On Sept. 10, bassist and composer Linda May Han Oh will take the stage in the Play Circle Theater to open the Wisconsin Union Theater's 2026-27 Jazz Series. A celebrated collaborator, composer and bandleader, Oh's career connects her to a remarkable network of musicians, including several familiar names from the Wisconsin Union Theater.
Pat Metheny
One of those connections is guitarist Pat Metheny. Oh has previously performed and recorded with Metheny, including on his 2020 album "From This Place." Metheny has a recent connection to WUT, having brought his Side-Eye III+ tour to Shannon Hall in April 2026.
Michael Mayo, Nate Smith
Oh has also recently collaborated with jazz vocalist Michael Mayo, who takes the Play Circle stage on Oct. 1. Oh has collaborated with Mayo on songs, including "Bag of Bones" and "Four," and is featured on his Grammy-nominated album "Fly." Also appearing on the album is drummer Nate Smith, who just headlined the 2026 Madison Jazz Festival at the Memorial Union Terrace.
Terri Lyne Carringon
The network continues with Terri Lyne Carrington, who performs at Shannon Hall with her band Social Science on Nov. 21. Oh has worked with Carrington on projects including "New Standards Vol. 1," which earned the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
These kinds of connections are part of what makes contemporary jazz such a small world. Musicians move between one another's bands, recordings and projects, building relationships that can span years and resurface in unexpected places.
As a bandleader and composer, Oh has spent more than a decade developing a musical voice of her own. Her work explores intricate rhythms, unconventional instrumentation and the possibilities of the bass as both a foundational and melodic voice.
Now, Oh brings that musical world to Madison. On Sept. 10, she opens the Wisconsin Union Theater's 2026-27 Jazz Series in the intimate Play Circle, putting her own music and artistry front and center. Oh takes the stage performing acoustic bass, electric bass, and vocals, accompanied by Fabian Almazan on piano, Greg Ward on saxophone, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums.