Shows - BLU Jazz+

Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul

Fri, Jun 26

Soul jazz saxophone player and multi-instrumentalist from Buffalo, NY., Ellen Pieroni, brings her group The Soul Encyclopedia to BLU Jazz! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $30 at the door) About: Pieroni’s smooth-infused soul jazz band Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul, or EoS, was recently featured on NPR’s All Things Considered as one of three “jazz stand outs” for the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest, where Felix Contreras said that “soul jazz is alive and well with…Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul.” Although the group is inspired by artists such as Grover Washington Jr., King Curtis, and the Crusaders, EoS puts an emphasis on new original music. The sound is driven by Pieroni’s captivating and soulful melodies, supported by thoughtful improvisation from all members over deep pocket grooves. Sparked by a mutual love of the band Stuff, The Encyclopedia of Soul was founded in 2022. The band’s first recording, I Know That’s Right (Live at The Beat Barn), featured local legend Darryl Washington (brother of Grover Washington, Jr.) on drums. On recordings and on stage, the band features a rotating cast of talented collaborators, including Adam Bronstein (guitar), Isaiah Gethers (drums), Dom Missana (bass), James Benders (bass), Jacob Nicholson (keys), Tyler James (keys), and Marvin Cj Smith (keys). Pieroni has released two albums with EoS: The Encyclopedia of Soul, Vol. I (2023) and Soul Vacation (2024). The band has played the GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, the Rochester Lilac Festival, and the Erie Jazz and Blues Festival. EoS has shared the stage with Bernard Purdie, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, BoomBox, and Sophistafunk; and Ellen recently had a reel of hers shared by Vulfpeck with the caption "800 grit sandpaper... smooth.” In addition to her music career, Pieroni is a music educator, teaching full time for 9+ years in the Buffalo Public School district, 8+ years as jazz band director at Bristol Hills Music Camp, and 3+ years at the Community Music School. She is also a promoter of local music with her company, Lavender Haze Collective. “When [Ellen] takes her solo, it really warms my heart because I hear the same soulfulness of Cannonball, or any of the sax players who played with Ray Charles back in the 50s, or the more contemporary alto saxophonist David Sanborn.” - Felix Contreras, NPR’s All Things Considered

Tri-C JazzFest After-Party ft. RESOLVE

Sat, Jun 27

Join us this Saturday, as we host an after-party and jam session for TRI-C JazzFest musicians and attendees! The jam session will be hosted by local cats, RESOLVE. Bring your horn/axe and come hang!

FREE ADMISSION

Doors: 7:00pm

Show: 8:00pm-11:30pm

"BLUesday Tuesday" Blues Jam

Tue, Jun 30

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 Night Jam Session with The EMP Trio

Thu, Jul 02

EMP takes a stop at Blu Jazz during their Summer of EMP Trio series and is joined by a very special guest: YOU! Bring your axe and join EMP as they host Blu Jazz's Thursday night session. Don't miss this opportunity to see the original EMP Trio perform one last time at Blu before they all head their separate ways for their next chapter.

Doors: 6:00pm

Show: 7:00pm

Tickets: $10 General Admission (supports our local artists!)

First set: EMP Trio

Second set: Jam Session

Keys - Luca Albano

Bass - Thomas Johnston

Drums - Evan Michael Palermo

Luca Albano was born in Rome, Italy, and started his piano studies there in 2008. Since then, he and his family moved to Rochester, NY, where he spent 9 years studying classical piano with Mrs. Harriet Zimmerman in the pre-collegiate program at the Eastman Community Music School. Now a student at BGSU since 2022, he is majoring in classical piano performance and minoring in jazz studies with Dr. Solungga Liu and Professor Ariel Kasler respectively.

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, Ariel Kasler, and Aidan Plank. He can often be seen playing out with the EMP group, as well as a sought out music director and pit musician all across Ohio.

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, 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.

Abstract Sounds

Fri, Jul 03

Cleveland saxophonist, Jevaughn Bogard, brings his group Abstract Sounds back to Akron, for a special valentines celebration featuring vocalist Esther Fitz! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $30 at the door) 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.

Astrofusion

Thu, Jul 09

Astrofusion, as its name suggests, is a primarily jazz-fusion group that brings pocket and punch to rock, funk, and much more! Made up of current and former students from Solon High School in Solon, OH, the band brings the young talent of Northeast Ohio to audiences around the region. Join us for their deBLUt on Thursday, July 9th!

Doors: 6:00pm

Show: 9:00pm

Tickets: General Admission ($10 in advance, $15 day of show)

Featuring:

Steven Haines - drums

Ray Jiang - saxes/keys

Elliot Neifach - bass

Tre Malia - trumpet

Finley Barron - trombone

Moises Borges & Ava Preston "A Very Special Bossa Nova Duo"

Fri, Jul 10

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: $25 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.

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