Join us as we continue our 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! This week's “BLU-esday 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 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
Meet "Aaron Smith & RDAA," a dynamic band founded by drummer, Aaron Smith, driven by a passion for original jazz, fusion, and soul music. Hailing from the Midwest, with roots in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky, the band has captivated audiences in cities like Cleveland, Akron, Indianapolis, and Nashville. Their unique and inspiring sound, crafted by each member's distinct style, has garnered a growing fan base, with overwhelming love from audiences at every show! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission
Renown saxophonist, composer, and educator, Bobby Selvaggio, hits the stage with his local all star quintet! Featuring Tommy Lehman (trumpet), George Delancey (bass), Zaire Darden (drums), & Zach Jones (guitar). Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $20 General Admission About: Bobby Selvaggio is one of the leading alto saxophone voices on today's jazz scene. In the words of pianist Kenny Werner, “Bobby is among the best of players out there,” and legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano praises Bobby by calling him “one of the few young saxophonists on the scene today that captures you with his strong presence, focus, and sound.” Bobby, who grew up in the Cleveland area, earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Kent State University. He eventually moved to New York City and earned a master’s degree in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of Music. While in New York, Bobby studied with Joe Lovano, Bobby Watson, Dick Oatts, and Maria Schneider. After living in New York City and gigging around town at places like the Vanguard, Smalls, and Birdland for four years, Bobby decided to move back to Cleveland with his family. Northeast Ohio has become his home base of operations where Bobby has toured extensively throughout the US and Canada with various working ensembles and musicians. He has dedicated himself to keeping jazz alive in Cleveland and his passion for jazz education has led him to serve as Director of Jazz Studies at Kent State University.
Join us as we continue our 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! This week's “BLU-esday 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 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
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)! This session will feature local saxophonist, composer, and instructor, Bobby Selvaggio with Nick Paparone (guitar), Zaire Dardin (drums), and Jordan McBride (bass). Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm Tickets: $10 General Admission (proceeds to musicians) *** Free for students and participating musicians *** UNDER 18 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
Billboard chart-topping vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist brings his acclaimed showmanship, unique talent and enthusiastic energy to the Rubber City for a very special one-night-only return to BLU! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $50 General Admission About: The passion and essence of Nathan’s music has penned him in the hearts of musical innovators, listeners, and lovers all over the world. This top 30 Billboard vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist is known best for his showmanship, unique talent, enthusiastic energy, and funk as a collaborator with many of smooth jazz top GRAMMY winning, nominated, and Billboard artists. He has crisscrossed the globe, touring with luminaries of the smooth jazz/ RnB industry like Nick Colionne, Lin Rountree, Paul Brown, Dawn Robinson (En Vogue/ Lucy Pearl), Irene Cara, Stokley (Mint Condition), and many more premier industry artists. In 2018 Nathan released his debut album SMOOTH GROOVE, in which, 2 of his songs accomplished great success on mainstream media – “Inspiration” which made the top 30 on the Smooth Jazz Billboard charts at #22 and “Smooth Groove at #20. Currently, Nathan has completed his new album entitled, “SoulMate” which made its debut on September 4, 2019. The success of this project has already been deemed to be great with the acceptance of his new single hitting mainstream media (SIRIUS XM, iHEART Radio, etc…) entitled “Swing City” featuring the 2019 NAACP Image Award Winner – Jazmin Ghent. Swing City is currently making great achievements as a top 10 hit on the Billboard charts and Smooth Jazz Network Charts with his first #1 on the Mediabase charts.
The Jazz Heritage Orchestra is incredibly proud to present a concert focused on the works of Dr. Wendell Logan in recognition of his lifelong dedication to music & community, and in celebration of his legacy of service continuing well into the future at the Dr. Wendell Logan Center For Arts & Healing in Kenmore, OH. Dr. Wendell Morris Logan (1940-2010) was a distinguished composer, educator, and visionary in the field of jazz studies. As a tenured professor at Oberlin College, he served as the founding director of the Jazz Studies Department at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, shaping the program into one of the most respected in the country. Dr. Logan was also a driving force behind the founding of the Jazz Heritage Orchestra in 1998. We will be featuring his writing for big band accompanied by originals and arrangements written by our members. This will be an exciting night of big band music which you won't hear anywhere else! The JHO appears courtesy of OpenTone Music and Helping To Overcome Systems, LLC Personnel: Saxophones Jim Pisano - Lead Alto Don Turoso - Alto Eddie Bayard - Tenor 1 Tony Spicer - Tenor 2 Max Schlenk - Bari Trumpets Dennis Reynolds - Lead Trumpet, JHO Music Director Scott McKee Garrett Folger Tommy Lehman Trombones Jimmy Redmond - Lead Chris Anderson Zack Warren Aaron Thornberry - Bass Trombone Rhythm Phillip K. Jones II - Piano Glenn Holmes - Bass Bobby Ferraza - Guitar Jerome Jennings - Drums 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 as we continue our 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! This week's “BLU-esday 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 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
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) in May of 2019. 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 as we continue our 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! This week's “BLU-esday 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 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
Join us for an epic celebration of big band tunes, featuring performances by The Moonlight Serenaders and The Akron Big Band! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: $30 General Admission The Moonlight Serenaders, led by Trombonist Scott Marsh, focus on keeping the traditions of the classic Big Band Era alive, playing songs from the late 1930's up to the mid 1960's...from Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, and Artie Shaw to Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich. The band features vocal and instrumental soloists, and plays clubs, public concerts, and private events throughout Northeast Ohio. The Akron Big Band, under the direction of Trumpeter Jim Fry, has been performing for over 50 years. The band plays popular music from just about every decade from the 1940's to today. Utilizing arrangements written for the instrumentation of the traditional Big Band, they play a wide variety of styles with the addition of vocal and instrumental soloists.
Join us as we continue our 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! This week's “BLU-esday 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 needs to be accompanied by an adult.