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 

Tim Mirth Quartet featuring AJ Kluth (sax), Jeremey Poparad (bass), and Tony Kazel (drums). Playing a mix of originals and rearrangements of standards taking a unique approach to the new jazz scene. We are excited to return to Blu with an added element of saxophone to the group with the amazing AJ Kluth. Inspired by the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Keith Jarrett, John McLaughlin, Classical music, 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) 

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! 

Join us for an unforgettable Thursday night, featuring the return of Jonathan Scales Fourchestra to BLU Jazz! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($25 in advance), ($35 day of show) Jonathan Scales is one of the most innovative steel pannists on the planet, and is redefining and challenging traditional expectations of his signature instrument. In his hands, the sonic palette of an instrument often associated with cruise ships and tropical resorts is radically expanded to mimic the role of horns, piano, vibraphone or marimba due to his stunning, virtuosic technique. Scales’ mesmerizing compositions have captivated listeners and elevated him to the status of a true composer, forging new territory in the medium of instrumental music. From club and festival stages across North America and Europe, and tours of Africa, Southeast and Central Asia as a Cultural Ambassador for the US Department of State, to their NPR Tiny Desk Concert featuring Béla Fleck, the Fourchestra’s live shows make even the most jaded listeners forget where they are… even if just for a precious moment. This may seem an odd thing to say, but on the verge of releasing their eighth studio recording, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra is only now truly embracing their identity as a group. For many years, Jonathan’s live band was a fluid lineup of top-notch musicians, and even included an “all-star” version with bassist MonoNeon (Prince, Nas), drummer Sput Searight (Snarky Puppy, Snoop Dogg) and percussionist Weedie Braimah (Trombone Shorty, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah), as well as a number of other marquee players. Now, however, the Fourchestra is a decidedly indivisible band, and Jonathan is writing for the trio, not just the pans. “…joyously inventive…” -JazzTimes “To say I am impressed would be a gross understatement! Wow, Jonathan!” -Béla Fleck “At the end of the day Scales is going to be a major player in rewriting the books on steelpan music outside the box.” -When Steel Talks “Jonathan Scales brings new vitality to the traditional Caribbean instrument, picking up where Othello Molineaux left off 20 years ago with Jaco Pastorius.” -JazzTimes 

Professional bassist and producer, SmokeFace, brings his heavy in-the pocket grooves to BLU Jazz with his trio! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($15 in advance, $20 day of show) 

Jennifer James brings her quartet to Blu Jazz featuring some of Akron's favorite musicians. From standards and originals to video game music, this show will include a little something for everyone! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) 

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. 

Heavy-hitting saxophonist, Steve Kortyka, returns to BLU Jazz to light up the stage on Friday, October 24th! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($25 in advance, $30 day of show) 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 an electrifying evening of big band brilliance as the Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra (SPHJO) celebrates the release of their sophomore album, Multiversal: Live at BOP STOP, performed at BLU Jazz+! This thrilling live recording—captured at the iconic Cleveland venue—drops August 22, 2025, and showcases an action-packed collection of original works by saxophonist, composer, and conductor Stephen Philip Harvey. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) About: The SPHJO is a seventeen-piece ensemble featuring a rotating roster of world-class musicians from across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Known for their bold sound and adventurous programming, the group debuted in 2022 with Smash!, a studio album released on Next Level (an imprint of Outside in Music). Drawing inspiration from comic books and superhero sagas, Harvey’s compositions burst with cinematic energy, a signature style continued and expanded in this new live album. With Multiversal, Harvey channels the spirit of America's original large ensemble—the jazz orchestra—into a vivid, pseudo-cinematic soundscape filled with drama, intensity, and imaginative storytelling. Don’t miss this celebration of sonic world-building, brought to life by a powerhouse band on the rise. “Multiversal: Live at BOP STOP” is a bold, super‑powered live album that cements his place as one of contemporary jazz’s adventurous large‑ensemble voices… it’s a thrilling follow‑up to “Smash!” (2022) continuing his cinematic, genre‑bending trajectory. This ambitious live album shows Harvey at the top of his compositional, arranging, and bandleading game. –– Mike Gates, UK Vibe" 

Cleveland saxophonist, Jevaughn Bogard, brings his group Abstract Sounds back to BLU Jazz for a special Halloween show! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($25 in advance, $30 day of show) About: Abstract Sounds is a 6pc Jazz fusion / Funk band from Cleveland, OH started by saxophonist Jevaughn Bogard. The band is a horn section driven by an amazing rhythm section that will keep you out of your seat. The goal for Abstract Sounds is to bring the dance element back to jazz and Abstract Sounds does that with their funky grooves and dance club sounds blended with rich and extended harmony that consumes you. Jevaughn has been blessed to share the stage with artist like, Aretha Franklin, Tye Tribbett, Kim Burrell , Big Daddy Kane, Benny Golson, Deitrick Haddon, Chick Corea and many more. If you're fans of the  music by artist like Micheal Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Beeges, Jill Scott, Snarky Puppy, Herbie Hancock this concert is definitely for you and with a nice selection of original music written by Jevaughn this concert was curated to touch the soul. 

Join us for a thrilling Saturday of classically fueled jazz featuring local saxophonist Max Schlenk and his quartet! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) Featuring: Max Schlenk: Saxophone Garret Folger: Trumpet Kevin Martinez: Bass Jeremy McCabe: Drums