# Event Details - **Event Name**: OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 02 Aug, 2026 at 03:00 pm – Sun, 02 Aug, 2026 at 05:00 pm - **Event Description**: In a powerhouse Chicago trio, Christopher Dammann joins Avreeayl Ra and Edward Wilkerson for a set of improvised music.About this EventChristopher Dammann (bass) joins Avreeayl Ra (drums) and Edward Wilkerson (reeds) for a set of improvised music.This performance and interview are presented in the ESS garden, and will premiere online on ESS's YouTube.The OPTION series is curated by Andrew Clinkman, Lily Finnegan, and Dorothy Carlos.Event DetailsSunday, August 2Music at 3pmExperimental Sound Studio Garden5925 N. Ravenswood Ave., ChicagoAbout Christopher DammannChristopher Dammann is a composer/bassist who lives in Chicago. He considers himself indebted to the generosity and knowledge of those he collaborates, studies, and performs with, including Jim Baker, Avreeayl Ra, Steve Hunt, Vincent Davis, Brian Sandstrom, Edward Wilkerson Jr, Jon Irabagon, Mabel Kwan, James Davis, and Brian Gephart. Recent work includes the debut recording of his current sextet (Scott Clark, Jon Irabagon, Edward Wilkerson, Mabel Kwan, James Davis) and an upcoming quintet release expected July 2026 of a new quintet (Jim Baker, Mike Reed, Jon Irabagon, James Davis) on the Shifting Paradigm label. Christopher is a 2025 Illinois Arts Council Creative Catalyst Grant recipient and a 2025 3Arts Make a Wave Awardee.In addition to his work as a performer, Christopher is also proud to be a teaching artist with The People’s Music School of Chicago, Chicago’s largest tuition free music school.About Avreeayl RaDrummer/percussionist Avreeayl Ra grew up in Chicago in a house full of music: his father, Arthur “Swinglee” O’Neil, was a tenor saxophonist who mentored many young Chicago musicians, including John Gilmore. He studied drums with Kelan Philip Cohran, one of the cofounders of the AACM, and has since remained a member of that organization. Ra has performed and/or recorded with Fred Anderson, Amiri Baraka, Fontella Bass, Lester Bowie, Ari Brown, Oscar Brown, Jr., Charles Gayle, Henry Grimes, Billy Harper, Joseph Jarman, Edward “Kidd” Jordan, Nicole Mitchell, Sun Ra, Malachi Thompson, and many others.According to the Chicago Tribune he is “an indispensable Chicago innovator, Avreeayl Ra shapes the music-making swirling around him with remarkable precision and poise… extraordinarily sensitive percussion.”About Edward Wilkerson, Jr.Edward Wilkerson, Jr. is an internationally recognized composer, arranger, saxophonist, clarinetist, and educator based in Chicago, where he has been closely associated with the AACM, serving at one time as its president. He first came to prominence as a member of Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, participating in a number of recordings by the group. As founder and director of the cutting-edge octet 8 Bold Souls, and the 25-member Shadow Vignettes ensemble, Wilkerson has toured festivals and concert halls throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and the Middle East.About OPTIONOPTION is an ongoing music salon curated by Chicago musicians Andrew Clinkman, Lily Finnegan, and Dorothy Carlos and presented by Experimental Sound Studio. Its programming explores contemporary perspectives on improvisation and composition in a 'salon' format, enabling local, national, and international artists to publicly discuss their practice and ideas as well as perform. Click here for past OPTION performances. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/chicago/option-christopher-dammann-avreeayl-ra-edward-wilkerson/100001989442842095 - **Event Categories**: music, entertainment, art, festivals, concerts, performances, nonprofit, it - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 2 hours - Location: Experimental Sound Studio - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Chicago - **state**: IL - **country**: United States - **location**: Experimental Sound Studio - **lat**: 41.989151 - **long**: -87.6745105 - **full address**: Experimental Sound Studio, 5925 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/a0d607a508fc9e0dd083c3adfcd018689e49a9a040c464a99abf71bc069f3987-rimg-w1200-h600-dce13975-gmir.jpg?v=1778959823 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson being held? - **A:** OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson takes place on Sun, 02 Aug, 2026 at 03:00 pm to Sun, 02 Aug, 2026 at 05:00 pm at Experimental Sound Studio, 5925 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson? - **A:** OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson is organized by Experimental Sound Studio. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson is ideal for music lovers, fans of all genres, and anyone who wants to celebrate the power of music - from intimate gigs and live sessions to festivals and cultural performances. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Chicago, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "OPTION: Christopher Dammann / Avreeayl Ra / Edward Wilkerson", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/a0d607a508fc9e0dd083c3adfcd018689e49a9a040c464a99abf71bc069f3987-rimg-w1200-h600-dce13975-gmir.jpg?v=1778959823", "startDate": "2026-08-02", "endDate": "2026-08-02", "url": "https://allevents.in/chicago/option-christopher-dammann-avreeayl-ra-edward-wilkerson/100001989442842095", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Experimental Sound Studio", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "5925 N. Ravenswood Ave.", "postalCode": "60660", "addressLocality": "Chicago", "addressRegion": "IL", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "41.989151", "longitude": "-87.6745105" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "In a powerhouse Chicago trio, Christopher Dammann joins Avreeayl Ra and Edward Wilkerson for a set of improvised music.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-02", "availabilityEnds": "2026-08-02", "validFrom": "2026-09-02", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "0.00", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/chicago/option-christopher-dammann-avreeayl-ra-edward-wilkerson/100001989442842095" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-02", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-02", "url": "https://allevents.in/chicago/option-christopher-dammann-avreeayl-ra-edward-wilkerson/100001989442842095", "price": 0, "name": "Reserve Your Spot" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-02", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-02", "url": "https://allevents.in/chicago/option-christopher-dammann-avreeayl-ra-edward-wilkerson/100001989442842095", "price": 0, "name": "Support the series—thank you!" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Experimental Sound Studio", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/experimental-sound-studio/22753071", "description": "Founded in 1986 by Dawn and Lou Mallozzi, Eric Leonardson, and Perry Venson, Experimental Sound Studio (ESS) has occupied its Edgewater location since 2006. The facility is home to a full-service recording, mixing, and mastering studio for hire;Audible Gallery,a small public space for exhibitions, meetings, workshops, performances, and artists' projects; and theCreative Audio Archive—an invaluable collection of recordings, print, and visual ephemera related to avant-garde and exploratory sound and music of the last five decades. ESS presents eclectic performance and installation programming, workshops, and artist talks year round—both in the various spaces around the studio (including its beautiful garden) and at various partner venues around Chicago." } ] } ] ```