The BLU Jazz Collective

The Blu Jazz Collective

Playing once a quarter, The Blu Jazz Collective is our new house band bringing together some of the finest jazz musicians in Northeast Ohio.

Each performance will explore a wide range of big band literature - from classics of the genre to rarely heard and even unpublished arrangements by legendary writers such as Don Menza, Gerry Mulligan, Willie Maiden, and Don Sebesky. The band will also showcase original charts and arrangements by some of the outstanding writers from our own Northeast Ohio jazz community.

The idea behind The Blu Jazz Collective is simple: bring great musicians together, put great music in front of them, and give them the freedom to make something special happen on stage. The band will feature an exceptional lineup of musicians drawn from Northeast Ohio’s deep jazz community, with each player bringing their own voice, experience, and energy to the ensemble.

Jazz has always been a communal music. It’s built on musicians listening to one another, reacting in the moment, sharing ideas, and creating something together that no individual musician could create alone. That spirit is at the heart of The Blu Jazz Collective. The word Collective is intentional - this isn’t about one person standing in front of a band. It’s about the musicians on the bandstand, the writers whose music they’re playing, and the audience in the room all sharing in the experience.

That sense of community extends beyond the stage as well. Northeast Ohio has a remarkable jazz tradition and an incredible community of musicians, writers, educators, and listeners. The Blu Jazz Collective is meant to be a gathering place for that community - a chance to hear familiar faces, discover new ones, and celebrate the depth of jazz talent that exists right here in our own backyard.

The Blu Jazz Collective - One community, brought together through jazz.

Featuring: Dave Sterner, Bob Esterle, Scott Marsh, Scott McKee, Mark Russo, Jack Schantz, Tim Lekan, Ricky Exton’s, and more!

With vocals from the wonderfully talented Erin Keckan!!!