The premier of new music from the Surge’s upcoming 8th album as well as a few “classics” in celebration of its 30th Anniversary. Put these 2026 dates in your calendar now. Links to ticket sites will be included once they go on sale.

• Thursday, Sept. 24th – Reilly Arts Center, Ocala FL
  
  With special guests: Randy Brecker & Kate McGarry


• Friday, Sept. 25th – New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa, FL
  
  With special guests: Randy Brecker & Kate McGarry


• Saturday, Sept. 26th – New Tampa Performing Arts Center
  
  With special guests: Terri Lyne Carrington, Gregoire Maret, & Kate McGarry


• Sunday, Sept. 27th – Pilars Loft, Winter Garden, FL (matinee & evening)
  
  With special guests: Terri Lyne Carrington, Gregoire Maret, & Kate McGarry

Almost 50 years exactly after the 1:00 Lab Band recorded “Phonk a Trois” on their GRAMMY-nominated album “Lab ‘76”, Chuck will be returning to his alma mater for a short residency culminating in a concert of his music. The concert is slated for April 20, 2026 and will likely include selections from his Jazz Surge as well as projects with the WDR Big Band.

Slated for a Nov. 21 release on Origin Records the Chicago vocalist’s double album not only includes Chuck’s unique take on “Solitude” but charts from other noted arrangers such as John Clayton, Alan Broadbent, and Bill Cunliffe to name just a few.

Chuck’s near 10-year tenure as ISJAC’s founding President and then as Immediate Past President formally came to an end due to term limits. However, he continues to serve on the Board and play an active which recently included producing the organization’s first “Honor’s Celebration” at Dizzy’s Club in New York. The sold-out event honored ISJAC’s 2025 Hall of Fame inductees (John Coltrane, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Pat Metheny, Oliver Nelson, & Maria Schneider) as well as premiering two new ISJAC commissioned works by Vanessa Perica & Geoff Keezer. An all-star big band led by John Beasley performed.

Spring of 2025 saw Chuck traveling to offer several lectures and university residencies

• JEN, Atlanta – Chuck & Sara Caswell offered a session entitled “Creative Usage and Writing for the Violin in Jazz Ensembles”


• USF, Tampa – Returning for his first concert with the USF Jazz Ensemble since his retirement, Chuck was, once again, joined by Sara Caswell in clinics and a concert of his music.


• Utah State University, Logan, UT – Offering several clinics and rehearsing with the USU jazz ensemble, Chuck was joined this time by Corey Christiansen in a performance of music from the Jazz Surge.


• Brevard Summer Jazz Institute, Brevard NC – Dropping into this prestigious and impressive summer camp run by Michael Dease, Chuck offered two days of jazz composition lectures/workshops.

Chuck’s septet, ReSurgence, continued its “Magic Light” tour this fall with over a dozen enthusiastically received performances and clinics at noted jazz clubs and universities in 9 cities across 5 States. Venues included DC’s venerable “Blues Alley” and Cincinnati’s “Café Vivace” while the band dodged Hurricane Helene as it carved its way through western No. Carolina. University appearances included:

• Univ. of So. Carolina


• Furman


• UNC School of the Arts


• Radford Univ.


• Univ. of Louisville

02.10.24

Anchoring the University of No. Carolina / Wilmington’s annual jazz fest, March 22 & 23, the band will also sneak in a performance at the Sharp-Nine Jazz Club in Durham, NC on the 24th.