LEDISI TAKE 6
CHARLES LLOYD OCEAN TRIO II,
FEATURING GERALD CLAYTON AND MARVIN SEWELL
MARCUS MILLER
BOB JAMES QUARTET
JASON MORAN AND THE BANDWAGON
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT
ARTEMIS
HAROLD LÓPEZ-NUSSA: TIMBA A LA AMERICANA
DIEGO FIGUEIREDO
SCARY GOLDINGS
DOMINICK FARINACCI
SEAN JONES
TOMMY LEHMAN
CURTIS TAYLOR
Whether on the page, on the screen, on the stage, or anywhere else, art brings life to life. KeyBank is grateful for the passion and creativity that inspire and enrich all our lives, and we’re proud to support the arts.
Thank you, Tri-C Jazz Fest and the 2024 performing artists, for making a difference. We're grateful for all that you do.
On behalf of KeyBank, the presenting sponsor of the 2024 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, I am pleased to welcome you to this exciting community festival — a 45 year musical tradition!
At KeyBank, supporting our community’s arts, culture and traditions is a priority and a privilege. This is why we are proud to support Tri-C JazzFest’s rich history of showcasing talented musicians across the jazz spectrum while providing world-class cultural arts and music education opportunities. At KeyBank, we are committed to helping our clients and communities thrive.
This event is a great example of a vibrant and vital community gathering together in celebration of — and appreciation of — Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) student musicians, jazz greats and their families, friends and fans.
I hope to see you at Tri-C JazzFest this weekend!
Best regards,
Eric M. Fiala
Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, KeyBank CEO, KeyBank Foundation
Welcome to the city of Cleveland and the 45th annual Tri-C JazzFest. I am proud of the many world-class arts organizations in this city and the fact that on any given weekend, there is something artistically significant to explore. This weekend, Tri-C takes the spotlight with Take 6, Marcus Miller, Bob James, Ledisi, Cécile McLorin Salvant and many other luminaries.
Congratulations to the festival organizers on a tremendous lineup. In addition to the ticketed concerts in Playhouse Square’s beautiful theaters, Clevelanders and visitors can enjoy free concerts on the plaza, highlighting our great Northeast Ohio talent.
Not every city has a jazz festival, and Cleveland is fortunate to have this annual event celebrating the breadth and depth of American music.
Enjoy the festival, and have a wonderful weekend here in Cleveland.
With gratitude,
Justin M. Bibb Mayor, City of Cleveland
TABLE OF CONTENTS
We encourage you to interact and share your experiences with us using #TriCJazzFest.
/TriCJazzFest
We are pleased to welcome you to this celebration of iconic American music. Last year, I attended my first JazzFest as Tri-C president and was immediately blown away by the music, energy and — most important of all — the sense of community that jazz inspires.
Jazz reaches across barriers in a unique way, inspiring people of all ages and walks of life to come together in appreciation and celebration.
This year’s indoor concert lineup is comprised of prize-winning artists who push creative boundaries to new heights, along with legendary performers who have helped to build the backbone of jazz music.
On the outdoor stages, you will experience a wide range of extraordinary musical talent, representing nearly every genre of jazz. Whether you appreciate a smoother jazz groove, uplifting gospel-inspired music or the irresistible dance sounds of Latin jazz, you will find it here at Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland!
In addition to the continued generosity of KeyBank, we could not produce this festival without the contributions and involvement of many other tremendous donors, including Fran and Jules Belkin, the Roy Minoff Family Fund, SeibertKeck Insurance Partners, Debbie and Jim Strassman, Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC, Char and Chuck Fowler, and the William M. Weiss Foundation.
I would also like to give a very special thank you to Playhouse Square for their counsel and partnership, as well as to the JazzFest staff and advisory board for all they do to make this world-class event possible.
Enjoy!
Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D. President Cuyahoga Community College
On behalf of the JazzFest team, welcome to the 45th edition of Tri-C JazzFest!
The artists in this year’s lineup are prize-winning creatives pushing boundaries and advocating for social change. In addition to being Grammy winners, several of the artists have been MacArthur Fellows, Guggenheim Fellows and Doris Duke Artist awardees. But when they hit the stage, the magic begins! From legendary veteran Charles Lloyd to amazing young Cuban pianist Harold LópezNussa to reigning vocal queens Cécile McLorin Salvant and Ledisi, you’re in for a thrilling musical experience.
Media people always ask, “What’s new for JazzFest this year?” And I always respond, “The lineup!” Every year, we put together a series that introduces young artists and presents legendary ones, running the gamut from world music to smooth and straight ahead. And the variety within that framework keeps it interesting.
I love seeing and hearing the artists in Playhouse Square’s elegant theaters. But I also encourage you to take in the wonderful Northeast Ohio talent on the SeibertKeck Insurance Partners Stage and the talented Tri-C students and alumni on the William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage. If you’re a foodie, check out the cooking demos in the Jazz Kitchen throughout the weekend. The chefs are graduates of Tri-C’s Hospitality Management Center who now run their own establishments, and the sous-chefs are jazz musicians. Not only is it highly entertaining, but the audience also gets to sample the food.
The festival weekend is a wondrous collaborative effort, with so many people to thank: Megan O’Bryan and the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation; Jenny Febbo and the Integrated Communications department staff; Tri-C JazzFest Academy Artistic Director Dominick Farinacci and the faculty of the JazzFest Academy Summer Music Camp; the Tri-C JazzFest board of advisors; our donors, sponsors and pass holders; and our dedicated JazzFest volunteers.
Jazz is such a treasure. Experience the diversity that is America in one unifying, magical weekend.
Terri Pontremoli Director, Tri-C JazzFest
Paul Ferguson didn’t pick up an instrument until he was 15 years old, but he has certainly made up for any lost time. Today, he is considered one of the most versatile and in-demand jazz trombonists in the Midwest, smoothly transitioning between orchestral and jazz settings.
The prolific writer, arranger and composer has scored over 250 compositions — many created in collaboration with Cleveland-based artists, including three arrangements for the Cleveland Pops used on The Drew Carey Show. Ferguson’s original works are also performed internationally.
After graduating from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in music, Ferguson set out on tour with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, followed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He earned a master’s degree from the prestigious Eastman School of Music.
Since 1988, Ferguson has been the director of Jazz Studies at Case Western Reserve University. He was awarded the Gil Evans Fellowship in Jazz Composition by the International Association of Jazz Educators in 1995. In 2015, he was named the artistic director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. He is also the lead trombonist and arranger for the orchestra.
Robert L. Hubbard Jr. was 5 years old when he started performing, playing the drums during services at his father’s church. He’s been setting the groove ever since as a bandleader, music producer and instructor. His percussion style deftly and diversely incorporates jazz, soul, R&B, and, true to his roots, gospel.
Honing his gifts at Cleveland’s acclaimed Music Settlement and advancing to the Cleveland School of the Arts, Hubbard was recognized twice as Ohio’s top high school jazz drummer at Tri-C JazzFest. Downbeat Magazine ranked Hubbard and his trio as the second-top high school jazz trio in the nation.
By 1993, Hubbard was establishing himself on tour with Cleveland R&B artists Men at Large when the group appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show. He also toured with jazz and gospel groups.
A dream came true for Hubbard in 1996 when he started his own band, Moments Notice. They shared the stage with musical greats such as Wayman Tisdale, Roy Ayers, the Yellowjackets, and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others.
Renamed in 2006 as Hubb’s Groove, Hubbard and his band maintain an active performance and touring schedule, showcasing Northeast Ohio’s wealth of jazz talent.
Each year, the Tri-C JazzFest Legends Award is presented to Northeast Ohio individuals and organizations who demonstrate outstanding achievement in jazz performance, education, advocacy or philanthropy.
Having already established itself as one of the world’s premier classical music recording studios, Cleveland’s own Telarc International was ready to embark on a new challenge: achieve equal prominence in the world of jazz recording.
Willard Jenkins has been a leading voice and advocate for jazz for almost 50 years. He is a celebrated writer, broadcaster, educator, historian, fundraiser, artistic director and independent arts consultant.
An initial venture into jazz in 1977 proved unsuccessful and was ultimately tabled. Fast forward to 1989, when Bob Woods, Telarc co-founder and executive producer, boldly invited classical conductor and jazz pianist André Previn to record a jazz album on the Telarc label. Previn simply requested that the best sidemen join him in the session. Telarc delivered the incomparable bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Joe Pass. The trio recorded After Hours, auspiciously launching the Telarc Jazz label.
Elaine Martone, Woods’s wife and Telarc’s vice president of production, and Jack Renner, co-founder and chief engineer, helped Woods grow Telarc Jazz into a Grammy-winning, highly sought-after recording label for a galaxy of jazz greats. The technical innovations and craftsmanship that distinguished the label’s classical recordings also presented themselves in masterpiece jazz recordings. Premier artists such as Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Bobby Short and Dizzy Gillespie helped expand the legacy of “the Telarc sound” into jazz.
The division produced 400 jazz albums before Telarc was sold in 2005.
A jazz fan since his childhood in Cleveland — cultivated through his father’s record collection — Jenkins began writing about jazz for Kent State University’s Black student newspaper. His professional career began at The Plain Dealer, where his contributions found their way to regional, national and international publications.
In 1977, he founded the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society as a concert presenter. Throughout his career, Jenkins has served as the artistic director of several nationally prominent jazz festivals, including nine years leading Tri-C JazzFest. In 2015, he was appointed as the first artistic director of the annual Washington, D.C. Jazz Festival.
His work at Arts Midwest, an organization committed to advancing the performing arts, led to the nation’s first regional jazz service program, benefiting musicians, presenters, educators and organizations. Also under his leadership, the Jazz Journalists Association was formed.
Helen Forbes Fields Chair
Ann M. Frangos Vice Chair
The Rev. Cory C. Jenkins
Phoebe Lee
Geralyn M. Presti
Alan Rosskamm
Victor A. Ruiz
Robert C. Smith
Ted Tywang
Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D. President
Eric Gordon Senior Vice President Student Development and Education Pipeline
David Kuntz, CPA Executive Vice President and Treasurer Administration and Finance
Shana Marbury, J.D. Executive Vice President Workforce, Community and Economic Development Division
Karen Miller, Ph.D. Provost and Executive Vice President Access, Learning and Success
India Pierce Lee Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
Renee Tramble Richard, J.D. President and CEO, Corporate College® Senior Advisor and Counsel to the President
Todd Kitchen, Ed.D. Eastern Campus President
Scott Latiolais, Ed.D. Westshore Campus President
Denise McCory, Ed.D. Metropolitan Campus President
Lisa Williams, Ph.D. Western Campus President
Radiah Blanton, Ed.D. Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the President
Jason Carter, Esq. Vice President, Legal Services, Risk Management and General Counsel
Lindsay English, Ph.D. Associate Provost
Jenny Febbo Vice President, Integrated Communications
Megan O’Bryan Vice President, Development
President, Cuyahoga Community College Foundation
Claire Rosacco
Vice President, Government Relations and Community Outreach
P R O U D S P O N S O R O F
T H E T R I - C J A Z Z F E S T O U T D O O R S T A G E !
Y o u r L o c a l I n s u r a n c e P a r t n e r s
H o m e | A u t o | B u s i n e s s | L i f e & H e a l t h
w w w . S e i b e r t K e c k . c o m | 3 3 0 . 8 6 7 . 3 1 4 0
Thursday, June 20 | 8 p.m.
Mimi Ohio Theatre | Playhouse Square
Take 6, heralded by Quincy Jones as the “baddest vocal cats on the planet,” is the quintessential a cappella group and the model for vocal genius.
Made up of Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley, this group has six virtuosic voices united in clear harmony against a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements and funky grooves.
Take 6 has won 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award and is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Take 6 has come a long way from its days at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where McKnight formed the group as the Gentleman’s Estate Quartet in 1980. What makes the music and the group last this long? The answers are direct and simple: faith, friendship, respect and love of music.
Friday, June 21
5 p.m.
Allen Theatre
Playhouse Square
Friday, June 21
6:30 p.m.
Mimi Ohio Theatre
Playhouse Square
Jazz pianist, composer and artist Jason Moran’s performances with Cassandra Wilson, Charles Lloyd and Sam Rivers reveal the scope of his partnerships and music-making.
The Houston native’s long list of albums consists of solo work and collaborations. His groundbreaking group, the Bandwagon (with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits), is celebrating more than 20 years of success.
His recent awards and fellowships include the MacArthur Foundation, United States Artists, the Doris Duke Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
He has also created scores for Ava DuVernay’s films Selma and 13th and author Ta-Nehisi Coates’s staged version of Between the World and Me.
Moran is currently the artistic director for jazz at the Kennedy Center, teaches at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and curates the Artist’s Studio series for Park Avenue Armory in New York City.
Cécile McLorin Salvant is a composer, singer and visual artist. Jessye Norman has described Salvant as “a unique voice supported by an intelligence and full-fledged musicality, which light up every note she sings.”
Salvant has a passion for storytelling and finding the connections between vaudeville, blues, worldwide folk traditions, theater, jazz and baroque music. She is an eclectic curator, unearthing rarely recorded, forgotten songs with strong narratives, interesting power dynamics, unexpected twists and humor.
In 2010, she won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition. She received Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album for three consecutive albums — For One To Love (2016), Dreams and Daggers (2018) and The Window (2019). In 2020, Salvant received the MacArthur Fellowship and the Doris Duke Artist Award.
Ghost Song, Salvant’s debut for Nonesuch Records, was released in March 2022 to critical acclaim and received two Grammy nominations. Her seventh studio album, Mélusine, released in 2023, was also wellreceived and nominated for two Grammy Awards.
Joining her on stage are pianist Sullivan Fortner, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Aaron Kimmel.
Friday, June 21
7:45 p.m.
Connor Palace
Playhouse Square
With dozens of movie scores and over 500 recording credits to his name across jazz, R&B and opera, Marcus Miller’s resume speaks for itself. As a UNESCO Artist for Peace and a changemaker, his work on social justice projects continues to inspire. Miller won two Grammy Awards — Best R&B Song for Luther Vandross’s “Power of Love” and Best Contemporary Jazz Album for his seventh solo instrumental album, M², in 2001. His 2015 album, Afrodeezia, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. He has also been nominated for a number of Grammy Awards as a producer for Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chaka Khan and Wayne Shorter. His instruments include bass, guitar, vocals, saxophone, clarinet, keyboards and recorder. In 2012, Miller was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace, supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project. In 2021, Bass Player magazine gave Miller a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist Bob James is known for exploring different musical landscapes and breaking boundaries. He famously wrote all the original music used for the television series Taxi, including its iconic theme song, “Angela.” A renowned arranger and producer, James is best recognized as one of the progenitors of smooth jazz. But his music has also influenced hip-hop. Two of his recordings, “Nautilus” and “Take Me to the Mardi Gras,” are among the most sampled in hip-hop history. He was discovered while still in college in 1962 when his band entered the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival — with Henry Mancini and Quincy Jones among the judges. After winning the competition, Jones signed James to an album deal with Mercury Records. In 1963, Mercury released James’s first album, Bold Conceptions.
Friday, June 21
10 p.m.
Mimi Ohio Theatre | Playhouse Square
Supergroup Scary Goldings combines hard-hitting grooves and well-crafted parts to make for a truly fun and unique time. The group consists of members of the funk ensemble Scary Pockets, anchored by organist Larry Goldings, guitarist Ryan Lerman, keyboardist Jack Conte, bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer James Williams. With his signature Hammond organ style and versatility on many keyboards, Boston native Goldings has traversed not only the wide spectrum of jazz — where he is perhaps best known — but also the worlds of funk, pop and electronic music.
Saturday, June 22
2:30 p.m.
Mimi Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square
The brainchild of pianist and composer Renee Rosnes, ARTEMIS is a powerful ensemble of modern jazz masters. Named for the Greek goddess of the hunt, this multinational and multigenerational group of women was founded in 2017 under the banner of International Women’s Day. The band’s performance at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival was so compelling that Blue Note Records President Don Was signed them to the label. Tour dates followed across the United States and Europe, including performances at festivals in Saratoga, Monterey and Detroit and at premier venues such as Carnegie Hall, the SFJAZZ Center, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The band released its self-titled debut album in 2020 and its second album, In Real Time, in May 2023. Each member of ARTEMIS is a bandleader and composer, and the repertoire draws on their distinctive personalities, from original music to imaginative arrangements of eclectic material. ARTEMIS performs with joy, power, passion and high-wire intensity. Rosnes will be joined by Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Nicole Glover (saxophone), Noriko Ueda (bass) and Allison Miller (drums).
Flying Home — A Tri-C Trumpet Summit is celebrating three decades of Tri-C JazzFest Jazz Academy alumni, featuring Sean Jones, Dominick Farinacci, Curtis Taylor and Tommy Lehman. This performance is a special tribute to Tri-C JazzFest’s outstanding educational program. The rhythm section also features distinguished alumni of the program, including Jonathan Thomas (piano), Graeham Guerin (bass), Gabe Jones (drums) and Patrick Graney (percussion).
Saturday, June 22
5:15 p.m.
Allen Theatre | Playhouse Square
Accolades abound for Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo Jazz critic Scott Yanow says, “Diego has the rare ability of making everything sound beautiful.” George Benson hails Figueiredo as one of the greatest guitarists he’s ever seen. Guitar World Magazine raves about his live performances, describing them as effortlessly sublime and utterly fabulous.
Born in 1980 in Franca, São Paulo State, Figueiredo began playing music at 4 years old. By 12, he had already attracted a local following, and at 15, he was drawing huge crowds around Brazil. This Grammy Award nominee has recorded over two dozen albums, both solo and in collaboration with others, and has played in more than 60 countries. He is the winner of several major competitions, including the Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition and Brazil’s Visa Prize.
Cuban-born pianist and composer Harold López-Nussa has 10 albums to his name. His Blue Note Records debut of Timba a la Americana, an album released in August 2023, teems with joy and pathos that were inspired by his recent decision to leave his native Cuba. Produced by Snarky Puppy bandleader Michael League, Timba a la Americana unveils a brand-new sound performed by a tight-knit band, featuring harmonica virtuoso Grégoire Maret, Luques Curtis on bass and brother Ruy Adrián López-Nussa on drums.
He traces the origins of Timba a la Americana to a day during his family’s first winter in Toulouse, France. He found himself flipping through voice memos on his phone, listening to jams and fragments of song ideas he’d documented years before. These pieces of music transported him back to the rhythmic communication that was part of his everyday life in Cuba.
Saturday, June 22
7:30 p.m.
Mimi Ohio Theatre | Playhouse Square
NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd has never sounded better. A Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et Lettre from the French Minister of Culture, Lloyd has a legendary history in the music world.
Credited by many musicians with anticipating the world music movement as early as the late 1950s, Lloyd describes his music as having always “danced on many shores.” His primary band since 2007 has been a quartet with pianist Jason Moran, acoustic bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland.
Over the past six decades, his compositions have punctuated the post-bop period, embraced the traditional music of a host of world cultures and enlivened the psychedelic 1960s with avant-garde improvisation. Lloyd was invited to guest on recordings with the Doors, the Birds, the Grateful Dead and the Beach Boys.
He made his first recording for ECM Records, Fish Out of Water, in 1989. Lloyd has long been a free spirit, master musician and visionary. He has loomed large over the music world, and at 84, he remains at the height of his powers and as prolific as ever. Early on, Lloyd saw how placing the improvised solo in interesting and original contexts could provoke greater freedom of expression and inspire creativity. Throughout his remarkable career, he has searched for alternative ways to frame his improvisational skills.
Saturday, June 22
9 p.m.
Connor Palace
Playhouse Square
Ledisi has wowed fans with her unparalleled vocals since she burst onto the scene. She has been nominated for more than a dozen Grammy Awards and won the award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Anything For You” in 2021.
Her career has spanned almost two decades. Since arriving on the scene in the late 1990s, she’s garnered three Soul Train Music Awards, an NAACP Theatre Award and six NAACP Image Awards nominations.
Born in New Orleans and raised in Oakland, California, Ledisi has truly earned a place in the pantheon of the greatest singers of her generation. Ledisi has headlined two nationally sold-out tours and performed alongside Dave Matthews, Kelly Clarkson, Vince Gill and Maxwell, as well as jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Patti Austin.
No stranger to the film and television world, Ledisi landed her first feature film with the 2008 Leatherheads, directed by George Clooney. She has portrayed Mahalia Jackson twice — in the 2015 Oscar-nominated movie Selma and again in 2022 in Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story. Ledisi secured her first major television role in 2020, playing the legendary Patti LaBelle on the hit BET series American Soul.
Ledisi has also been active in the theater. She helped workshop the Tony Award-winning musical The Color Purple. In 2019, she was nominated for an LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award for her role as The Ancestor in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway musical Witness Uganda by Griffith Matthews and Matt Gould. In that same year, she also co-wrote and co-produced The Legend of Little Girl Blue, her one-woman show that premiered at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills to rave reviews and 19 sold-out shows.
This year’s indoor stages feature the stunning artwork of Cleveland artist Cara Romano. Conceived by Festival Production Manager William Horschke, Romano’s selected works were edited and produced by Dave Brooks of Hughie’s Event Production Services for the festival stages.
Romano is an artist and jewelry designer who works out of the Negative Space Studio and Gallery in Cleveland. After growing up in Oberlin, Romano received a B.A. in Visual Arts from the University of Chicago. She then earned an MFA in Sculpture + Expanded Practice and an M.A. in Art History from Ohio University. She works in many different styles and media but is best known for her paintings that incorporate light and shadow patterns into colorful, abstract compositions. Romano has taught at Tri-C, John Carroll University, the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts and BAYArts. She is also the director of Tri-C’s Gallery East.
“Pentimento #6” – Connor Palace
“Lift” – Mimi Ohio Theatre
“A Change in the Weather” – Allen Theatre
Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22
3 - 9 p.m.
Allen Theatre Lobby
Through a special exhibition in the Allen Theatre lobby, Tri-C JazzFest attendees can experience some of recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder’s prime recordings through immersive surround sound, powered by Déjà Vu.
This sound exhibit is free and open to the public during festival hours on Friday and Saturday, June 21 – 22, from 3 – 9 p.m.
Déjà Vu is the brainchild of Clevelander Frank Foti, founder, chief developer and CEO of Syndicate of Sounds. A pioneer in broadcast audio processing and engineering for the last 40 years, Foti has won numerous awards, including the prestigious NAB Engineering Achievement Award. He is also the executive chairman and majority owner of Telos Alliance, a world leader in audio solutions for all forms of broadcasting. Learn more about Foti and Déjà Vu technology at SyndicateOfSounds.com.
David Louis Cintron has worked as a multidisciplinary artist, musician and designer since 1990. Born and raised in Cleveland, he received a BFA in Graphic Design with a minor concentration in Studio Art from Kent State University.
Inspired by the outside natural world as well as the inner spiritual world, Cintron’s current body of visual work consists of color-rich, expressive abstract paintings and evocative ink drawings. He works intuitively and spontaneously. These automatic compositions, depicting images emergent from the unconscious
By David Louis Cintron
mind, are an exploration and discovery of form and formlessness, negative space and imagined structures. The creative process — informed by an ongoing dialogue between the artist, materials and developing work — guides the finished composition to attain its place and reveal itself.
Cintron’s work has been featured in solo and group shows regionally, including the 2022 CAN Triennial exhibition in Cleveland.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Moises Borges Brazilian Jazz 3 p.m.
Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band 4:15 p.m.
Horns AND Things
5:30 p.m.
Sam Blakeslee Large Group 6:45 p.m.
Ronell Regis 8 p.m.
Sam Hooper Group 9:15 p.m.
Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band 10:30 p.m.
Moises Borges Brazilian Jazz
Based in Cleveland for over two decades, guitarist and vocalist Moises Borges was born in Bahia, Brazil, where he grew up experimenting with rhythms such as bolero, baião, xote, afoxé, frevo and forró. Samba and bossa nova are hallmarks of his performances, along with his soothing voice and charm. Moises has performed in numerous countries, venues and events, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Severance Hall and Playhouse Square. He often performs at area outdoor festivals and jazz clubs. In 2023, Borges released a new album of original work with renowned international guests such as Ken Peplowski, Diego Figueiredo and Chuchito Valdez, among others. Borges has become a prolific performer in the Northeast Ohio scene over the last decade.
Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band
Ernie Krivda is one of Cleveland’s most accomplished, awarded and well-known jazz artists. This 19-piece group and its legendary frontman have earned a reputation as one of the region’s hardest-swinging big bands.
Horns AND Things
Founded by saxophonists J.T. Lynch and Ken LeeGrand 40 years ago, Horns AND Things has shared the spotlight with a who’s who list of legendary performers, from Jimmy Heath, Freddie Hubbard, Maynard Ferguson and Joe Sample to contemporary artists such as Pieces of a Dream, Najee, Ronnie Laws, Kim Waters, Alex Bugnon and Marion Meadows. The band consists of bassist Derrick James, keyboardist Sakait Baksar and drummer Ray Harvin. The group’s albums include Till the Dawn, Northern Wind, Da Boss and its latest release, GET Your HAT On! A new project is on the way.
Da Land Brass Band 3 p.m.
Humbly Submitted 4:15 p.m.
Ava and the Hitmen 5:30 p.m.
Bobby Selvaggio 11 6:45 p.m.
Chris Coles’ Gleam 8 p.m.
Thomas Schinabeck Quintet with special guest Sean Jones 9:15 p.m.
Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta 10:30 p.m.
Sam Blakeslee Large Group
Sam Blakeslee is a New York City-based trombonist and composer who has performed at iconic jazz clubs such as the Birdland Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club and the Blue Note Jazz Club, among others. As a composer, Blakeslee won the David Baker Prize in Composition from Ravinia Steans Music Institute in 2018 and received a 2020 COVID-19 Relief Commission Grant from the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers. As a bandleader, he has released five albums, including three with his eclectic ensemble, Wistful Thinking. In May 2023, he recorded two albums of his big band music with the Sam Blakeslee Large Group in New York City. As a trombonist, Blakeslee is active in the contemporary big band scene in New York, where he performs regularly with Grammy-nominated ensembles like Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows, Manuel Valera’s New Cuban Express Big Band, the Terraza Big Band, Dan Pugach Nonet, the New York Afro-Bop Alliance Big Band and the Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra. He is a faculty member at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music in Connecticut.
Ronell Regis
Ronell Regis is a saxophonist and composer who comes from a line of musicians. His compositions are inspired by his family’s history and reflect the uplifting music of the island of Grenada in the West Indies.
Sam Hooper Group
A captivating guitarist, vocalist and songwriter from Cleveland, Sam Hooper has thrilled audiences in China, Finland, Japan and the United States. Millions have heard his songs on All My Children and The Young and the Restless. The Sam Hooper Group has opened for blues
The SeibertKeck Insurance Partners Stage features performances by local and regional bands June 21-22. From jazz and Latin to funk and pop, the free performances are sure to keep the dance floor hopping.
greats such as Shemekia Copeland, Coco Montoya, Ronnie Earl and Walter Trout. The band also played Tri-C JazzFest in 2018 and 2022. The group won the 2018 Northeast Ohio Blues Association’s Blues Challenge and was a semifinalist in the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Hooper is an alumnus of the University of Miami School of Music in Florida and the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band
Carlos Jones has been entertaining audiences for over 35 years, first as a member of the reggae group I-Tal and then with the legendary First Light before pursuing a solo career with his current group, the Peace, Love, Unity Syndicate (the P.L.U.S. Band). The group brings a brand of high-energy reggae to its shows.
Da Land Brass Band
Da Land Brass Band was formed in 2016 under the leadership of William C. Washington, Kyle Sherepita, Nathan Hestley and Liam Smith. This versatile band features a modern take on New Orleans street bands with high-energy funk.
Humbly Submitted
A group of gospel vocalists and musicians from a myriad of local worship assemblies in Cleveland, Humbly Submitted began its journey more than 30 years ago. The group has worked with gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, Albertina Walker, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin, BeBe Winans and many more. In addition to their demanding schedules and Christian service to their local ministries, these dynamic artists are dedicated to their divine assignment and never fail to answer when called upon.
Ava and the Hitmen
Ava Preston, a 19-year-old singer and songwriter from Cleveland, performs a unique mix of jazz, blues, pop, rock and originals. Often described as an “old soul,” Preston has won a total of 12 national DownBeat Student Music Awards for Vocal Jazz and Blues/Pop/ Rock. She is a 2023 YoungArts Finalist and Silver Award Winner for Jazz-Voice. She is an active singer in Northeast Ohio who received the bulk of her early training at the Tri-C Jazz Academy. In addition to performances with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and Dominick Farinacci, numerous local venues have featured Preston. She has also performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago and Con Alma in Pittsburgh. Preston was selected as the vocalist for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra at the 2023 Monterey Jazz Festival and is entering The Juilliard School as a master’s student.
Bobby Selvaggio 11
In the words of pianist Kenny Werner, Bobby Selvaggio is among the best players out there, and legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano calls Selvaggio one of the few saxophonists who captures you with his strong presence, focus and sound. The Bobby Selvaggio 11 is a chamber jazz ensemble that focuses on his original music, featuring Theron Brown, Chris Coles, Tommy Lehman, Chris Anderson, Tony Spicer, Brad Wagner, Mark Russo, Zach Warren, Zaire Darden and Paul Thompson. Selvaggio’s most recent release, Stories, Dreams, Inspirations: For My Boy on Hidden Cinema Records, is his 12th album as a leader.
Chris Coles’ Gleam
Chris Coles has performed with many local and international jazz musicians, including Eddie Baccus Sr., Melvin Burks, Kenny Davis, Glenn Holmes, Bill Ransom, Slide Hampton, Ralph Lalama, Sean Jones, Curtis Taylor, Dominick Farinacci and Allen Vizzutti. In 2017, Coles was an awardee of the Knight Arts Challenge in Akron. In 2018, he won grants from the GAR Foundation, the Peg’s Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation for his multimedia work, Nine Lives. This 40-minute work premiered in 2019 at the Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival in Akron. Coles is on the faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Akron. He is also a Yamaha Performing Artist. Coles received his bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance from Youngstown State University and his master’s degree from the University of Akron.
Thomas Schinabeck Quintet
With Special Guest Sean Jones
Thomas Schinabeck is an alumnus of the Tri-C JazzFest Academy and attends the Peabody Institute, studying with the likes of Sean Jones and Quincy Phillips. The band will play Schinabeck’s original compositions with some of the best musicians in Cleveland and his peers at Peabody.
Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta
Sammy DeLeon is one of the most recognized Latin bandleaders in Northern Ohio. He plays the timbales, a twin set of metal-encased, single-headed drums with a cowbell and cymbal on the side. He began to play professionally at 13 years old and has since performed alongside greats such as Tito Puente and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. For the past decade, he has fronted Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta, which plays a broad spectrum of dance music styles and has sustained a multicultural audience.
Jazz Kitchen Schedule (artist talks and cooking demonstrations)
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Meet the Artist: Take 6 with JazzNEO host Dee Perry 3:45 p.m.
Cooking Demo: Pulled pork sliders with summer slaw & smoked chipotle bbq sauce with Chef T and Take 6 5 p.m.
Meet the Artist: Jason Moran with JazzNEO host Dan Polletta
6:25 p.m.
Cooking Demo: Yucca con Alimentos with Chef Peggy Cruz and Sax-O-Matic 7:30 p.m.
Meet the Artist: Cécile McLorin Salvant with Jack Marchbanks 8:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Shrimp Etoufee with Chef Rhonda StubbsTatum and President and Mrs. Baston 5 p.m.
Meet the Artist: Renee Rosnes with JazzNEO host John Simna 6:15 p.m.
Fried Plantain with Firo’ Good Sauce with Chef Peggy Cruz and Allison Miller and Nicole Glover
Vanilla Brandy Marshmallows with Chef Saidah Farrell and Diego Figueiredo
7:30 p.m.
8:45 p.m.
Jazz education is extremely important to us (it’s part of our mission)!
The William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage showcases the future of jazz featuring performances by the Tri-C JazzFest Academy camp students and former students who have participated in our program throughout the years.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 2:30 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 3:45 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 5 p.m.
The Stix Quintet 6:15 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 7:30 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Big Band 8 :45 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 10 p.m.
William M. Weiss Foundation
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 2:30 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 3:45 p.m.
Drew Hoschar and Ad Hoc 5 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble 6:15 p.m.
Colin Palmieri Quintet 7:30 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Big Band 8 :45 p.m. JazzFest Academy Ensemble 10 p.m.
SeibertKeck Insurance Partners Stage
3 p.m.
Moises Borges Brazilian Jazz
4:15 p.m.
Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band
5:30 p.m.
Horns AND Things
6:45 p.m.
Sam Blakeslee Large Group
8 p.m.
Ronell Regis
9:15 p.m.
Sam Hooper Group
10:30 p.m.
Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band
3 p.m.
Da Land Brass Band
4:15 p.m.
Humbly Submitted
5:30 p.m.
Ava and the Hitmen
6:45 p.m.
Bobby Selvaggio 11
8 p.m.
Chris Coles’ Gleam
9:15 p.m.
Thomas Schinabeck Quintet with special guest Sean Jones
10:30 p.m.
Sammy De Leon y su Orquesta
Jazz Kitchen
William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage Indoor Concerts
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
3:45 p.m.
Meet the Artist: Take 6 with JazzNEO host Dee Perry
5 p.m.
Cooking Demo: Pulled pork sliders with summer slaw and smoked chipotle bbq sauce with Chef T and Take 6
6:25 p.m.
Meet the Artist: Jason Moran with JazzNEO host Dan Polletta
7:30 p.m.
Cooking Demo: Yucca con Alimentos with Chef Peggy Cruz and Sax-O-Matic
8:45 p.m.
Meet the Artist: Cécile McLorin Salvant with Jack Marchbanks
2:30 p.m
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
3:45 p.m
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
5 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
6:15 p.m. The Stix Quintet
7:30 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
8:45 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Big Band
10 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
5 p.m.
Shrimp Etoufee with Chef Rhonda Stubbs-Tatum and President and Mrs. Baston
6:15 p.m.
Meet the Artist: Renee Rosnes with JazzNEO host John Simna
7:30 p.m.
Fried Plantain with Firo’ Good Sauce with Chef Peggy Cruz and Allison Miller and Nicole Glover
8:45 p.m.
Vanilla Brandy Marshmallows with Chef
Saidah Farrell and Diego Figueiredo
2:30 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
3:45 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
5 p.m.
Drew Hoschar and Ad Hoc
6:15 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
7:30 p.m. Colin Palmieri Quintet
8:45 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Big Band
10 p.m.
JazzFest Academy Ensemble
5 p.m.
Jason Moran and the Bandwagon Allen Theatre
6:30 p.m.
Cécile McLorin Salvant Mimi Ohio Theatre
7:45 p.m.
Marcus Miller/Bob James Quartet Connor Palace
10 p.m.
Scary Goldings Mimi Ohio Theatre
2:30 p.m.
ARTEMIS/Flying Home: A Trumpet Summit Mimi Ohio Theatre
5:15 p.m.
Harold López-Nussa: Timba a la Americana/Diego Figueiredo Allen Theatre
7:30 p.m.
Charles Lloyd Ocean Trio II featuring Gerald Clayton and Marvin Sewell Mimi Ohio Theatre
9 p.m. Ledisi Connor Palace
The Jazz Kitchen
There’s more to JazzFest than just music.
Festivalgoers will enjoy plenty of food and beverage options — including our Beer Tent — vendors, street performers, artist interviews, Kids Corner, games, dancing under the GE Chandelier and so much more.
Experience cooking demos by the Tri-C Hospitality Management Center and interviews with JazzFest artists.
Food (trucks and vendors):
Hungry? Here’s a list of festival food options:
The Cedar Grill 2.0
Cleveland Water’s Water Buggy
DawgBowl Food Truck
Der Braumeister Restaurant
Feelin Good Ice Cream
Kernels by Chrissie
Malloys BBQ
Metro45 Cafe & Catering
The Pierogi Lady YumVillage
Shopping (artisans and retailers):
Black Culture Candles
Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present and Future
Elyce & Jonathan Fashions and Accessories
Henna Gallery
Home Instead
My Turquoise Kitten
New Seasons Production
NRG Home
Playhouse Square-Inside Sales
Positive Vibes by Ty, LLC
Rustbelt Monsters
School of Rock
Visit Pittsburgh
GE Lighting, a Savant company Kids Corner
Hours of Operation:
Friday, June 21 | 3 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 22 | 3 - 8 p.m.
Activities:
Face Painting
Balloon Twisting Musical Crafts
Drum Circles
Instrument “Zoo” courtesy of Woodsy’s Music Chalk Art
Jam Sessions at Bin 216
sponsored by AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22 | 10:30 p.m.
Bin 216
“Rudy
The Sound of a Jazz Century”
Allen Theatre Lobby
Recordings engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22 | 3 - 11 p.m.
Education is central to our mission at Tri-C JazzFest, and we are thrilled to engage area students with seasoned artists. Our activities bring great joy to all segments of the community while nurturing the art form of jazz. In addition to clinics and workshops with visiting artists throughout the year, Tri-C JazzFest supports the Tri-C JazzFest Academy, the Tri-C JazzFest Summer Camp and the DownBeat Education Days. Thank you to the Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation, the Kulas Foundation and the Fox Foundation for making these extraordinary opportunities possible.
Market Garden Brewery ............................................. Dec. 3, 2023
JazzFest Academy Winter Concert Dec. 16, 2023
Market Garden Brewery Jan. 27, 2024
Tri-C JazzFest Announcement .................................... Feb. 28, 2024
Market Garden Brewery March 10, 2024
Count Basie Orchestra Concert ................................. March 27, 2024
Sean Jones Dizzy Spellz Concert ...............................
April 5, 2024
Cleveland Orchestra (art exhibit opening) April 11, 2024
JazzFest Academy Spring Concert .............................. April 21, 2024
Market Garden Brewery April 28, 2024
East Cleveland Public Library May 5, 2024
William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage ........... June 21-22, 2024
Braxton Cook............................................................ Aug. 16-17, 2023
Derrick Hodge........................................................... Oct. 14, 2023
Sam Blakeslee Oct. 21, 2023
George Nierenberg .................................................... Nov. 10, 2023
Jamey Haddad Nov. 11, 2023
Christian McBride Feb. 10, 2024
Carmen Bradford ...................................................... March 27-28, 2024
Sean Jones April 5, 2024
DownBeat Education Days ....................................... March 27-28, 2024
Tri-C JazzFest Summer Camp June 10-22, 2024
During two days of workshopped performances, master classes and sessions at the Metro Campus, Tri-C JazzFest reached over 400 middle and high school students from Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Teaching artists included members of the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Scotty Barnhart, and featured renowned vocalist Carmen Bradford. Additional education opportunities were provided by trumpeter Dominick Farinacci and saxophonists Johnny Cochran and Dave Sterner. The student ensembles
were critiqued and coached after their performances, engaged in instrumental and vocal workshops and improvisation sessions, and participated in interactive concerts with the artists.
Thanks to the Char and Chuck FOWLER Family Foundation, Kulas Foundation and Fox Foundation for making these extraordinary events possible. }
Paul Cox, Ph.D.
Dean, Creative Arts
Terri Pontremoli
Director
Tri-C JazzFest and Performing Arts
Michael Shirtz
Associate Director/Project Manager
Tri-C JazzFest and Performing Arts
Cliffie Jones
Box Office, Artist Relations and Community Liaison
Tri-C JazzFest and Performing Arts
Bill Horschke
Production Manager
Tri-C JazzFest and Performing Arts
Joél Tucker
Community Outreach & Social Media
Tri-C JazzFest and Performing Arts
Kendra Willis
Volunteer Coordinator
Tri-C JazzFest and Performing Arts
Christy Hudson
Marketing Manager
Tri-C JazzFest, Performing Arts and Creative Arts
Deborah Benz
Creative Director
Tri-C Integrated Communications
Lori Smith
Project Manager and Visual Design Specialist
Tri-C Integrated Communications
Lauren Beck
Interactive Design Specialist
Tri-C Integrated Communications
Ann Garbler
Grant Writer
Tri-C Creative Arts
Paul Braden (Woodsys A/V)
Backline and Audio Coordination
Dave Brooks (Hughies A/V)
Set Production
Russell Carter
Auxiliary Coordinator
Heather Cochran
Coordinator, Playhouse Square
Jody Dagg
Indoor Production Manager, Playhouse Square
Tony Hanf
Outdoor Production Manager, Playhouse Square
Mike Larcey
MLS Sound Design
Neil Macke
Outdoor Special Events Manager, Playhouse Square
Shawna Melnykowski
Kids Corner Coordinator
Liam Roth
Production Manager, Mimi Ohio Theatre
Don Safranek
Coordination Assistant, Production Activities
Cory Shy (NPI A/V)
Audio-Lighting Coordination
Scott Snyder
Production Assistant
Tommy Viets
Assistant Production Manager
Penny Zaletel
Director of Production, Playhouse Square
Stage Managers
Bill Collister
Dave Davies
Tyler Kirkpatrick
Ryan McGrew
Marcus Schulte
Outdoor Production Coordinators
Sarah Downer
Marky Ray
Tri-C Student Stagehand Coordinator
Kevin Borrowman
Tri-C Student Stagehands
Dominic Alberto
Aiden BuckinghamTaylor
Rowan Clickner
Mason Corrigan
Tri-C JazzFest Interns
Michael Auria
Asia (Raven) Clark
Astrid Frerichs
Kayla Jackson
Tommie Johnson
Angel McVeen
Union Stagehands
Local 27
Teamsters Union
Piano Tuning
Mike Masters
Masters Piano
Stephen Richardson
Joshua Sonenberg
Maryam Yakout
Aurora Wentz
Video Production Team
Christine Hickey
Tri-C Television and Video Services
Mike Donato
Brian Husik
Adam Smalley
Audio
Mike Carlton Aaron Dallison
Gary Heinrich
Thomas Jeffries
Dave Kennedy
Tim Kennedy
Steve Madden
Ron Musarra
Regis Sedlock
Erik Walter Lighting
Bob Henninge
Derek Hons
Neehar Mennon
Spindrift Staff
Lauren Barbour
Brian Horsburgh
Social Media Partner
Lois Gilbert, JazzCorner
Festival Catering Ninja City
Backstage Hospitality
Marie Vivolo
Director
Transportation Coordinators
Tracy Love
Vivian Garth
Artist Host Coordinator
Maira Vianna
Jacob Forgan
Cole Guendelsberger
Omar Baez Karim
Aaron Winterich
PRESENTING SPONSOR
KeyBank
JAZZ MASTER SPONSORS
Fran and Jules Belkin
The
The
SeibertKeck
Debbie
JAZZ LEGEND SPONSORS
William
FRONT
AIDS
GE
SHOUT CHORUS SPONSORS
The
Carol A. Cunningham, M.D. Goldman
Ninja
Beth Anne and Don Nettis
RHYTHM SECTION SPONSORS
Scott
Mar-Bal
The
Jules
The
Carol A.
M.D. State Medical Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS
Ruvene and
Yvonne
Dean
Shannon
Stacey
Jennifer
Sarah
Proud supporter of the 45th annual
Program Spotlight: POETRY OUT LOUD
Investing state and federal dollars, the Ohio Arts Council funds and supports quality arts experiences for all Ohioans to strengthen communities culturally, educationally, and economically.
Learn more about our grant programs and resources, find your next arts experience, or connect: OAC.OHIO.GOV.
WE BELIEVE THE SPIRIT OF MUSIC & ART ARE THE PULSE OF THIS CITY! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO KEEP THAT SPIRIT ALIVE!
Proud To Be Sponsors Of The
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Tri-C® Where futures begin SM
Enroll now. Classes start Jan. 16.
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on 45 amazing years of honoring the legacy of jazz and promoting its future.
- Debbie and Jim Strassman
