1: The DOT (Hammond organ trio)
• November 5: Jarrard Harris 
• December 3: Junius Paul Quartet

Past artists include:
Dee Alexander, Junius Paul and Scott Hesse; The Jazz Institute's Jazz Links Ensemble and a special performance by Rebirth; Ari Brown and Avreeayl Ra; Fred Jackson Group; Maggie Brown; Ernest Dawkins' We Free Trio; Xavier Breaker Coalition; Marquis Hill's Blacktet; Yaw Agyeman, Khari Lemuel, Anthony Capers, Justin Dillard, and Jerry Dunlap; Nicole Mitchell's Ice Crystals; Dana Hall's Polyglot; Marlene Rosenberg's Quartet; Sam Trump; avery r. young & de deacon board, Greg Duncan, Kenya McGuire Johnson, Sura, Bomba con Buya, Luciano Antonio, Marvin Tate, Sitarsys, Ugochi and The Afro Soul Ensemble, Jin J. X, and more.