Join us on Thursday, June 5th, as saxophonist/flutist and composer, Nathan-Paul Davis, brings his infectious stage presence and his swinging quintet to the stage at BLU! Get ready to tremble and shake underneath the almighty battle cry of the SAX! This is not one to miss folks! Featuring: Zaire Darden - Drums George Delaney - Bass Johny Cochran Jr. - Sax Nathan-Paul - Sax & Flute Paul Samuels- Percussion Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission 

Join us Friday, June 6th, with the fabulous Barbara Rosene and her jazz quartet! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission Featuring: Baraba Rosene - Vocals Tommy Lehman - Trumpet Bryan Thomas - Bass Rock Wehrmann - Piano About: An Ohio native, now living in New York City, Barbara Rosene has built an unequalled reputation for interpreting the great music of the 1920s through the 50s. She has shared stages with jazz icons, making music with The Harry James Orchestra, with the late Les Paul at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, with Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, and The Woody Allen Jazz Band, as well as directing her own New Yorkers. Barbara has performed as a guest artist with orchestras and in festivals world wide. She has played such venues as Dizzy’s, Lincoln Center's Rose Hall, Birdland, Blues Alley, The Jazz Corner, The Montreal Jazz Festival and Jazz Amarinois. Barbara has been featured on Judy Carmichael's NPR program, "Jazz Inspired", and on NPR's "Hot Jazz Saturday Night."with Rob Bamberger. She has been recognized by Backstage Magazine (Bistro Award), "Jazz Improv Magazine", and is featured in Scott Yanow’s “Great Jazz Singers.” 

When Ava Preston and Moises Borges are on stage together you are transported to another place and time. Ava and Moises’ voices alternate, balance and blend smoothly taking us on the scenic route of this South American musical journey. These forever classic Brazilian tunes, and Moises’ seemingly timeless originals, tap into a feeling so many of us long for, a musical vacation, rejuvenation, relaxation, entertainment, enjoyment, fun, nostalgia. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission About: Moises Borges Based in Cleveland, Ohio for over two decades, Moises Borges is a gifted guitarist and vocalist born in Bahia, Brazil, He grew up experimenting with rhythms such as Bolero, Baião, Xote, Afoxé, Frevo, Forró, especially Samba and Bossa Nova which are basic to his performances, his soothing voice and charm make for a wonderful evening of entertainment for all lovers of Brazilian Jazz. Performing either solo or with his band, Borges is a wonderful storyteller, and a vivid, funny performer who plays mostly in the Samba and Bossa Nova traditions, interpreting his original songs and soulfully delivering classics by Jobim, Gilberto, Bosco and many others. "Far away from his native Brazil, the music of his homeland is very much alive when he is on stage." Ava Preston Ava Preston is a jazz vocalist and indie singer-songwriter who enjoys performing jazz, blues, pop/rock and her original songs as a solo artist and as a featured guest with various combos and bands throughout Cleveland and New York. Ava was voted Best Female Vocalist at the 2024 Cleveland Music Awards. She is a YoungArts Finalist and Silver Award Winner for Jazz Voice, and is a 12x Downbeat SMA winner, 6x for Vocal Jazz and 6x for Blues/Pop/Rock. She performed at the 2023 Monterey Jazz Festival as the vocalist for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Ava is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Jazz Voice at the Juilliard School. 

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 

EMP is back at Blu, this time with the largest version of the group to date! With each member of the band pulling from their own unique backgrounds and styles, this night is guaranteed to include the greatest musical diversity heard from the band to date. Bebop, standards, fusion, rock, latin, soul, originals, and all things in between can be expected from this incredibly rare orchestration of the EMP Group. Featuring: Geoff Schneider - Alto saxophone Bill McRae - Tenor/Soprano saxophone Jeremey Poparad - Guitar Tumaini Sango - Keys Thomas Johnston - Bass Evan Michael Palermo - Drums Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission 

The Pickle Mafia is a dynamic trio from New York, garnering nationwide attention through their groundbreaking, unique brand of Arena Jazz Fusion! Featuring Charlie Lindner (keyboardist/composer), Ben Chilbert (bass), and Marco Cirigliano (drums/percussion). Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission The band performs original cutting edge jazz tunes and arrangements of popular artists from Nirvana to Chick Corea and electronic danceable originals! Performances can vary from intimate grand piano sit down shows to straight up dance parties! Just in a short time the group has played 80+ shows across NYC, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Southern tier, ADK, Vermont, and 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. 

Thursday, June 19th, Join us for an unforgettable night of powerful poetry and evocative spoken word performances! Experience raw emotion, compelling stories, and thought-provoking words as local and emerging artists take the stage to share their voices. Whether you’re a longtime poetry lover or new to the world of spoken word, this event promises to ignite your imagination and stir your soul. Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm Tickets: $10 General Admission (proceeds support our artists) 

Jennifer James brings her quintet 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! Featuring: Chris Coles - Sax Jennifer James - Piano David Schrembeck - Drums Brandon Tyson - Bass Andrew Wegierski- Trombone Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission 

Join us for an uplifting Thursday night of Gospel Jazz, featuring the humble yet prestigious powerhouse vocalist and keyboardist, Doobie Powell! Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm-10:00pm As a performer, Doobie's live shows have become legendary, combining powerful vocals with an electrifying stage presence that transforms venues into sanctuaries of soul. His performances, marked by dynamic live arrangements and unexpected musical turns, seamlessly blend gospel, jazz, R&B, and contemporary soul, consistently drawing diverse audiences seeking authentic musical experiences. 

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.