Side Step is a jazz quartet featuring saxophonists Ryan Devlin and Jordan Lerner, bassist Ian Ashby, and drummer Ryan Barski. Since 2022, the group has forged a unique sound and style, inspired by the interplay of Elvin Jones and Steve Grossman. Catch their debut at BLU Jazz+, Friday, November 7th! Ryan Devlin: Tenor Saxophone Jordan Lerner: Soprano and Tenor Saxophones Ian Ashby: Bass Ryan Barski: Drums Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at door) 

EMP is back at Blu, this time with Cloumbus’ own Bryan Olsheski! Join EMP as they get into the fall spirit through the tunes of Vince Guaraldi, originals, standards, plus some classic EMP twists! Door: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at door) Bryan Olsheski - Saxophone Jeejay Maccariella - Keys Thomas Johnston - Bass Evan Michael Palermo - Drums 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. Logan "Jeejay" Maccariella is a pianist from Toledo, OH. They have played at many venues across North America while a part of the National Tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar", as well as worked as a Cruise Ship Pianist for Holland America Line. Jeejay would like to thank the many musicians who have made an impact on their musical development that has over the years developed into a lifelong passion. 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 and Aidan Plank. 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, and 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. 

For the first time in Northeast Ohio, Steven Nicholas will present his interactive theatrical mind reading experience. His performances have received awards and rave reviews for the past five years at theaters and festivals around the country. Now, you’re invited to bring your own unique thoughts and decisions to Blu Jazz and become part of this one-of-a-kind experience. The night will kick off with The Jennifer James Trio playing a jazz set before Steven's performance at 7:00pm. Come for dinner and enjoy the music before the Mind Reader show! Doors: 6:00pm Jennifer James Trio: 7:00pm-8:00pm Mind Reader: 8:30pm-9:30pm Tickets: $35 General Admission $50 VIP Reserved Front Row Seat (plus an "impossible object" and complimentary drink) About: Steven grew up in Northeast Ohio where he began performing more than thirty years ago. He studied theater at The University of Akron and UNLV before moving to Los Angeles to enter the world of professional entertainment. He has performed for dozens of Fortune 500 companies, Hollywood’s elite, and at theaters from coast to coast. "An entrancing one-man show" - No Proscenium "Mind blowing" - City Magazine "You'll be mesmerized" - Orlando Weekly PLEASE CLICK BELOW ON SECOND 7:00PM SHOW FOR VIP TICKETS 

The Stix Trio returns to BLU Jazz+, Saturday, November 15th! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at door) The Stix Trio, 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 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 as we welcome the Cats back to BLU for an explosive two-night run! Come say farewell and help us send off Cameron as he makes his move out East! Featuring: Justin Tibbs - Sax Michael Vincent - Guitar Smokeface - Bass Cameron Bickley - Drums Randy Nicholas - Bass Tommy Lehman - Trumpet Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at the door) 

Join us as we welcome the Cats back to BLU for an explosive two-night run! Come say farewell and help us send off Cameron as he makes his move out East! Featuring: Justin Tibbs - Sax Michael Vincent - Guitar Smokeface - Bass Cameron Bickley - Drums Randy Nicholas - Bass Tommy Lehman - Trumpet Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at the door) 

Join us as we celebrate the legendary tunes of Steely Dan, with The FM Project! Doors: 7:00 Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) 

World class jazz guitarist and Akron native, Dan Wilson, returns with the legendary vocalist/keyboardist, Nigel Hall, for a very special Sunday evening at BLU Jazz+! Featuring: Dan Wilson - guitar Nigel Hall - vocals David Throckmorton - drums Cliff Barnes - piano Kip Reed - bass Doors: 6:00pm Show:7:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($30 in advance, $40 at the door) About: GRAMMY-winning Soul provider Nigel Hall is an artist who needs no introduction. Throughout his career, he’s built a mighty foundation of funk, onstage and in the studio, proving himself to be a true student of the music. His unique sound, built upon pages torn out of the golden-ages of R&B, funk and soul, have made him the musician he is today; an accomplished vocalist, keyboardist, studio musician, and member of the GRAMMY-nominated funk-jazz-soul-hip-hop-psychedelic-jam-experimental titans Lettuce. Legions of fans are already well in the know about Hall’s copious keyboard chops and powerful vocal style. 

Cleveland contemporary jazz sensations bring their high-energy funk, rock, reggae & pop in a highly-anticipated return to the Rubber City! Featuring Lem Adams (Vibes), Riley Richard (Sax), Kevin Byous (Guitar), Gary Stevenson (Bass), Alphonso McDuffie (Keys), and John Turner (Drums). Join us at BLU for the return of this hard-hitting group, get your tickets now! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($45 in advance, $50 day of show) 

Together for the first time this November! Hubb’s Groove and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra join forces for a night of genre bending mix of funk, blues, and jazz at BLU Jazz+! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($30 in advance, $35 at door) About: The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has been Northeast Ohio’s premier jazz voice since 1985. Led by award-winning composer and trombonist Paul Ferguson, the CJO promotes jazz in its historical and contemporary forms, through concerts featuring a stellar line-up of jazz luminaries, arrangers, composers, and educators. At a CJO concert, you will enjoy “the best jazz you’ve ever heard and the best jazz you’ve never heard.” Through inventive, original music and effective, innovative Educational Outreach, the CJO shepherds young and up-and-coming musicians and provides our region with unique and important cultural experiences. Hubb’s Groove plays jazz, soul, gospel, classical and R&B music. The band was founded in 1995 under the name Moment’s Notice. The founding band members are Rodney Hubbard, Cliff Coleson, David Heman, Eddie Baccus Jr. and I, Robert Hubbard Jr. As band members went out on tour, they added new members, such as Robert White, Andrew Braxton, Keith Mckelly, Jermaine Lockhart, Tony Pulizzi and Walter Barnes Jr. The band changed it’s name to Straight to the Point in 2000, Change on Five in 2004, then Hubb’s Groove in 2006. The band has performed with Angela Bofill, Roger Smith, Marcus Johnson, Walter & Tramaine Hawkins, Vesta Williams, Gerald Levert and many more. The band has opened up for Earth, Wind & Fire, Yellow Jackets, Randy Crawford, Marian Meadows, Pieces of a Dream, Wayman Tisdel, Roy Ayers & many more…. 

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.