Biography
JO ANN DAUGHERTY began playing piano as soon as she could reach the keys. She began her studies with her rural area’s only piano teacher at age 5 and was immediately hooked on making music. By age 15, she began playing at restaurants in the surrounding small towns. It was at Truman State University, while pursuing a degree in classical piano performance, that she discovered the joys and frustration of studying jazz, which she continued through some graduate coursework in jazz at DePaul University in Chicago.
After college came a 2-year stay in Kansas City where she began gigging regularly, leading her own trio and playing with many other groups. In 1998, Jo Ann moved to Chicago to continue her musical growth. Since then, she has maintained busy schedule of performing jazz as a leader and sideman in Chicago, as well as traveling throughout the U.S. with various musical and theater acts. In 1999, Jo Ann was chosen to perform in the Chicago Jazz Exchange Quartet for two weeks of concerts in Giverny, France. She has performed with many notable musicians including Randy Brecker, John Abercrombie, Howard Levy and others.
In 2000, the Jo Ann Daugherty Trio released their first record, Debut, now available on the Blujazz label. This album, containing a mix of originals and arranged jazz standards, received a warm reception and airplay on area radio stations. Her latest CD, Range of Motion (Blujazz), showcases her skills as composer as well as performer, featuring all original compositions for the trio plus guitar and up to three horns.
Jo Ann currently performs at clubs, concerts, and festivals (see the calendar page for current info). As a founding member of the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective, she regularly presents her original music at Chicago’s Green Mill jazz club. She performs with many other area groups, including frequent appearances with the USO of Illinois. In addition, she conducts clinics and lecture/performances at many area schools.