BLU Jazz+'s Upcoming Shows

Canadian award-winning trumpeter, singer, and songwriter, Bria Skonberg, returns to BLU Jazz for a very special Thursday night performance! Join us, as Bria brings her band through Akron, celebrating the release of her newest album "Brass" on March 13th. This show is presented and organized by the Midwest Jazz Collective. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) About: Bria Skonberg is a Juno-award winning artist, 10x Downbeat Rising Star, recipient of the Legend Award by the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook and a 2025 nominee for the prestigious "Academie du Jazz" awards. The trumpeter, vocalist, and songwriter has been called the “shining hope of hot jazz”(NY Times) and is considered “one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation”(WSJ) She has been a featured artist at hundreds of festivals and stages the world over, including New Orleans Jazz Heritage, Kobe, Monterey, Breda, Newport and Montreal Jazz Festivals and recently at Carnegie Hall. Her debut LP on Sony Masterworks reached #5 on the Billboard Jazz charts. Her most recent studio album What it Means was recorded in New Orleans during Mardi Gras featuring top local musicians and released on Cellar Live. Her music has been streamed over 20 million times. The daughter of teachers, Bria was introduced to jazz by a spirited public school band program and local festival in her hometown of Chilliwack, British Columbia Canada. A professional band leader since her teens, she moved to Vancouver and obtained her degree in Trumpet Performance from Capilano University. Since arriving in New York in 2010 she has been at the forefront of a revival of classic American music as both a performer and educator, programming concerts and workshops for students of all ages on behalf of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Jazz House Kids and more. She is a co-producer of the NY Hot Jazz Camp now in its 10th year. Bria is an active member of the Women in Jazz Organization, the International Trumpet Guild, a Bach Conn-Selmer artist, and became a mother in 2020.v This appearance of Bach Trumpet Artist Bria Skonberg has been made possible in part through an Educational Grant from Bach Trumpets. Bria Skonberg performs exclusively on Bach Trumpets.This appearance of Bach Trumpet Artist Bria Skonberg has been made possible in part through an Educational Grant from Bach Trumpets. Bria Skonberg performs exclusively on Bach Trumpets. 

Native NE Ohio fusion saxophonist Matthew Alec and his high-octane, 7-piece jazz-pop supergroup The Soul Electric make their return to BLU, on Friday, March 20th! Featuring: Matthew Alec – tenor saxophone Greg Banaszak – alto saxophone Brian Woods – piano/vocals Corey Conway – guitar/vocals Miguel Tarin Torres – bass Drew Parent – percussion The Franchise – drums Minus the Alien – vocals Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) About: Explosive fusion supergroup Matthew Alec and The Soul Electric bring old school swagger to their fresh, exciting, and innovative blend of jazz, pop, and funk. With three full-length albums under their belt and two more underway, the talented and diverse six-piece collective led by acclaimed saxophonist Matthew Alec are blazing new paths in modern jazz fusion. 

With five highly acclaimed albums, 50+ live dates per year, a #1 Billboard hit single and multiple Billboard charting songs over the past thirty years, New York guitarist JJ Sansaverino has reached millions touring the world with his “Benson meets Santana” musical style. Join us as we welcome JJ back to BLU Jazz on Saturday, March 21st! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $40 - General Admission About: An innovative and extraordinary composer and performer, JJ has a "take no prisoners" performance attitude, gracing the stage night after night touring, bringing his vibe of Smooth Jazz, Traditional Jazz, Blues, R&B and Reggae. A Berklee School of Music graduate and award winner, he has shared the stage with the likes of Maceo Parker, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, George Clinton, Gerald Albright, Randy Brecker, Victor Bailey, the Marley Family, and even performed for Sir Paul McCartney's wedding in 2002. 

Join us for our continued bi-weekly Tuesday night blues jam session tradition, hosted by NE Ohio all-star blues musicians John Markovic, Ryan Neuman, & Erik Diaz! Bring your axe or horn & wail the blues as part of this ongoing musical series at BLU! The “BLUesday Tuesday” Blues Jam band carries 60+ years of combined experience in and around the Greater Akron Blues scene. They enjoy blending their deep roots & varied influences to bring hot, stylish electric blues to the stage – always listening, always feeding off each other’s energy and always laying down soulful, groove-laden blues with feeling. Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm *Free Admission* Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Join us, parents and friends, as we welcome students from Kent State University and University of Akron to the stage at Blu Jazz! Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm Tickets: $10 General Admission Thank you for supporting KSU and UA! 

Evening Star is an afro-futuristic odyssey led by Detroit drummer Tariq Gardner, blending the city’s rich jazz legacy with neo-soul, hip-hop, Afro-Cuban, and Black American music traditions. Their sound merges the roots of the Motherland with cosmic exploration, creating music as a positive and transformative force. Join us on Thursday, March 26th, for their debut at BLU! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($15 in advance, $20 day of show) About: Born from Detroit’s expansive and genre-bending music scene, Evening Star is a sonic journey through the galaxies of the African Diaspora. The band’s afro-futuristic aesthetic celebrates music as a healing, unifying force, weaving original compositions with re-imagined classics from the Black American canon. In 2025, Evening Star won NPR Detroit’s WDET “Sounds Like Detroit” contest, earning a feature showcase. Their debut project, Gateway Drug (2023), introduced their bold vision, followed by their 2024 sophomore release Vice Tape featuring poet Joel “Fluent” Greene. The band is now performing at festivals nationwide and preparing their third release. 

Join us Friday, March 27th, as Nathan-Paul brings his quartet to BLU Jazz+! Come get yourself a healthy holistic dose of sound medicine to heal the body, mind, and soul! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at the door) About: Nathan-Paul grew up a pastor’s son from Cleveland, and knows how to deliver sound medicine to the people. His velvety Lo-Fi sounds are a vibe-heavy soul party, fusing modern trap, 70s funk, and fiery Southern gospel. He writes for pure enjoyment. “The way I go about writing, I’m like extreme Southern hospitality. I’ll always have something for you. I won’t let you leave until you take something with you.”, he said. Singing choir by age 5, Nathan is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in saxophone and flute, as well as production and composition. Though he may defy genre constructs, Nathan-Paul is a Jazz Studies graduate from the University of Akron, and is improvising all the time - influenced by greats Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong. Nathan-Paul was the music director for Colmine recording artist Wesley Bright & The Honeytones, during which time he contributed toward arrangements and songwriting, and opened for bands including War, Tower Of Power, Lee Fields, and Charles Bradley. Written for Bright, Nathan’s song ‘Happiness’ earned him a placement with Nike Skateboard. The artist’s newest project, Nathan-Paul & The Admirables, brings an aggressive, rock-edge to his sound medicine. This project that focuses on energy over notes has already led a successful tour with Moon Hooch and a performance backing soul-giant Dwele. 

Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra returns to BLU for a special evening! GRAMMY-winning ensemble Apollo's Fire takes you back to 1600 – a time when the different peoples of Jerusalem lived together in relative peace. In this musical tour of the four quarters of the Old City, the ancient tradition of Hakawathi - Middle Eastern storytelling – comes to life alongside Arab dance tunes and ancient Israeli songs. Phenomenal oud master Ronnie Malley weaves tales of his Palestinian ancestors, while Israeli musician Daphna Mor evokes her homeland's ancient landscape using a haunting folk instrument, the ney. With Apollo's Fire friends on cello and percussion, this is an uplifting musical prayer for peace in our time. "An ensemble at the height of their powers, making vital statements about the world..." – Seen & Heard International (UK) Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $27 General Admission ** If sold out via BLU's website please refer to - https://apollosfire.org/purchase-tickets/ - for more ticket options ** 

Join us, parents and friends, as we welcome The Gold Tones Jazz Orchestra & Kent State University Jazz Orchestra to the stage at BLU! This event is part of our "Kent State Jazz Studies: High School Jazz Nights at Blu". Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm Tickets: $10 General Admission Thank you for supporting Cuyahoga Falls High School & KSU! 

Tim Mirth returns to BLU Jazz+ with his trio with renewed vision and energy. Over the last year the group has grown in ways we didn't originally consider. Pulling from more than jazz traditions but leaning more heavily in combining the multiple personalities Tim has had over the years. What does that mean for the listener? It means an exciting infused energy of groove, dynamics and pushing the limits. This trio has been playing together for years now and it shows in ways only people who have played together many times are able to do. Featuring the great bassist Bryan Thomas and Tony Kazel's continuous infectious grooves. Inspired by the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Keith Jarrett, John McLaughlin, Classical music, Thelonius Monk, Indian music and even bands like Radiohead and Tori Amos, we will be bringing beauty and energy. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance), ($25 day of show) 

Legendary Cleveland percussionist, Sammy Deleon brings his sensational band back to BLU for an explosive night of Latin jazz! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) About: Sammy’s passion for music stems from his deep roots in the Salsa and Latin Jazz genre. A fixture on the Salsa and Latin Jazz scene over four decades, his dedication and passion has transcended into high energy, unforgettable, explosive performances that has earned him much respect and adoration of peers and fans alike. Once referenced by the Late Tito Puente as, “the hottest young timbalero in America”, and having had the honor of participating with the Legend, Sammy’s trajectory shows no signs of slowing down. Sammy has also earned top honors as recipient of the Tri-C Jazz Legend of the Year Award -- where his contributions and accomplishments will forever be memorialized. 

Join us for our continued bi-weekly Tuesday night blues jam session tradition, hosted by NE Ohio all-star blues musicians John Markovic, Ryan Neuman, & Erik Diaz! Bring your axe or horn & wail the blues as part of this ongoing musical series at BLU! The “BLUesday Tuesday” Blues Jam band carries 60+ years of combined experience in and around the Greater Akron Blues scene. They enjoy blending their deep roots & varied influences to bring hot, stylish electric blues to the stage – always listening, always feeding off each other’s energy and always laying down soulful, groove-laden blues with feeling. Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm *Free Admission* Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Thursday, April 9th, internationally reknown, composer and bassist, Max Johnson, returns to BLU Jazz+ with his trio, featuring Neta Raanan (tenor saxophone), and Eliza Salem (drumset)! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission About: Described as “an intrepid composer, architect of sound and beast of the bass…” (Brad Cohan, NYC Jazz Record) composer, bassist, and improviser Max Johnson is one of the most prolific music makers in the jazz, bluegrass, improvised music, and contemporary classical worlds. Johnson has released nearly 20 albums and performed over three thousand concerts internationally with artists like Anthony Braxton, Geri Allen, Mary Halvorson, David Grisman, Tyshawn Sorey, Ingrid Laubrock, Henry Grimes, Candido Camero, Sam Bush, Nels Cline, and many more. He has composed commissions for the Jerome Foundation, Society of Composers Inc, University of Glasgow, has been featured on over seventy albums, and can be heard in Spike Lee’s Academy Award winning film, “The BlacKkKlansman”. For this concert, Max Johnson presents his incredible new trio with Neta Raanan on tenor saxophone and Eliza Salem on drumset, celebrating their 2024 album, "I'll see you again". This trio explores Johnson’s more traditional jazz compositions inspired by innovators Charles Mingus, Mal Waldron, and Thelonious Monk, while always featuring Johnson's unique energetic and chaotic soundworld. "Multi-faceted bassist Max Johnson helms a terrific trio... Here and elsewhere, evidence of Johnson's composer's ear surfaces in how cannily he extracts maximum impact from the three voices." - John Sharpe, The New York City Jazz Record 

Rock 'n' Roll re-imagined for Big Band! You have never felt the power of rock like this! A scorching hot big band, and legendary Ohio rocker Jerry Schoenfeld on vocals together again on songs that have made their mark in rock history. This is a fan favorite! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $30 General Admission The Dave Banks Big Band is a powerhouse 17 piece swinging big band based out of Akron, Ohio and is led by Ohio native and 20 year Las Vegas veteran trumpet artist, Dave Banks. The band boasts of having the very top players in the Northeast Ohio area. Dave fronts the band with his soaring trumpet – reminding you of Doc Severinson, Harry James and Maynard Ferguson. Their repertoire ranges from original compositions to standard big band favorites. Featured vocalists have included Michael Sonata, Stan Davis, Mery White, Shannon Eller, Britni Tozzi, Helen Welch, Don Dasco, John Morton, Frederick Davis and Paul Hoffman. Their library of big band music includes hit songs arranged by the best writers in the business. They have played to packed houses at Akron’s BLU Jazz+, the Cleveland Bop Stop, the Packard Music Hall, Carousel Dinner Theatre, The Tangier Ballroom and The Kent Stage. 

JazzWeek 26: Overjoyed - April 13 to April 16, 2026, is a week-long festival that takes place on and around The University of Akron campus, uniting students, faculty, musicians, and community members. Come enjoy JazzWeek with us on Tuesday, April 14th at BLU Jazz+! Trombonist, Jennifer Wharton will be bringing her roaring Trombone group "Bonegasm" to Akron with the statement "It is our mission to bring peace, love, and trombone to the unsuspecting masses." In the jazz world, trombone tends to be treated as an afterthought. If a small group has a trombone in it, it’s likely because the bandleader is the trombonist. Bass trombonist Jennifer Wharton wondered what might happen if composers and audiences alike encountered music that featured the beauty of the instrument. Doors: 6:30pm Show: 7:30pm Tickets: $20 General Admission **Students FREE with ID** About: JENNIFER WHARTON is a low brass specialist based in New York City. Though getting her start classically, Jen has deep roots in jazz, commercial, chamber and Broadway music. Jennifer leads the trombone-forward ensemble, Bonegasm, commissioning works from jazz heavyweights and newcomers. Jen received a Chamber Music America grant for Grit & Grace (Sunnyside 2023), awarded a 2020 NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theater grant for Bonegasm’s sophomore album, Not A Novelty (Sunnyside 2021), a follow up to their debut Bonegasm (Sunnyside 2019). Downbeat Magazine called the band “Trombone Ecstasy”. 

Rust-belt jazz guitarist, Adam Bronstein, brings his polished licks to Blu Jazz+ with the (AB)trio! For fans of: Julian Lage, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, and John Scofield. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission About: Adam Bronstein is a guitar player from Buffalo, NY known for his clever songwriting and playful improvisation. Focusing on guitar at the forefront of its sound, his music is instrumental with influences ranging from bebop through fusion, soul-jazz & psychedelia. Adam has released 3 studio albums in the past two years: Intention/Invention (Nov 2022), ABtrio (Dec. 2023); & most recently Jazz ≠ Jazz (Aug 2024) as well as a live release “Live at Black Dots” (Feb 2024). Between touring with Louis Prima Jr & The Witnesses, as well as the soul jazz quintet Ellen Pieroni and The Encyclopedia of Soul Adam has taken his trio (aptly named ABtrio) on four separate independent tours across the Northeast and midwest United States, planning a fifth and sixth this spring and summer. Adam was nominated “BEST JAZZ GUITARIST” and ABtrio nominated “BEST JAZZ RELEASE” in the 2024 Jazz Buffalo Readers Poll and Adam has shared bills with Samara Joy, Pasquale Grasso, Charlie Balentine, Ghost Note, Paris Monster, Lespecial & more. 

Join us as we celebrate and pay tribute to one of the greatest saxophonists in jazz history. The night will feature music off of Joe Henderson’s album In N’ Out and Larry Young’s album Unity, in sequential as the songs are presenting on the records.  If you are a lover of Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones, Woody Shaw, Kenny Dorham, Larry Young, or McCoy Tyner you will not want to miss this amazing show! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) Featuring:  Max Schlenk: Tenor Saxophone  Garrett Folger: Trumpet  Dave Thomas: Organ  Zaire Darden: Drums