BLU Jazz+'s Upcoming Shows

Please give us a call at 330-302-8127 or email at info@blujazzakron.com if interested in booking the club for your own event! - 150 person capacity - In house food catering and full service bar options available - Great space for holiday/work/birthday parties, wedding receptions, networking events, etc. - Can provide live entertainment!

Cleveland based rockers and psychonauts, Oregon Space Trail of Doom, bring their jazz outfit to Akron, for their debut at BLU! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) About: In a land that never was, housed four people that never were. Drifting on the light waves of ghost stars, these cosmic cowboys have but one intention: to create a musical score for the impending interstellar apocalypse. Ryan Fletterick- Guitar Nicholas Yanosko- Bass Nolan Cavano- Guitar Tony Kazel- Drums

NYC, Alto-saxophonist, composer, and educator, David Bixler, brings his Trio Incognito to BLU Jazz+ on Thursday, April 30th! Featuring Dan Loomis (bass) and Fabio Rojas (percussion). Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission About: After moving to NYC thirty years ago, saxophonist, composer, and educator David Bixler cut his teeth touring the world with the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Toshiko Akioshi. He later joined the Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Big Band, with whom he played a decade-long residency of Sunday evenings at Birdland and won a LATIN GRAMMY for the recording, Final Night at Birdland. The passage of time encompassed a twelve year period of managing his son’s health issues which caused a humbling reboot to his priorities in life and the role of music in it. In the summer of 2016, after reevaluating his circumstances he recorded In the Face of Chaos (2019) with Bixler, Boccato, Cowherd, and Sturm, Blended Lineage (2020) with the Bixtet, and Inside the Grief (2020) with trio incognito. His latest project, THE LANGSTON HUGHES PROJECT vol. 1, which PARIS-MOVE describes as "a touch of genius" is a new recording featuring music inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes.. Bixler is the host of LINER NOTES with David Bixler, a podcast centered on conversations with jazz musicians. He also serves as Director of Jazz Studies at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. As both a Selmer and Vandoren Artist he is active as a clinician and performer throughout the world.

Domashi is a new supergroup forged by bassist Ben Chilbert of The Pickle Mafia, uniting standout players, guitarist Sage Bishop and drummer James Ralls into one unstoppable sonic force. Blending jazz fusion, psychedelic prog, metal grit, funk groove, and free-flowing jam energy, Every set hits like a controlled detonation—precision meets chaos, built to keep minds spinning and bodies moving. Join us for their debut at BLU Jazz+ on Friday, May 1st! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission

The Stix Quintet returns to BLU , Saturday, May 2nd! Featuring: Steve Kortyka - tenor saxophone Alexander Thiam - alto saxophone Taylor Arbogast - bass Ming Hou - piano Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at door) The Stix Quintet, led by Nehemiah (Stix) Baker, combines elements of neo soul, funk and R&B into a sound tapestry that brings out infectious grooves and danceable rhythms to get you up out your seat.

Join us, parents and friends, as we welcome students from Jackson High School to the stage at Blu Jazz! Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm Tickets: $10 General Admission Thank you for supporting Jackson High School Jazz Ensemble!

Actor and comedian Patrick Quinn, returns to his hometown of Akron, by the way of Los Angeles, for a special night of laughs and guest performances at BLU Jazz+! Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission About: Patrick features for Morgan Jay and recently completed a 3 month, sold-out tour across Europe. You may have seen him on The Boys (Amazon), The Rehearsal (HBO), Greatest Party Story Ever (MTV), She Taught Love (Hulu), Off the Record (True Foe), 50+ commercials, and more. He is the co-host of Many Faces with Morgan Jay and the No Pill Friday with Audrey Stewart.

Barbados native award-winning smooth jazz saxophonist, Elan Trotman, blends Caribbean rhythms from his roots with skillful horn textures. Catch his roaring return to BLU Jazz+ on Friday, May 8th! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $45 General Admission Saxophonist Elan Trotman, has quickly become one of jazz’s most thrilling and emotive performers as he continues to stand out and push boundaries as a composer, performer, teacher and recording artist. Trotman’s playing, though inspired by Grover Washington, Jr., Kirk Whalum and Najee, displays his own fresh ideas and distinctive tone. So much so that the New England Urban Music Awards, and The Barbados Music Awards both named him Jazz Artist of The Year on multiple occasions.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of smooth vibes and soulful energy as Deon Yates returns to BLU Jazz+ for a special Pre-Mother’s Day Soul Jazz Celebration on Saturday, May 9, 2026. A proven crowd favorite with multiple sold-out performances, Deon Yates delivers a powerful blend of contemporary jazz, R&B, and classic soul that sets the perfect tone for a night out. Whether you're celebrating Mom early or simply looking for an upscale, feel-good experience, this is the show you don’t want to miss. 🎷 Great music. Intimate atmosphere. Unmatched energy. Make it a night to remember at BLU Jazz+—where the groove is smooth and the memories last. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($30 in advance, $40 at the door) About: Deon Yates is a dynamic and soulful contemporary jazz saxophonist known for his smooth tone, captivating stage presence, and ability to connect with audiences across generations. A consistent crowd favorite on stages throughout the Midwest and beyond, he has built a reputation for delivering high-energy performances that blend jazz, R&B, and soul. Over the years, Deon has shared the stage with acclaimed artists such as Rick Braun, Brian Simpson, Greg Manning, Maysa Leak, and the late Nick Colionne, further solidifying his presence within the contemporary jazz scene. His passion for music and commitment to excellence continue to make him a standout performer and a respected voice in modern jazz.

After their last sold-out show at Blu, Cleveland’s best jazz artist - as voted on by the Cleveland Music Awards - returns to BLU Jazz+ in the form of a 6 piece group! With each musician pulling from their own personal styles and repertoire, it is guaranteed that there will be a little something for everyone. Come celebrate Evan’s 23rd birthday with this special show! Featuring: Steve Kortyka - Saxophone Bryan Olsheski - Vocals Miles Anderson - Guitar Luca Albano - Piano Thomas Johnston - Bass Evan Palermo - Drums & Percussion Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission About: Based out of Cleveland Ohio, Steve Kortyka is an accomplished mulit-instrumentalist, composer, educator and full time performer. He is a main member of the Brian Newman Quintet/Quartet, one of NYC's modern working bands and has toured the world working with this group and its dynamic members. Since graduating from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 2004, he has been a full time performer and musical director in a wide variety of different settings including small group, big band and show band acts. Steve can be heard on Grammy Award Winning Albums 'Cheek to Cheek' (2014), 'Tony Bennett Celebrates 90' (2016), 'Love For Sale' (2021), plus much more. After graduating in 1995 from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Bachelors in Jazz Performance, Bryan Olsheski relocated to London, England for three years. Bryan formed his own band playing original music at many of the popular jazz clubs in London, including The 606 Jazz Club, the Jazz Café and the Bulls Head Barnes. He has shared the stage with some of the most famous names in jazz such as Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett, Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Conrad Herwig, Jack McDuff, Slide Hampton and George Benson. He has also been a featured soloist for the Temptations, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Steve Winwood, Vaughn Weister’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Afro-Rican Jazz Ensemble, The Four Tops and The Spinners. He has also taught as a Visiting Lecturer at Capital University and The Ohio State University. Bryan has 2 solo cd’s to his credit, both featuring Columbus’ own Bobby Floyd on organ and piano. His latest cd, ‘In The Moment’ is available for purchase on Spotify and iTunes. He is a member and frequently performs with the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus. Miles Anderson is a guitarist working predominantly in the Ohio and Michigan areas. Miles has performed with a variety of ensembles dabbling in a myriad of styles ranging from jazz, and funk, to blues, and rock. Miles has performed at many venues between Columbus and Detroit including The Ginger Rabbit, Lucille’s Jazz Lounge, Dick’s Den, Adelaide’s Gin Joint, Barter (Detroit), and more. Miles’s expertise and passion are for jazz which he studied in university, attaining both his bachelor’s (Guitar Studies) and master’s (Jazz Studies) degrees from Bowling Green State University between 2018 and 2026 under the tutelage of Ariel Kasler. Luca Albano was born in Rome, Italy, and started his piano studies there in 2008. Since then, he and his family moved to Rochester, NY, where he spent 9 years studying classical piano with Mrs. Harriet Zimmerman in the pre-collegiate program at the Eastman Community Music School. Now a student at BGSU since 2022, he is majoring in classical piano performance and minoring in jazz studies with Dr. Solungga Liu and Professor Ariel Kasler respectively. Thomas Johnston is an Australian-born multi-instrumentalist and composer. Thomas composes all kinds of works of varying styles and genres for different chamber ensembles, jazz bands, wind ensembles, and orchestral ensembles. He currently is studying music composition and jazz studies at Bowling Green State University. His teachers include Dr. Christopher Dietz, Ariel Kasler, and Aidan Plank. He can often be seen playing out with the EMP group, as well as a sought out music director and pit musician all across Ohio. Evan Michael Palermo is a Cleveland native who is currently a 4th year student at Bowling Green State University. Through the music, Evan has been heard in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Paris, and more. Evan has also had the opportunity to study, create, and perform with some of the best in the craft such as Marvin "Smitty" Smith, John Riley, Ulysses Owens Jr, Stephan Crump, Jacques Lesure, Steve Kortyka, David Bixler, Dan Piccolo, Harrison Roth and many more. Through his 4 years of being a professional musician, Evan has worked freelance for major establishments such as Cedar Point, while continuing to be deeply rooted in the Cleveland and Toledo music scene. Evan can be heard regularly through his projects in the Cleveland theatre scene as a freelance percussionist, the Cleveland rock scene through Rellick, and the Ohio jazz scene through EMP.

A perfect date night event, the DBBB brings BLU Jazz and all of you an evening of some of the best romantic music ever with songs by Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, and more! We also will pay a special musical tribute to the NBC Tonight Show Orchestra, led by Doc Severinsen, who made their final late night TV broadcast on May 22, 1992. Feature vocalists will be Connor Bogart O'Brien and Margo Tipping, who are in constant demand as headliners on the major cruise ships! 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.