McGee will break their decade-long streak of playing New Year’s Eve in Chicago and will end 2011 in St. Louis. Instead, the group hosted a pair of big Thanksgiving shows at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom this past weekend. Beats Antique opened Friday’s performance and the band kicked things off in celebratory fashion by opening with a rare repeated “Jazz Odyssey” improvisational segment named “Tango Mike” by fan. Umphrey’s McGee returned to the Aragon Ballroom on Saturday night with fellow Chicago residents Cornmeal. During Umphrey’s McGee’s first set, Cornmeal fiddler Allie Kral emerged for a “Jimmy Stewart” improvisational jam and remained onstage as the song moved into “Haijimemashite.”

During the band’s second set, previously-confirmed guests Chicago Mass Choir also emerged for an extensive sit in. After opening with a segue from the new “Miami Virtue” into “Booth Love,” the Chicago Mass Choir emerged to sing on “Bullhead City” and a medley of “Glory” and “Amazing Grace.” The Choir then returned at the end of the show for a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Umphrey’s McGee will kick off a three-night run at St. Louis’ The Pageant on December 29. A larger version of the video you see above can be found over on Relix.com.