Elaine Dame, Chicago Jazz Singer

Elaine created a very personal experience for our family. She performed music my parents loved. She was flexible to work around their schedule. Much appreciated her warmth and sensitivity.

We hired Elaine for a private party this past weekend and she and her two band members were top drawer fantastic. She is a complete professional and very gifted. Wish she could have played all night.

Elaine is great! She helped us book a wonderful guitarist for an event!

Elaine put me in contact with the exact right musician for our event. It was a wonderful evening, due in large part to her hard work and flexibility. I had originally booked another artist, but he cancelled on us three days before the event. On very short notice, Elaine stepped up and found the perfect replacement.

My company used Elaine's services for an Open House - and they were great! Fairly priced and sent an amazing musician for our event. Highly recommend Elaine and her team for any musical needs. We will definitely be working with her again!

The evening was great at J Parker Roof top. Chris and Dave came thro' as expected. Thank you Elaine. Kamal

Elaine is an extraordinary chanteuse, and intuitively knew the needs of her audience and our occasion. She was so professional leading up to the event, and her wonderful performance truly elevated our celebration.

Elaine was an absolutely pleasure to work with from beginning to end. She provided a wonderful musician for our holiday work event and I could not have asked for better. I will highly recommend her services to anyone in need of musical talent for an event. I cannot say enough good about her professional services and would be delighted to be able to use her again in the future. Thank you Elaine!

Elaine was a great help getting me a piano player for our New Year's Party. Kelly, our pianist was so nice and played what ever we wanted. Made the party.

Thanks Elaine!!!!

We hired a jazz pianist and a saxophone player for my sons cocktail hour at the Sofitel. I was very specific in the kind of music we wanted played and they did exactly what we wanted. They were on time, even early, looked good and sounded great. I would definitely recommend them for any event.

My wife and I were recently married. We planned a small wedding with just family and a couple of close friends, approx. 35 people. We wanted the wedding to be memorable and classy. I told my wife I would handle the music. Fortunately, I found Elaine Dame. Over the past couple of weeks we've received numerous compliments on a classy wedding with great music. I highly recommend Elaine and will use her services again. She's a true professional.

Elaine Dame exceeds her reputation as the top jazz singer in Chicago. We were looking for a smart, stylish, elegant and classy performer for our Christmas Party, and she delivered on all. Porter, Berlin, Gershwin, and Cahn she captured that air of sophistication that got to the heart of their lyrics! Wow, our home was transported back to another era and we have Elaine to thank for that. As Cole Porter wrote; "Your The Top" its the best description for Elaine's work - 6 stars across the board.

Elaine, with her guitarist and bassist provided the perfect entertainment for our event! She has an amazing voice and her passion for the music engaged our guests. We look forward to working with Elaine Dame again!

Elaine is very easy to work with. She is super nice and gets back to you right away. We had a saxophone player during our ceremony and he did an excellent job - he even played Here Comes the Bride!

We hired the Elaine Dame Duo for an intimate gathering at our home. From the first email, Elaine was enthusiastic, professional, and thorough. We had excellent communication before and after the event and it showed in her performance. She is extremely talented and was able to expertly tailor the performance to the setting and our tastes. Elaine's range is broad and dynamic, and she clearly has a true love for the music. I look forward to working with her again in the future.

Elaine was such a pleasure to work with. I was looking for just a solo saxophone player and she helped me every step of the way. She was so helpful and answered all questions I had in a fast and professional manner. She was lovely to work with and I hope we need her assistance again in the future with another event. I would highly recommend her! It was a breath of fresh air working with her and I will miss our emails. Great job Elaine and Bill (Saxophone Player)

Elaine and group performed at Macy's Flower Show and everyone absolutely loved it! It was incredibly upbeat and fun to watch and enjoy. Elaine was especially great to work with. I absolutely recommend them!

Elaine performed at our Roaring 20's holiday party much to our guest's delight! She was fantastic to work with, and really helped to make our event a success! I would highly recommend Elaine for any event you are having!

Elaine Dame and her jazz trio performed at a surprise birthday party for my wife. Her flexibility with the venue, communication, and follow through were perfect. Elaine managed the logistics seamlessly with the focus of her efforts going towards an extraordinary night of music. The music never overpowered the celebration but due to the class, talent, and expertise of all three musicians the event was over the top. Thank you Elaine!

Elaine is a true living legend in her own right, but she also has a rare gift for connecting with people on all levels, including her music-- that is the magic!

We had the good fortune to meet Elaine at our dear friend, Chris', annual Christmas party years ago swinging to her lovely voice. Years later, as my husband and I decided to get married, we looked no further than Elaine to set the mood for our special day on another friends' farm in Michigan. We asked her to perform for both the ceremony and reception-- two different experiences we wanted to create. Elaine met with us several times before the date to make sure everything was just right. She also recruited an amazing band-- trumpet, keyword, bass, and percussion-- to back it all up. She created a custom arrangement for our ceremony and allowed another friend of ours to perform "Just Breathe" with her. It was electric and gave everyone goosebumps. Later-- she allowed me (the amateur) to perform with them with my Tenor Sax. What a thrill!

From all the pictures throughout the day, everyone was smiling throughout. Elaine brought the music, the mood, and the joy to it all. Magic. We were so blessed to have had her perform for us, but even more to consider her a dear friend for life.

She was so helpful in making our wedding reception warm, classy, and relaxing. With her guidance, the reception went without a hitch. We were working with a small venue and she was amazing at coordinating the logistics of our reception – from the introductions of our attendants, to the cutting of the cake, and the start of our first dance. Very professional as well – Elaine was always VERY prompt with returning phone calls and emails. Most importantly, the music!! Elaine is a very talented musician and works with only the best! Thank you so much for making our wedding reception fantastic! Everyone really enjoyed your music! Ken and James, June 2014

Elaine gave a wonderful performance at the Schaumburg Township District Library. Her voice is absolutely amazing, and our patrons raved about the concert. We will definitely be asking her to perform for us again.

Elaine arranged for musical entertainment for our annual conference held in Chicago December 11-13, 2013. She was excellent to work with, followed up in a timely manner, and put together a supburb group of musicians.

Elaine was so helpful in making my company's holiday party go off without a hitch. We were working with a small, multi-level venue, and she was amazing at coordinating the logistics of the evening. Very professional as well - Elaine was always VERY prompt with returning phone calls and emails. Most importantly, the music!! Elaine is a very talented musician and works with only the best!

Fabulous afternoon! Our prospects and residents thouroughly enjoyed Elaines performance. It was personal with warm touches while performing for over 150 guests. The perfect mix of holiday and jazz selections. We will definitely ask Elaine back next year for our Holiday event.

Elaine and two of her colleagues, a guitarist and bassist, played at my husband's and my wedding reception in August. Everything was perfect. The guests all enjoyed the music--everyone from those in their twenties to those in their eighties. Many guests approached to to ask where we found such terrific performers. I can't recommend Elaine Dame enough!

Elaine, as part of a quartet, played an event for my family and it was flawless. She picks the right music to accent the mood of the night and alters that as the crowd dictates. She worked seamlessly with the restaurant and during a wedding week that made things extra easy on me. I would recommend Elaine and will gladly use her again.

Elaine was very easy to work with. As with any corporate event, we need for our contractors professional, and that's exactly what Elaine was. Responses were timely and informative. I work at all hours of the day, so someone that can email me or call me back on a timely basis is welcome. Her performance was phenomenal and even was a trooper when we asked her to make an announcement. Thanks again Elaine. Will totally contact you when I'm in need of a Jazz Singer!

Elaine and the two musicians who accompanied provided exactly what we wanted for our corporate event. She is very talented and professional, and I wouldn't hesitate to hire her for our next function.

I was nervous about hiring a singer site unseen and from the Internet. Elaine reassured me and took initiative to be in frequent contact with me. The singer was more than I could have wished for. Prompt, professional and a beautiful voice and entertainer. I can't wait to use Elaine Dame again under happier circumstances. Thank you

I have hired Elaine for several events over the past year. She always puts on a great show and is very accommodating with our requests. I would recommend her in a heartbeat.

We hired Elaine on numerous occasions and she was the consummate professional. She is hands down one of the best REAL JAZZ singers in Chicago and by being one of the best in Chicago, makes her one of the best singers in the nation.

She always delivers. Elaine knows how to sell a song, communicate and relate to and befriend an audience. And of course the honey like clarity of her voice, her ability to infuse emotion into the lyric and her interpretive skills as an artist make her unique. She has style and presence.

Elaine Dame is Fantastic.

Elaine wasn't our singer (sadly she was booked) but she booked the musicians for our wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center and I couldn't have been happier with the quaility of the music and her wonderful service.

Elaine Dame was nothing short of outstanding for our recent wedding. She gladly incorporated the songs we chose from her playlist with other selections her trio deftly played. Newer was the volume overbearing or intrusive. She even took requests from guests, without cheapening the slickness of her performance. Elaine is adept at incorporating the talents of her band in her performances....never upstaging, but rather, complimenting each other. Beyond her musical prowess, you will be hard pressed to find a more professional musician in the Chicagoland area, in terms of logistics, set up, and coordination with event planners. She is sincere in her craft, and truly delivered a fantastic performance for our guests. If you are looking for a talented, diverse, and truly lights out jazz performer, look no further. Sincerely, Jim

Elaine did a lovely program for us before the library opened on a Sunday.
She took requests from the audience and had a good rapport with those who attended. Her voice is wonderful. I would highly recommend her.

Elaine has the aura of a celebrity entertainer. We were delighted when Elaine was available to perform during cocktail hour at our wedding. She perfomed each song with her own personal style; drawing you into a familiar tune while experiencing it in a new and stimulating way.

We had an outdoor event for 400+ people. The whole evening was so elegant and wonderful with Elaine and her band. Elaine's voice is gorgeous, her sets were so well received and she and the band were very kind to take requests from our crowd. We've had people call us afterwards for her contact information and there is no doubt that we will book her again (if she'll have us!). Thank you!

The Elaine Dame Quartet was the icing on the cake for the surprise party I held in my home. She hired incredible musicians to compliment her phenomenal voice. What a treat to have some of the best jazz musicians in Chicago in my home! In addition to the fine musicianship, the level of professionalism was excellent. I will definitely hire her for future events!

I was referred to Elaine by another singer. Elaine performed at the concluding banquet for a sustainability and energy summer program that UIC, UC, IIT, NU, Argonne National Lab, and the Clean Energy Trust threw at the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier.

Elaine sounded as wonderful by the end of the the three hour gig as she did at the beginning. Her style, intonation, choice of music (I gave her complete reign to pick whatever she wanted), and stage presence were simply wonderful. The members of her band were also phenomenal musicians, and she could not have put together a better team.

Elaine is not only EXTREMELY talented, but wonderful to work with. She was flexible in all things business and music related, and her sparkling personality made her a memorable addition to the banquet that she performed at. She was consistently doted over by attendees as one of the top reasons the evening was so successful.

I highly recommend her to anyone. I definitely plan on having her back for many more events in the future. TRULY A TREAT.

After a long love affair with Elaine as a singer, we decided to hire her to sing at our civil union celebration. It was a wonderful event, and hiring Elaine was probably the single best decision we made. She is an elegant, joyful singer whose singing is only outdone by her glorious personality. By the end of the evening, everyone was in love with her!

Very professional and a pleasure to work with. The quality of the show was absolutely top-notch. Superb vocals, superb musicians, great audience rapport. Would highly recommend them.

Elaine is such a pleasure to deal with! Cheerful, happy to be there, accommodating in every way. Not to mention her wondeerful talent! I'm looking forward to our next event with Elaine, and I heartily recommend her for any event where an upbeat, sophisticated vibe is needed.

Elaine has amazing talent! She truly knows how to read the room, as a Restaurant Manager I never had to worry about what to expect from Elaine. Her voice captivates you, leaving you wanting more!! Not to mention her warm, caring personality... she is genuinely kind and every guest in the room will know it!

I last saw Elaine Dame at the Cape Cod Room in the Drake Hotel, but I have seen her perform many times. Elaine is always, always a great time. Her voice is sublime, her choice of material is golden, but perhaps best of all is basking in the joy she radiates when she performs.

Elaine also has a way of "reading the room." Depending on her audience and the venue, I have seen her range from sophisticated to bawdy; from elegant to raucous; from emotionally moving to silly.

Elaine Dame has exquisite taste in musicians as well. I've purchased her CD for myself, and enjoyed it so much I have bought more to give to friends and family. Everyone I have brought along with me to one of her performances at Katerina's, Pops for Champagne, or other venues have always enjoyed her performances very much.

I highly recommend her as the consummate professional performer.

I "stumbled across" Elaine performing at Katerina's in Chicago several years ago and was thrilled. She is an incredible vocalist and flautist and brings such passion and competence to her work that it will take your breathe away. She is truly a treasure!

Some friends and I went to see the Elaine Dame Trio at Pops for Champagne and they were amazing! As a trio, they worked really well together, and were clearly having fun creating music together. The stand out, of course, is Elaine Dame herself. She is the consummate professional! Her smile draws you in, but it's her voice that makes you stay. I'm not a professional critic, but I know when someone's got "IT", and trust me, this woman has "IT"! She's the entire package...a natural:-)

elaine dame quartet performed at our luxury cruise event ... around 250 guests ... the jazz music appealed to the broad range of ages on board ... her voice is amazing ... she went way beyond her performance interacting with the guests ... such a class act ... a five star performance!

Elaine! We had seen her perform a couple of times at a friend's Holiday Party and once in a lounge. We asked her to do a surprise birthday, where her music was probably the biggest surprise for the birthday "man". She put together the perfect sets (responsive to requests)and pulled together the perfect group. Will always be the best of memories, easy to close your eyes and hear her voice; it is so wonderful!

I have been following Elaine's career for nearly five years! I first heard Elaine at La Toche and thereafter in many venues including Philander's, The Pump Room, The Coq d'or, Salt Creek Wine Bar, the Crimson Room, Twist, and many more. I have purchased many, many of her CDs, both first and second(!) pressings. I have sent them to friends and family across the globe! Elaine's style and interpretation of Cole Porter is beautiful. Her ease with which she transitions from one song and artist to the next (with a myriad of equally talented muscians!) is a welcome treat in a genre sometimes filled with mediocre talent. Elaine is engaging with her audience, taking requests easily without missing a beat. Her professionalism is tempered with a warm smile and flawless dress. Elaine is a talented vocalist and flautist who's brilliantly clear notes sometimes linger in your ear like the whisper of an old friend. I am proud to endorse and support Elaine and thank her whole-heartily for sharing her gift with us! Bryan O.

I used to work regularly with Elaine on Rush Street in Chicago. I was the music director at a nightclub now closed called Lucianos and would book Elaine for a few nights every month. I booked her in rotation because not only was Elaine very professional & friendly & funny, but she sang with great emotion & energy. We worked together for a couple of years in 2004-2006 and all during this time Elaine was a joy to work with. There's some songs in her book that she sings better than anyone I know.

We found it so difficult to search and select the perfect jazz vocalist/band for our dinner/dance event in downtown Chicago - until we found Elaine Dame and her quartet. Elaine not only guided through the process and helped define the "playlist", but we even had the chance to experience one of her live performance at the Drake before we booked with her. This really painted a perfect picture of the vibe/atmosphere that Elaine would bring to our event.

The night was a great success and a lot of our guests asked about Elaine's CDs/recordings. We were a bit worried about whether or not our guests (who were a very mixed crowd) would actually get up and dance as the evening progressed, but the dance floor filled up as soon as dinner was finished, and remained busy for the rest of the night.

A good time was had by all :-)