Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues with Special Guest Ernie Watts
Saturday, May. 16 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)
“An entirely original genre of music. Groundbreaking. Creative genius. Mind-blowing. Ear-expanding. Creator of musical masterpieces. A national treasure.” Those are just a few of the ways major media describe virtuoso musician, singer-songwriter and composer Corky Siegel, now celebrating 60 years of musical innovation.
Acorn Insiders Exclusive Presale:
Wednesday, November 26th @ 10am ET through Thursday, November 27th @ 10pm ET
Public On Sale:
Friday, November 28th at 10am ET
About the Artists:
Corky Siegel began his journey at 21, performing in the smoky blues clubs of Chicago’s South Side under the mentorship of the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon. His bold creativity soon drew the attention of Maestro Seiji Ozawa, along with major symphony orchestras around the world, who invited him to bring blues to classical music as guest soloist and also as innovative composer. His historic debut was in 1968 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, of which the Chicago Tribune wrote:
“Even the least conservative orchestra member might have shivered at the handwriting on the crumbling walls.”
His recordings on Deutsche Grammophon, of William Russo's "Three Pieces ..." and "Street Music" became international best-sellers. He continued in this revolutionary direction with invitations from more than 50 symphony orchestras around the world.
That success inspired Siegel’s next evolution—Chamber Blues, bringing blues, classical, and Indian tabla together with a string quartet. As Siegel jokes, “The orchestra couldn’t fit in the van.”
Blues Blast Magazine declared, “It’s safe to say that no one in the blues world has pushed the boundaries of the blues more in the modern era than Corky Siegel—and he hits it out of the park.”
As Steve Wine of the Associated Press wrote, “For more than half a century, Corky Siegel has brought new colors to the blues to bridge musical genres and cultural divides, making the world slightly smaller and kinder. Tell Tchaikovsky the news.”
Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues includes GRAMMY-nominated string players and tabla master Kalyan Pathak, praised by the Chicago Tribune for his “fleet-finger virtuosity.”
The evening’s featured guest is two-time GRAMMY winner Ernie Watts, hailed by All About Jazz as:
“One of the greatest living tenor saxophonists at the top of his game... a powerful, yet sensitive, technically Herculean, yet human, complex yet elegantly beautiful player, no, a marvel.”
Corky Siegels symphonic composition commissions since 1976 culminate with his 2025 release of “Symphonic Blues No. 6”-
"A masterpiece of stunning proportions." - Mike Greenblatt - GOLDMINE
Expect a night of musical fireworks—where the blues, classical, and jazz worlds collide in spectacular harmony of stunning proportions.
Please note Week of Show price increases by $5 per ticket.
RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.
All ticket purchases are non-refundable, non-exchangeable.
The Acorn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
