Soulful & funky Cleveland native saxophonist, Eddie Baccus Jr., returns to BLU Jazz for a night of smooth jazz! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $45 General Admission About: As a touring member of Pieces of a Dream for a decade and a half, Baccus Jr had the opportunity to perform with and alongside a virtual who’s who in the traditional jazz, urban jazz and R&B words: Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, War, Candy Dulfer, Rick Braun, Grover Washington Jr, Bobby Watson, Greg Abate, Lester Bowie, EWF(Earth, Wind and Fire), Regina Carter, Dianne Reeves, Vesta Williams, Norman Conners, India Arie, George Benson, Miki Howard, Jean Carne, David Sanborn, Brian McKnight, Will Downing, Phil Perry, Najee, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Marcus Belgrave, Benny Golson, Russell Ferrante, Bobby Lyle, Jeff Lorber, Ricky Lawson, Aaron Graves (Piano “Little Jimmy Scott”), Lenny Castro, Rachelle Ferrelle, Lil’ John Roberts, Phil Davis, Chris Coleman, Andre Gouche’, Giovanni Hildago, Eric Marienthal, James Carter, Curtis Fuller, Regina Belle, Miki Howard, Allyson Williams, Norman Connors, Atlantic Starr, Ronny Jordan, Rhonda Smith (Prince’s Bass Player), Gerald Veasley, Average White Band, Stevie Wonder, Peter White, Walter Beasley and more recently Four80East, Brian Simpson, Lindsey Webster, Cameo, Brother 2 Brother, Glenn Jones, Cabo Frio, Groove Frequencies, Christian De Mesones, Bene Music, Utopian Dreams and Joe Lovano. 

Heavy-hitting saxophonist, Steve Kortyka, returns to BLU Jazz to light up the stage on June 28th! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $25 General Admission Steve Kortyka is a nationally recognized saxophonist, composer, and educator who recently relocated from NYC to Cleveland. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Kortyka has established himself as a first-call performer across a wide range of musical settings—from hard-swinging quartets to full orchestras. He is a long-time member of the the Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s touring jazz band, performing as a featured soloist on world tours and contributing orchestrations for many high-profile performances. His work as an arranger and soloist can be heard on multiple Grammy Award-winning projects, and he has appeared on the stages of some of NYC’s most prestigious venues including SNL and Carnegie Hall backing up nationally acclaimed artists like RAYE and Justin Hurwitz (LaLa Land). An active composer and recording artist, Steve has released multiple albums under his own name. In addition to performing, he is a passionate educator with a strong belief in the connection between improvisation, composition, and personal expression —regularly giving clinics and masterclasses at high schools and universities nationwide. Expect a night of creative improvisation, deep swing, and some thoughtful original compositions as Kortyka brings his NYC-honed sound back to his hometown stage. 

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. 

The Stix Quintet returns to BLU Jazz+, Saturday, July 5th! 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. Pianist Liam Speaks, saxophonist Alex Lati-Thiam, guitarist Ayden Cohen and Stix all met through the Tri-C Jazzfest Academy program, an experience bringing amazing opportunities like insight from legends such as Christian McBride and Terence Blanchard. All brought together by Everett “Guitarslim” Clark’s adventurous basslines, the Stix Quintet is a fresh, groove-oriented take on jazz and funk. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission 

The BLU Jazz Jam is for musicians and music lovers alike! Come hang and experience this exciting forum for musical expression. Bring your “axe” and play through tunes, pick up licks, trade 4’s, and enjoy the camaraderie of having a gathering place for the area’s finest professional jazz musicians (as well as the up-and-comers)! Hosted by University of Akron alumni! *** FREE ADMISSION *** Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00-10:00pm 

New Orlean's Piano Powerhouse, John "Papa" Gros, brings New Orleans funk and jazz to Akron for his debut at BLU Jazz+! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $40 General Admission “Sharing New Orleans with the world is my calling,” says pianist and organist John “Papa” Gros (pronounced grow).“That's what I have been doing and that's what I’ll do with the rest of my life.” For over three decades, Gros has brought his city’s celebratory culture to listeners around the globe. Gros mixes all the sounds of New Orleans - funk, trad jazz, brass band, blues - and makes it his own signature gumbo. His new solo album Central City, shows Gros capturing New Orleans’ distinct feel-good charm with help from some of its’ most renowned players. Gros began playing gigs when he was just fifteen years old but didn’t truly kick off his career until after graduating from Loyola in 1989 with a degree in French Horn performance. During the seminal years that followed, the young man cut his teeth as a solo performer on Bourbon Street while also developing a reputation as a formidable sideman. He backed up some of the biggest names in the Crescent City,: such as Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and guitarist Snooks Eaglin. Between 2000 and 2013, Gros began his transition into the spotlight by leading Papa Grows Funk, a highly revered group that mixed hard-hitting funk grooves with often unpredictable jazz spontaneity. The band released six critically-acclaimed studio albums while touring the U.S. and far off countries like Japan and Brazil. This year, John “Papa” Gros released Central City, his third solo album. The album is a collection of classic New Orleans songs, both new and old, filtered through his decades of dedication to his craft. The album features Gros’ feel good originals alongside his takes on beloved songs by Allen Toussaint, Lloyd Price, and John Prine. Joining Gros on the album are a who’s who in the keepers of the New Orleans tradition, who perfectly exploit the similarities between New Orleans jazz and early rock 'n' roll on songs such as "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and "Personality." Gros absorbed a lifetime of lessons and became part of the direct lineage of New Orleans music. “I’m walking in the same path as Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and Art Neville,” explains Gros. “I’ve been following them my whole life. Now, they’re no longer in front of me. They’ve gotten off the path but the path is still very clear.” 

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. 

Ben Tweedt and his jazz trio return from Cincinatti, for a special night at Blu Jazz! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission Ben Tweedt is a pianist, composer, arranger, and music educator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Born in Brunswick, Ohio and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Ben began his classical training on the piano from a young age. By the beginning of his Piano Performance bachelor's degree at the University of Nebraska-Omaha at the age of 17, he began to switch his focus to improvisation and composition while actively participating in the Omaha music scene. After completing his degree in Omaha, Ben relocated to his current home city of Cincinnati to pursue a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he received a full-ride scholarship and graduate assistantship. In 2018-2019, Ben taught at Central State University as an Adjunct Instructor of Jazz Studies. Ben performs frequently in Cincinnati and other major cities in the region, spanning many genres and playing with a variety of artists. In addition to his own trio project as a leader, and other highly creative projects with Cincinnati musicians including Spherical Agenda, the Brandon Coleman Quartet, and the Eric Wurzelbacher Quartet, Ben performs regularly with other notable musicians in the region including Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Chicago, Steve Winwood, Santana, Tania Maria) and Dan Wilson (Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco). Ben was also the grand prize winner of the 2019 American Jazz Pianist Competition at the Yamaha Artist Center in New York. 

Recently voted as #19 on All About Jazz’s “Favorite Living Saxophonists” poll for 2024, native NE Ohio fusion saxophonist Matthew Alec and his high-octane, 7-piece jazz-pop supergroup The Soul Electric make their debut at Blu Jazz+ celebrating the release of their 4th album, A Bad Rep in the Rubber City on Cleveland Time Records! 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: $20 General Admission