About Jo Ann

Pianist, conductor, musical director, recording artist, composer and arranger Jo Ann Daugherty loves making all kinds of music. Some of her favorite recent appearances include: NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with SIX The Musical, a tour with the AfroBop Alliance Big Band’s Pan American Nutcracker, a role as featured onstage pianist with the Washington National Opera in Songbird at the Kennedy Center, and regularly sold out shows at Winter’s Jazz Club in Chicago. 

Her work in the jazz world has included performing at clubs and festivals throughout the US including the Chicago Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club and Smoke in NYC, Satchmo Fest in New Orleans, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, and Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba. As a solo artist, her jazz trio album Bring Joy earned a 4-star review from Downbeat Magazine  and was listed as one of their “Best Albums of 2017.” Her larger band, Better Together, performs regularly in Chicago, presenting shows of the music of Al Jarreau, Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, and so much more.

Her work as a music director and keyboardist has led to conducting and playing with touring Broadway productions (SIX, Jersey Boys, Motown the Musical and more); arranging, directing, and performing concert specials for PBS with Under the Streetlamp; playing productions with Lyric Opera of Chicago (Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story); music-supervising and playing on the orchestral soundtrack of the wildlife documentary To The Ends of the Earth; and music-directing and playing on tour with An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas. 

She has led or collaborated on clinics with a focus on jazz and making a life as a professional musician at institutions such as Northwestern University, Florida State, Capital University, Truman State, University of Kansas, and Purdue University Fort Wayne, as well as numerous high schools and colleges in the Chicago area, and in Havana, Cuba. Past adventures include performing with the USO of Illinois, teaching jazz piano at Chicago’s Roosevelt University, and jamming with amazing musicians in Madagascar. Based in Chicago, she loves to bring joy to people through music.

LOTS OF VIDEO TO CHECK OUT ON YOUTUBE!

Thanks for dropping by!

—Jo Ann

Recordings

I’ve also recorded with the Hardart Groop on the following releases (click the icons to listen and purchase):