BLU Jazz+'s Upcoming Shows

Join us every Wednesday for the Jazz Heritage Orchestra! This is a FREE event!

Under the musical direction of Dennis Reynolds, the JHO will assemble every Wednesday in August for a reading band format where we'll perform a series of new and exciting tunes throughout the summer. You'll also see some new faces on the bandstand as we'll be welcoming in some talented young musicians who will be sharpening their large ensemble skills alongside us. Bring your friends and enjoy some big band tunes at BLU!

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 8:00pm

Tickets: FREE ADMISSION!!!

About:

The Jazz Heritage Orchestra was formed in 1998 in residence with the Cleveland State University Black Studies department. Under the artistic direction of Dennis Bradley Reynolds, the mission of the JHO was to preserve and perpetuate the heritage of the great African American jazz masters through educational programming coupled with elite performance. This mission carries on today through a new partnership with OpenTone Music. From our new home base in Akron, The JHO visits public and private schools to hold open rehearsals, master classes as well as jazz history lectures and performs throughout the Northeast Ohio community. The JHO has performed with many local, national and international artists such as Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Nancy Wilson, John Morton, Evelyn Wright and Vanessa Rubin.

"In a thoroughly contemporary twist on the classic jazz lore tradition of the territory band, the Jazz Heritage Orchestra reflects the contributions of an impressive range of musicians from several points on the midwestern map."

Willard Jenkins, Journalist (Jazz Times, Downbeat, BET on Jazz, WPFW)

Join us on Friday, August, 28th as we welcome The Mars Express to BLU for the first time!

The Mars Express is a Cleveland, Ohio-based band blending jazz, neo-soul, and funk. Founded by keyboardist and Berklee College of Music alumnus Marcelino "Mars" Q. and vocalist Sara Smile, the duo frequently performs with a full backing band, integrating metaphysical themes with cosmic frequencies often tuned to 432 Hz.

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 8:00pm

Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 at the door)

Saturday, August 29th, Akron pianist Jennifer James brings her new VGM Quartet to Blu Jazz+ for an exciting and unique night of video game music, performing arrangements of iconic tracks from games like Animal Crossing, The Sims, Mario Kart, and more. From classics to modern gems, this will be a night featuring the best of video game soundtracks that you won't want to miss!

Featuring:

Jennifer James (piano)

Christopher Coles (sax)

Holbrook Riles III (drums)

Taylor Arbogast (bass)

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 8:00pm

Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show)

Starting this upcoming Tuesday, June 23rd, local bassist and producer, SmokeFace, brings his jam session to the stage at BLU! Bring your axe, share your sound, and be apart of creating original music real time. All ages welcome! This jam session will be EVERY OTHER TUESDAY!

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 8:00pm-10:30pm

Tickets: FREE ADMISSION

Under 18 needs to be accompanied by legal guardian.

SmokeFace is a professional bassist, guitarist, and recording artist from Akron, Ohio, known for blending soulful grooves with modern, genre-bending sound. Having toured both nationally and internationally with major artists as well as leading his own projects, SmokeFace brings a high-level musical experience to every stage.

Join EMP as he brings friends Michael McCann, Jeremey Poparad, and Nicholas Doan to Blu Jazz for the last time in the calendar year! Classic EMP charts plus new arrangements and tunes are all on the docket, you won't want to miss it!

Michael McCann - saxophone

Jeremey Poparad - guitar

Nicholas Doan - bass

Evan Michael Palermo - drums

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 8:00pm

Tickets: $20 General Admission

About:

Evan Michael Palermo is a Cleveland native who and a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University's College of Musical Arts. Through the music, Evan has been heard in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, 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.

What do you get when you combine saxophone, piano, bass and drums with violin and cello? Prism, a jazz sextet that provides a unique and interesting jazz experience. Featuring John Klayman (woodwinds), Anthony Fuoco (piano), Aidan Plank (bass), Carrie Singler (violin), Jeffrey Singler (cello), and Sunceray Tabler (drums and percussion).

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 8:00pm

Tickets: $20 General Admission

Prism was created by saxophonist John Klayman in 2019. Klayman, a 35-year charter member of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, wanted to create a small jazz group that included strings and the very best young jazz musicians in N.E. Ohio. Prism recreates many jazz classics including works by Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Billy Strayhorn, Chick Corea and Freddie Hubbard. In addition, the group presents newer compositions by Michael Brecker, Donny McCaslin, John Abercrombie and Bill Stewart.

Musicians include prominent members of the Northeast Ohio jazz and classical music communities. Prism frequently performs in jazz clubs and concert venues in Northeast Ohio. Its members are very active as performers, educators, adjudicators, and guest artists.