For Immediate Release                                                                                                                     January 6, 2026

Lucky Dragonfly (2026)

 

Airway Records is proud to announce its latest release “Lucky Dragonfly,” with Sam Burckhardt and Jeremy Kahn 

 

Sam Burckhardt, tenor saxophone and vocals, and Jeremy Kahn, piano, both veterans of the Chicago blues and jazz scene, had the opportunity to first play together at a fundraiser in 2024. The gig was such fun that they decided to do a recording. The result is “Lucky Dragonfly,” which features originals, as well as standards. The band for the CD includes Doug Angelaccio on alto saxophone, Jake Vinsel on bass, and Phil Gratteau on drums.

 

Jeremy Kahn is one of Chicago’s busiest pianists, dividing time between Jazz venues, recording and teaching studios, and pit orchestras. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, having studied with the legendary Jaki Byard. Jeremy then spent twelve years in New York City. Highlights there include ten years playing with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, and collaborating with Max Roach on his Obie Award-winning score for “Shepardsets” (three Sam Shepard plays that were staged at La Mama). Moving to Chicago in 1993, Jeremy was the house pianist at the Gold Star Sardine Bar, and he continues to perform at The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, and Andy’s (where he plays weekly with the Andy Brown Quartet). Jeremy is also the house pianist at Winter’s Jazz Club. A current faculty member at Northwestern University, he has also taught at DePaul, Elmhurst, and Columbia. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Sheila Jordan, the Chicago and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras, and countless others. Jeremy has also been a featured performer the Chicago and Hyde Park Jazz Festivals, and on the radio shows of Studs Terkel and Marian McPartland. Many thousands of performances in theater pit orchestras are also on Jeremy’s resume, including “Wicked”, “The Lion King” and “Spamalot.” “New York’s loss has been Chicago’s gain in the case of Jeremy Kahn, the splendid jazz pianist who moved back to his hometown.” Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune.

 

Sam Burckhardt, a native of Basel, Switzerland, moved to Chicago in 1982 to join the band of the Blues legend Sunnyland Slim. Through Sunnyland, Sam performed and recorded with many of Chicago’s Blues musicians, among them Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Johnson, Willie Smith, Bob Stroger, Zora Young, Big Time Sarah, Erwin Helfer, and he performed with former Duke Ellington band member Othella Dallas, Maria Muldaur, Dana Gillespie, Al Copley, Dado Moroni, and pianist Dan Nimmer of the Wynton Marsalis Band. In 1994, Sam was a founding member of the Mighty Blue Kings, one of the biggest bands of the neo-swing movement. Over 70,000 copies were sold of their debut CD “Meet Me In Uptown.” In 1996, Sam helped form a 10-piece jump-swing band, The Big Swing, touring with them until 1998. He formed his own group, the Sam Burckhardt Combo in 1999, and has been playing regularly since, in Chicago, nationally, and abroad with a line-up ranging from duo to nine-piece band. Sam has recorded fifteen CDs for his own Airway Records label, under his name or with artists such as Zora Young, Hubert Sumlin, Oscar Wilson., and Lucas Montagnier. He is the recipient the 2008 Swiss Blues Award, and the runner-up of the 2016 Swiss Jazz Award. “Burckhardt demonstrates impressive technique, musical imagination, arranging ability, and a relentless sense of swing on this top-notch outing.” Kevin Toelle wrote in the Illinois Entertainer.

 

FRI 2/27 and SAT 2/28, 2026 @ Andy’s, 11 E. Hubbard St. (Chicago, IL)

Sam Burckhardt, tenor sax and vocals

Jeremy Kahn, piano

Doug Angelaccio, alto sax

Jake Vinsel, bass

Phil Gratteau, drums

Friday and Saturday shows at 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM and 8:15 PM to 9:30 PM

$20, reservations required at https://andysjazzclub.com/ or call 312-642-6805

 

SAM BURCKHARDT & JEREMY KAHN ONLINE

samburckhardt.com // kahnman.com // bandcamp.com/luckydragonfly // airwayrecords.com

Contact:  Sam Burckhardt at rawsbb@mac.com