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 inspires and enriches all of our lives, and we’re proud to support the arts across our communities.
Helen Forbes Fields
Chair
Ann M. Frangos
Vice Chair
The Rev. Cory C. Jenkins
Phoebe Lee
Geralyn M. Presti
Andrew E. Randall
Alan Rosskam
Victor A. Ruiz
Ted Tywang
Alex Johnson, Ph.D.
President
William H. Gary Sr.
Executive Vice President Workforce, Community and Economic Development
David Kuntz, CPA
Executive Vice President/Treasurer Administration and Finance
Karen Miller, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President/Provost Access, Learning and Success
Todd Kitchen, Ed.D. President, Eastern Campus
Denise McCory, Ed.D. President, Metropolitan Campus
Lisa Williams, Ph.D. President, Western Campus
Janice Taylor-Heard, Ph.D. Interim President, Westshore Campus
Ronna McNair Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant to the President
Jenny Febbo Vice President Integrated Communications
Megan O’Bryan Vice President, Development President, Cuyahoga Community College Foundation
Renee Tramble Richard, J.D. Vice President, Legal Services
Claire Rosacco Vice President, Government Affairs and Community Outreach
We encourage you to interact and share your experiences with us using #TriCJazzFest.
Facebook: /TriCJazzFest
Twitter: @TriCJazzFest
Instagram: @tricjazzfest
YouTube: /TriCJazzFestCleveland
On behalf of KeyBank, presenting sponsor of the 2022 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, I am pleased to welcome you to this exciting community festival — a 43-year musical tradition!
At KeyBank, supporting the arts, culture and traditions of our community is both a priority and a privilege. That is why we are proud to support JazzFest’s rich history of staging talented musicians from across the jazz spectrum, providing world-class cultural arts and music education opportunities in the process.
The KeyBank team is dedicated to helping our neighbors and neighborhoods thrive. This event is a great example of a vibrant and vital community gathered together in celebration of — and appreciation for — Tri-C student musicians, jazz greats and their families, friends and fans.
I hope to see you at JazzFest this weekend!
Best regards,
Trina Evans
Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff and Director of Corporate Center, KeyCorp
Dear visitors and friends,
Welcome to the City of Cleveland and the 43rd annual Tri-C JazzFest. Like many Clevelanders, I am proud of the multiple world-class arts organizations in this city. If you are a culture enthusiast, there is always something exciting to experience here – and this weekend, JazzFest takes the lead.
I congratulate the organizers of JazzFest on its 43rd season and for weathering the past two years of the pandemic. We are all thrilled to see the festival back at Playhouse Square, presenting national and international artists in the historic theaters and free music outside for all Clevelanders and visitors to enjoy.
Not every city has a jazz festival, and Cleveland is fortunate to have one that celebrates the breadth and depth of American music. I hope you enjoy the festival offerings and have a great weekend in the City of Cleveland.
With gratitude, Justin M. Bibb Mayor, City of Cleveland
On behalf of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), I am pleased to welcome you to the 43rd annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank. It is truly a time of mixed emotions for me as my tenure as College president comes to an end.
Reflecting upon my past nine years at Tri-C, one constant was knowing the sheer joy JazzFest brings to the community every year. It was a risk transforming the festival from a 10-day spring series into a summer weekend event, but from the first time I stood outside watching thousands of people from all walks of life dancing under the chandelier, I knew it was the right thing to do. The outdoor stage also showcases the tremendous talent we have right here in our own backyard. Indoors, the concert experience is first-class in Playhouse Square’s beautifully restored theaters.
I see the festival as a true asset to Cuyahoga Community College. There are very few colleges with nationally recognized jazz festivals like ours — and with an educational arm that has produced fine musicians like Dominick Farinacci, Jerome Jennings and Walter Barnes Jr. These artists not only tour and record, they also provide a growing legacy for jazz in Cleveland by nurturing the next generation of exciting musicians. It is something that would make late jazz producer and longtime Tri-C benefactor, Tommy LiPuma, very proud.
The College could not produce this festival without the continued generosity of our presenting sponsor, KeyBank, as well as Fran and Jules Belkin, Strassman Insurance Services, The George Gund Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Roy Minoff Family Fund, Margaret W. Wong & Associates, the William M. Weiss Foundation and U.S. Bank.
Very special thanks to Gina Vernaci and Playhouse Square for their counsel and partnership and to the JazzFest staff and advisory board for all they do to maintain the reputation of this world-class event.
The past few years have been challenging, to say the least — but the music remains a powerful reminder that we have prevailed.
Enjoy the festival!
Alex Johnson, Ph.D. President, Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College President
If outgoing Cuyahoga Community College president Alex Johnson hadn’t taken a chance and acted on his vision, Tri-C JazzFest would have never seen the light of day — literally.
It was his dream to move the festival outdoors at Playhouse Square to allow for greater community engagement and provide an opportunity for everyone to experience free musical entertainment. The experiment that began in 2014 was an instant success.
Johnson has always seen JazzFest as a chance to enliven the art form, as a showcase for the institution and as an opportunity for talented youth to cultivate their craft. He is proud that he was able to continue the work of his predecessors and fellow JazzFest Legends, Nolen Ellison and Jerry Sue Thornton.
His focus on strengthening Tri-C’s mission and purpose adds to Johnson’s legendary status. He has instituted numerous programs to strengthen access, equity, success and completion for thousands of students who attend the college each year.
With three decades in academia — including numerous board appointments, two books and countless accolades for his humanitarian and leadership efforts — Johnson’s induction as a JazzFest Legend is but the latest honor in a distinguished career.
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.
Strassman Insurance Services
A native Clevelander known as much for his insurance agency as he is for his philanthropy, Jim Strassman has advanced the academic careers of countless students through his dedication to education and the arts.
Music fans will recognize the name: Sponsorship of the outdoor Strassman Insurance Stage at Tri-C JazzFest is but one of his generous contributions to the festival. Strassman also serves as a JazzFest Advisory Board member, lending his time, business expertise and lifelong love of music to help guide the program and develop the next generation of jazz musicians.
In addition to JazzFest, Strassman has been involved with the Cleveland International Film Festival, American Red Cross and many other community organizations.
Strassman Insurance Services Inc. is a team of 20-plus professionals equipped to handle all facets of insurance for small and medium-sized businesses.
Musician Educator
David Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and one of the area’s leading performing jazz musicians. His musical studies took him from Youngstown to London and, finally, to Kent State University, where he earned a doctorate in music education.
Thomas has shared his talents and inspiration as a member of the music staff in schools throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cuyahoga Community College. He has recorded and toured with a “who’s who” of jazz and R&B greats, most notably Dizzy Gillespie, Grover Washington Jr., Phil Woods and Jennifer Holliday. His acclaimed compositions for choir and orchestra include “Songs of a Journey to Freedom” and various works for popular jazz group Pieces of a Dream.
Branching into music literature, Thomas earned the prestigious Coretta Scott King Award as co-author of A Child’s First Book of Spirituals
It is lovely to be back in these beautiful theaters and outside under the chandelier.
This is a significant year for us. Besides marking our return to Playhouse Square after two pandemic years, 2022 is the year we must bid farewell to Tri-C president Alex Johnson. It was during his first year as president that the festival transformed from a 10-day spring event to a summer weekend destination in the heart of our city’s theater district.
For this homecoming year, we made a point to bring back native Clevelanders Joe Lovano and Sean Jones, host a great night of American Song with John Pizzarelli and an all-star big band led by John Clayton, and celebrate the centennial of the legendary Toots Thielemans with Kenny Werner and Grégoire Maret. It has been many years since we presented the legendary Eddie Palmieri, and we’re delighted to have Cyrille Aimée, Raul Midón, Ghost-Note, Brian Culbertson and Anthony Hamilton grace our stages.
In addition to the free performances featuring local and regional talent on the Strassman Insurance Stage, we’re thrilled to debut The William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage, a designated stage for young artists where current students and recent alumni of the Tri-C JazzFest Academy will be featured throughout the weekend. These talented and hardworking students are quickly becoming an important part of Cleveland’s jazz legacy, and it is wonderful to see them gaining notoriety across the country.
This year’s festival comeback was a heavy lift that could not have been accomplished without the support of Gina Vernaci and the wonderful staff at Playhouse Square. Heartfelt thanks to the Tri-C JazzFest Board of Advisors, Megan O’Bryan and the Foundation staff, and the JazzFest team in this time of transition and uncertainty.
To Dr. Johnson: Now that you’re officially a JazzFest Legend, we thank you so much for supporting the festival and this great art form over the years. We’ve come a long way together!
And to our passholders and fans: Thanks for sticking with us. We hope you enjoy this year’s edition of Tri-C JazzFest!
Terri Pontremoli Director, Tri-C JazzFest
Thursday, June 23 8 p.m. Music Hall, Cleveland Public Auditorium
Dedicated to Dr. Alex Johnson
Every time Anthony Hamilton gets behind a microphone, he sings a story — never sparing his passion, pain, loss, love and everything in between. The Grammy Award-winning multiplatinum singer, songwriter, producer, actor, author and icon proudly maintains the traditions of timeless R&B through everything he does with his own swagger, spirit and soul.
This especially holds true on his 10th full-length offering, Love Is The New Black — his first album in five years and flagship release for My Music Box and BMG.
Throughout an illustrious, nearly three-decade career, Hamilton has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. He took home a 2009 Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance and delivered a momentous concert for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, living up to his “narrator of love” title in historic fashion.
In addition to nine classic albums and smash hits like “Charlene,” Hamilton remains the rare talent who can collaborate with everyone from Al Green, Buddy Guy and Santana to 2Pac, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and Mark Ronson.
His voice can also be heard on “Freedom” from the Academy Award-nominated blockbuster Django Unchained by Quentin Tarantino. An accomplished actor, he made his film debut in the critically acclaimed American Gangster and recently starred as Kyle Kirby in the BET+ feature Carl Weber’s Influence.
He’s featured as the subject of the NPR documentary series Noteworthy, and he selfpublished Cornbread, Fish ‘n Collard Greens, which details the stories behind some of his most recognizable tunes and explores his passion for Southern food.
This opening night concert features Carmelo Smith (guitar), Demarco Dickey (drums), Tony Witherspoon (keyboard), Lamont McCain (bass/music director), Jack King (background vocals), Courtney Campbell (background vocals) and Billy Crayton (background vocals). The performance is dedicated to Cuyahoga Community College President Alex Johnson as he retires at the end of June.
Music and spirituality have always been fully intertwined in the artistic vision of trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and activist Sean Jones. Singing and performing as a child with the church choir in his hometown of Warren, Ohio, Jones switched from the drums to the trumpet at age 10.
A musical chameleon comfortable in any musical setting, no matter what the role or the genre, Jones is equally adept at being part of an ensemble as he is at being a bandleader. He turned a six-month stint with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra into an offer from Wynton Marsalis for a permanent position as lead trumpeter, a post he held from 2004 until 2010.
In 2015, Jones was tapped to join the SFJAZZ Collective. During this time, he and a core group of talented musicians released eight recordings on Mack Avenue Records. His latest release is Sean Jones: Live From the Jazz Bistro
Jones has been prominently featured with a number of artists, recording and/or performing with many major figures in jazz including Illinois Jacquet, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Nancy Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Gerald Wilson and Marcus Miller. He was selected by Miller, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter for their Tribute to Miles tour in 2011.
He has performed with the Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Youngstown Symphony Orchestras as well as Soulful Symphony in Baltimore and in a chamber group at the Salt Bay Chamber Festival.
An internationally recognized educator, Jones was recently named the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair of Jazz at John Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Baltimore. Before coming to Peabody, he served as chair of the brass department at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He currently serves as artistic director of NYO Jazz, an all-star assembly of students ages 16-19 from across the country. NYO Jazz engages students in a rigorous two-week residency that culminates in a tour of U.S. music capitals and a performance at Carnegie Hall.
This performance features Jones (trumpet and leader), Allyn Johnson (piano), Endea Owens (bass) and Mark Whitfield Jr. (drums).
Friday, June 24 5 p.m.
Friday, June 24 6:30 p.m.
Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano and two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Dave Douglas are current masters on their respective instruments within the pantheon of modern jazz. They have shown that their distinct and robust voices can lead, blend and push the idiom forward both in composition and improvisation while embracing the front-line masters of previous generations.
As co-leaders of the renowned SFJAZZ Collective, Lovano and Douglas paid tribute to living icon Wayne Shorter by showcasing arrangements of Shorter originals alongside newly composed pieces influenced by Shorter’s compositional voice. The experience was a catalyst that lead the two instrumentalists to conceive the Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet, Sound Prints.
According to Lovano, “Sound Prints is a freeflowing, joyous expression of music in the social environment we live in today. We dare to improvise and create music within the music. In a democratic way, each piece comes to life on its own.”
Sound Prints released their third full length album, Other Worlds, with 10 new compositions via Greenleaf Music in May 2021. Band members include Rudy Royston (drums), Leo Genovese (piano) and Matt Penman (bass).
Over the course of crafting a 20-album catalogue and creating more than 30 Billboard No. 1 singles as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Brian Culbertson has charted his own unique course in music. Label him jazz and he makes a funk record. Call him an R&B artist and he drops an acoustic jazz trio collection. Brand him pop and he creates a 32-minute New Age opus. And you’d be hard pressed to name another instrumentalist of his ilk who can mount an elaborately designed concert production that will keep him on the road for three consecutive months.
Culbertson burst onto the scene in 1994 with a chart-topping album that he recorded in his college apartment featuring keyboard-led contemporary jazz tracks. “Long Night Out” landed him a lengthy record deal and signaled that a star was born.
Flash forward to present day, his aptly titled “XX” album – those X’s are Roman numerals – finds Culbertson making a record unlike any of his previous releases because of its diversity. “It’s a mix of things that I’ve done throughout my twenty records. There’s a lot of funky instrumentals, some pop-sounding tracks, a couple slow jams, straightahead jazz, gospel, some vocals, lots of horns and some straight-up FUNK!” said the Chicago-based Culbertson. “The album is very much a mixture of some modern sounding programming along with live instruments, too. Real drums on almost everything mixed with programming. Definitely a cool sound.”
An exuberant performer, Culbertson spends months in preproduction meticulously working to create stunning visuals - staging, lighting, wardrobe and effects – in order to put on a mesmerizing show each time he takes the stage.
Possessing style, panache and a savvy business mind capable of moving the needle in music and beyond, Culbertson founded and curates the annual Napa Valley and Chicago Jazz Getaways, which have attracted guests from all over the globe to experience his premier events.
Whether you’re listening to music from “XX” on record or live in concert, you’re hearing an eclectic, entertaining and engaging set from an artist at the peak of his power.
Band members include: Marcus Anderson (sax, vocals), Marqueal Jordan (sax, vocals, percussion), Eddie Miller (keyboards, vocals), Christopher Miskel (drums), Rashawn Northington (bass), Michael Stewart (trumpet) and Harold Taylor (guitar).
Friday, June 24 8 p.m. Connor Palace,
Headed by Snarky Puppy’s multi-Grammy-winning percussion duo of Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth, Ghost-Note is an explosion of sound. With an expansive roster of next-level musicians who have worked with Prince, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Marcus Miller, Toto, Justin Timberlake and more, the band pushes funk music into the future, building on the uplifting, pioneering foundations laid out by the likes of James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone and infusing their fresh take with tastes of Afrobeat, hip-hop, psychedelia, world folk and more.
With the release of 2018’s Swagism, Ghost-Note has made their mission clear. The album puts rhythm at the forefront with irresistible, heavyhitting beats underlying the group’s wild, rich music. Featuring numerous guest collaborators, including Kamasi Washington, Karl Denson, Bobby Sparks, Nigel Hall, Taz and others, Swagism showcases the band’s stunning ability to meld and amplify sounds, ultimately adding to Ghost-Note’s sharp, complex collaborations.
Fearless in sonic depth and conscious social commentary, Ghost-Note’s live performances are bold and in your face, offering up none of the tightlaced pretenses frequently associated with the band’s jazz roots. Focused on creating seductive danceable grooves and a contagious feel-good energy, each show is an opportunity for the fans and the musicians to let loose and connect.
Friday, June 24
9:30 p.m.
Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
Formed in 2015, Ghost-Note has already begun to take the world by storm. The group’s two studio albums — 2018’s Swagism and 2015’s Fortified — have earned critical acclaim and popular success around the globe, with both albums hitting the No. 1 spot on the iTunes jazz charts. Furthermore, their ever-growing family of musicians has mounted successful headlining tours in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan and has performed at high-profile international music festivals and events across the globe.
Band members include: Searight (drums), Werth (percussion), Dominique Xavier Taplin (keyboard), Dwayne “MonoNeon” Thomas (bass), Jonathan Mones (saxophone and flute), Sylvester Onyejiaka (baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone and flute), Danny Wytabis (trombone) and Peter Knudsen (guitar).
Improvisation is not just a technique for Grammynominated artist Cyrille Aimée, it’s a way of life — one that has not only allowed her to share her engaging voice and sparkling creativity with the world, but has also led her on an unexpected journey.
By opening herself to the whim of the moment, Aimée has ventured from singing on street corners in Europe to dazzling audiences at some of the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals; from sneaking out to sing in Romani encampments in her native France to acting on Broadway; from braving the notoriously tough audiences at New York’s Apollo Theatre to being hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “one of the most promising jazz singers of her generation” and by The New York Times as “a rising star in the galaxy of jazz singers.”
Among countless accolades, Aimée won the Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition and the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition. As an actress, Aimée co-starred with Bernadette Peters in a Stephen Sondheim tribute at New York’s City Center. This inspired her to dig deeper into Sondheim’s repertoire, resulting in her fourth and most recent album, Move On: A Sondheim Adventure. She’s shared her story via master classes, a TEDx talk and a few addresses at the Conference on World Affairs.
Her current band consists of Aimée (vocals and looper), Tamir Schmerling (bass) and Dave Torkanowsky (piano).
Opening the show is trumpeter Dominick Farinacci and Triad. With Christian Tamburr (marimba/vibraphone), Shenel Johns (vocals), Jamey Haddad (percussion) and Michael WardBergeman (accordion), Triad weaves together music that runs the gamut from Kurt Weill to John Mayer, and Astor Piazzolla to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.
Saturday, June 25 2 p.m.
Saturday, June 25 4:30 p.m.
Allen Theatre, Playhouse Square
Along with his 11 studio albums as a solo artist, Raul Midón – dubbed “an eclectic adventurist” by People magazine – has collaborated with such heroes as Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers and contributed to records by Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg, as well as the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s She Hate Me. A New Mexico native who now lives in Maryland after years in NYC, Midón has earned acclaim the world over, with a fanbase that stretches from San Francisco to India, Amsterdam to Tokyo.
Marveling over his live performances, The New York Times has called Midón “a one-man band who turns a guitar into an orchestra and his voice into a chorus.” His playing is a syncopated wonder in which bass, harmony and melodic lines fly from the fretboard in a way that belies the fact that all the music is being produced by just two hands. If that weren’t enough, Midón busts out his improvisational mouth-horn technique in which he creates a bebop “trumpet” solo with his lips, earning himself a burst of mid-song applause from the audience.
The title of Midón’s Bad Ass & Blind album came from an apt description of its maker that soul icon Bill Withers endorsed. The 2017 release saw him collaborating with such top jazz players as trumpeter Nicholas Payton, pianist Gerald Clayton and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. NPR noted that the disc continues Midón’s “streak of records that cross boundaries with ease and head-turning musicality.” His 2018 follow-up, If You Really Want, found Midón’s voice and guitar riding the waves of the Metropole Orkest, the Grammy Award-winning Dutch ensemble that has collaborated with artists from Al Jarreau and Elvis Costello to Laura Mvula and Snarky Puppy.
Midón’s earlier studio discography includes Don’t Hesitate (2014), Synthesis (2010), A World Within a World (2007) and State of Mind (2005). His live 2016 rendition of John Coltrane’s classic “Giant Steps” – which sees him fly through all 12 keys on the guitar – earned more than a million views via Facebook.
Ever since being told as a child that his blindness meant that “you can’t do this, you can’t do that,” Midón has lived a life devoted to beating the odds and shattering stereotypes.
Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner, as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.
Born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Palmieri learned to play the piano at an early age. At 13, he joined his uncle’s orchestra, playing timbales.
Palmieri’s professional career as a pianist took off in the early 1950s with various bands including Eddie Forrester’s, Johnny Segui’s and the popular Tito Rodriguez Orchestra. In 1961, he formed his own band, La Perfecta, which featured an unconventional front line of trombones rather than the trumpets customary in Latin orchestras. This created an innovative sound that mixed American jazz into Afro-Caribbean rhythms, surprising critics and fans alike.
His unconventional style would once again surprise critics and fans with Harlem River Drive (1970). This recording was the first to merge what were categorized as “Black” and “Latin” music into a freeform sound that encompassed elements of salsa, funk, soul and jazz. In 1975, Palmieri won the firstever Grammy for Best Latin Recording for The Sun of Latin Music. He’s won ten Grammys altogether, including two for Obra Maestra/Masterpiece, his influential recording with Tito Puente.
In 2012, Palmieri continued to innovate, celebrating 75 years with new music included in the original score for Doin’ It in the Park, a documentary codirected by Bobbito Garcia that explores the cultural influence of playground basketball on sports and music.
Palmieri’s music recorded for the documentary was released as a soundtrack in November 2013. This was his first time recording his own new music since winning back-to-back Grammys in 2005 and 2006.
In 2013, Palmieri was awarded the coveted Jazz Master award — the highest honor an American jazz artist can receive — by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Band members include: Eddie Palmieri (leader, piano), Luques Curtis (bass), Luis Quintero (timbales), Vicente Rivero (congas), Jonathan Powell (trumpet) and Louis Fouche (alto saxophone).
Saturday, June 25 6:15 p.m. Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
Under the Direction of John Clayton with Special Guest John Pizzarelli
Saturday, June 25
8:15 p.m.
Connor Palace Playhouse Square
Bassist, composer, arranger and producer John Clayton is a busy man. With a Grammy on his shelf and nine additional nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah and Charles Aznavour have had spots on his crowded calendar.
In 1985, Clayton co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and rekindled the Clayton Brothers Quintet. In addition to clinics, workshops and private lessons as schedule permits, Clayton also directs the educational components associated with the Centrum Jazz Festival and Workshop and Vail Jazz Workshop.
Career highlights include arranging “The Star-Spangled Banner” for Whitney Houston’s performance at Super Bowl 1990 (the recording went platinum), playing bass on Paul McCartney’s CD Kisses On the Bottom, arranging and playing bass with Yo-Yo Ma and Friends on Songs of Joy and Peace, arranging, playing and conducting the Charles Aznavour With the ClaytonHamilton Jazz Orchestra, and numerous recordings with the Clayton Brothers, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander and many others.
World-renowned guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has established himself as a prime contemporary interpreter of the Great American Songbook and beyond, with a repertoire that includes Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim and The Beatles. He has been hailed by The Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” The Toronto Star pegged him as “the genial genius of the guitar,” and The Seattle Times saluted him as “a rare entertainer of the old school.”
Following high-profile collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald, Pizzarelli honored his hero, the legendary jazz/pop vocalist and pianist Nat King Cole.
All-Star personnel:
Isaiah Thompson, piano
Rodney Whitaker, bass
Ulysses Owens Jr., drums
Randy Napoleon, guitar
Reeds: Dick Oatts, Rickey Woodard, Dave Sterner, Chris Coles, Sean Wallace
Trumpets: Bijon Watson, Tanya Darby, Sean Jones, Dominick Farinacci, Scott Belck
Trombones: Mark Mauldin, Sam Blakeslee, Caleb Smith, Julianne Gralle
Pianist Kenny Werner and Grégoire Maret will open the concert with “Between a Smile and a Tear,” a centennial tribute to Werner’s longtime employer, Toots Thielemans. The ever-lyrical but unpredictable Werner has created a moving duo tribute with Maret, Toots’ heir apparent as the most creative and soulful harmonica player in jazz today.
A world-class pianist and composer for more than 40 years, Werner’s prolific output of compositions, recordings and publications continues to impact audiences around the world. In 1996, he wrote his landmark book, Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within. He has since created videos, lectured worldwide and authored many articles on how musicians, artists or even businesspeople can allow the “master creator” within to lift their performance to its highest level.
Werner was awarded the 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship Award for his seminal work, No Beginning No End, a musical journey exploring tragedy and
loss, death and transition, and the path from one lifetime to the next. Utilizing more than 70 musicians, Werner’s third album for Half Note Records is an expansive composition featuring Joe Lovano, Judy Silvano, Wind Ensemble, Choir and String Quartet.
Over the course of the past decade, Maret has emerged as a unique and compelling new voice across a wide spectrum of the modern jazz world. He has redefined the role of the harmonica, finding fresh pathways through a remarkable variety of styles. The extensive list of heavy-hitters who have enlisted him for their own projects — including Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Cassandra Wilson, Marcus Miller and more — is unparalleled. He’s also guested with Prince, Sting, Elton John, Jimmy Scott, Dianne Reeves, Toots Thielemans, Richard Bona, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tito Puente, Kurt Elling, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Charlie Hunter, Youssou N’Dour, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Pete Seeger, David Sanborn and George Benson.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
The Strassman Insurance Stage features 14 local and regional bands June 24-25. From jazz and Latin to funk and pop, the free performances are sure to keep the dance floor hopping.
• Alla Boara (3 p.m.): The group seeks to bring recognition and new life to Italy’s diverse history of regional folk music. Their modern arrangements of near-extinct folk songs are variously surprising, playful, mournful, tender and bewitching.
• Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band (4:15 p.m.): Ernie Krivda is one of Cleveland’s most accomplished, awarded and well-known jazz artists. The 19-piece group and its legendary frontman have a well-earned reputation as one of the region’s hardest-swinging big bands.
• Sam Hooper Group (5:30 p.m.): Get ready for a blend of blues, rock, jazz and funk.
• Cats On Holiday (6:45 p.m.): This swamp pop band led by Denis DeVito has been pleasing audiences for 25 years with a blend of Louisianainspired rock/roots/Zydeco.
• A Tribute to Eddie Baccus Sr. (8 p.m.): A performance celebrating the life of Eddie Baccus Sr., who passed away this year. A virtuoso on the Hammond B-3, Baccus Sr. was a bedrock of the Cleveland jazz scene. His influence on fans and musicians alike has been invaluable. The show features Dave Thomas, Eddie Baccus Jr, Cecil Rucker and William Perry III.
• Walter Barnes Jr. & Friends (9:15 p.m.): Bassist Walter Barnes Jr. has recorded and performed with acts such as Yolanda Adams, The O’Jays and Kim Burrell while straddling the worlds of gospel and soul. He currently plays with Toni Braxton and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.
• Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band (10:30 p.m.): Jones and his eight-piece band deliver authentic roots reggae with occasional turns into lighthearted soca and calypso numbers.
• JazzWorks (3 p.m.): The brainchild of former Tri-C JazzFest artistic director Willard Jenkins, JazzWorks is an all-star octet playing classic jazz. The group includes Howie Smith, John Klayman, Aidan Plank, Joey Skoche, Daniel Spearman, Bob Ferrazza, Chris Anderson and Reggie Jackson.
• Hubb’s Groove (4:15 p.m.): Drummer Robert Hubbard leads this all-star band mixing soul, jazz, R&B and a splash of gospel. His bandmates include Tristan Ford (keys), James Penn (bass), Nathan-Paul Davis (sax) and Adrianna Miller (vocals).
• Rachel Brown & The Beatnik Playboys (5:30 p.m.): Vocalist Rachel Brown and the group consistently wow audiences with powerful imagery and strong musical stylings.
• East Central Jazz Educators All-Star Big Band (Madd for Tadd) (6:45 p.m.): Tadd Dameron tribute ensemble comprised of top jazz musicians and educators representing various institutions across Ohio. Co-led by Steve Enos and Kent Engelhardt.
• Herb Wilborn Jr. Band (8 p.m.): This six-piece contemporary/smooth jazz group conjures comparisons to artists such as Dave Koz, David Sanborn and Najee.
• Dave Thomas (9:15 p.m.): A recipient of the 2022 Cleveland Jazz Legend Award, Dave Thomas was an original member of the R&B group Sweet Thunder. He has performed with artists including the late James Cleveland, Dizzy Gillespie and Albert Ayler.
• Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta (10:30 p.m.): Percussionist Sammy DeLeon — recipient of the 2016 Cleveland Jazz Legends Award — has performed with some of the world’s greatest Latin musicians and always rocks the stage.
Jazz education is extremely important to us (it’s part our mission)!
The William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage, located on the U.S. Bank plaza, showcases the future of jazz featuring performances by the Tri-C JazzFest Academy camp students, Spirit of the Groove ensemble and many former students who’ve passed through our program throughout the years.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
Funky Duck 3:45 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble 5 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble 6:15 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble 7:30 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble 8:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
Tanline! (featuring Grant Heineman) 3:45 p.m. Colin Palmieri Quartet 5 p.m. Thomas Schinabeck Quartet 6:15 p.m. Spirit of the Groove 7:30 p.m. Spirit of the Groove 8:45 p.m.
The Tri-C JazzFest Academy is a pre-college program for students ages 12-18. Under the direction of acclaimed trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, the program gives students the opportunity to develop their skills and perform in both large and small ensembles, through rehearsals that focus on music history, theory and improvisation. Spring and fall programs typically run 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays, and the summer camp runs for two weeks leading up to the festival. All classes take place in the Gill and Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts.
Strassman Insurance Stage William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
3 p.m.
Alla Boara
4:15 p.m.
Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band
5:30 p.m.
Sam Hooper Group
6:45 p.m.
Cats On Holiday
8 p.m.
A Tribute to Eddie Baccus Sr.
9:15 p.m.
Walter Barnes Jr. & Friends
10:30 p.m.
Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band
3:45 p.m Funky Duck
5 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble
6:15 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble
7:30 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble
8:45 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy Ensemble
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
3 p.m. JazzWorks
4:15 p.m.
Hubb’s Groove
5:30 p.m.
Rachel Brown & The Beatnik Playboys
6:45 p.m.
East Central Jazz Educators All-Star Big Band (Madd for Tadd)
8 p.m.
Herb Wilborn Jr. Band
9:15 p.m.
Dave Thomas
10:30 p.m.
Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta
3:45 p.m.
Tanline!
5 p.m. Colin Palmieri Quartet
6:15 p.m. Thomas Schinabeck Quartet
7:30 p.m.
Spirit of the Groove
8:45 p.m.
Spirit of the Groove
Indoor Concerts
THURSDAY, JUNE 23
8 p.m.
Anthony Hamilton Music Hall, Public Auditorium
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
5 p.m.
Sean Jones Quartet
Allen Theatre, Playhouse Square
6:30 p.m.
Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas: Sound Prints
Mimi Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square
8 p.m.
Brian Culbertson
Connor Palace, Playhouse Square
9:30 p.m.
Ghost-Note
Mimi Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square
10:30 p.m.
After Hours Jam Session at Bin 216
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
2 p.m.
Cyrille Aimée/Dominick Farinacci and Triad
Mimi Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square
4:30 p.m.
Raul Midón Allen Theatre, Playhouse Square
6:15 p.m.
Eddie Palmieri
Mimi Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square
8:15 p.m.
Tri-C JazzFest All-Star Big Band Under the Direction of John Clayton with Special Guest John Pizzarelli/Kenny Werner and Grégoire Maret Connor Palace, Playhouse Square
10:30 p.m.
After Hours Jam Session at Bin 216
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
4:30 - 8 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
Drumming with Dylan
6 p.m.
Drumming with Dylan
7:15 p.m.
Drumming with Dylan
Ongoing musical crafts, balloon art, magician, face painting and games!
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
3 - 7 p.m.
3:15 p.m.
Drumming with Dylan
4:15 p.m.
Drumming with Dylan
Ongoing musical crafts, balloon art, magician, face painting and games!
Jazz Kitchen
There’s more to JazzFest than just music. Festivalgoers will enjoy plenty of food and beverage options —including our Ohio Lottery Beer Tent — shopping vendors, street performers, artist interviews, U.S. Bank Kids Club, 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.
Entertainment
Enjoy games, street performers and more!
Art Acts Giant Puppets
OnTop Ball Toss
Ohio Lottery Beer Tent
Rust Belt Monster Collective (Saturday only)
Sax-O-Matic
Samba Joia
Cleveland Water’s Water Buggy
Hungry? Here’s a list of festival food options:
Squash the Beef
The Benevolent Butcher
KC&J Hawaiian Shave Ice
Parker & Sons Bar-Be-Que
Samurai Dynasty
bRaised in the CLE Metro45
YumVillage (tent)
Sizzle, Sauce & Spice (tent)
Kohcoa (tent)
Kernels by Chrissie (tent)
Shopping Vendors
My Turquoise Kitten
Abolition Bakery
Diversified Funk
Love of Sparklynn Steampunk Designs
A World of Good Damsel in Defense
Body Shop at Home
Elyce Fashions
Cleveland Cold Brew
KandyDollKloset
Blendichi
Devine Designz
Rock Paper Cigars
Thrift2Gift
Art by Design
Sprinkles by April
T-Mobile
Ohio Lottery Prize Wheel
Renewal by Andersen
U.S. Bank Kids Club
Hours of Operation: Friday, June 24 | 4:30 – 8 p.m. Saturday, June 25 | 3 – 7 p.m.
Activities:
Musical Crafts
Balloon Art Magician
Face painting Games
Instrument “Zoo” courtesy of Woodsy’s Music
Drumming with Dylan
Friday 4:45 – 5:15 p.m.
6 – 6:30 p.m.
7:15 – 7:45 p.m.
Saturday 3:15 – 3:45 p.m. 4:15 – 4:45 p.m.
After 18 months of virtual concerts and master classes, we were overjoyed to return to in-person educational activities back in March 2021. While things are not yet back to normal, we are slowly getting our mojo back and looking forward to a season of robust activity in 2023.
Tri-C JazzFest Academy students were prominently featured in the Strassman Colonnade between every national act on Saturday, Sept. 11, and Sunday, Sept. 12. A series of informative talks took place each day, covering a wide range of topics from Latin jazz in Harlem to Ben Sidran’s book on Tommy LiPuma and a jazz history of Cleveland Heights. The outdoor festival included Samara Joy featuring Pasquale Grasso Trio, Lakecia Benjamin and Pursuance, Christian Sands Trio, Cleveland Jazz All-Stars, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Marquis Hill, Bria Skonberg, Emmet Cohen Trio and Catherine Russell.
Anthony Taddeo — Twenty-five JazzFest Academy students attended a master class facilitated by drummer/percussionist and Tri-C alum, Anthony Taddeo, with his band Alla Boara.
The Jazz Gallery All-Stars — A special ensemble featuring many of the leading creative voices in jazz — all of whom cut their teeth on New York City’s Jazz Gallery stage — made their Cleveland debut as part of the Tri-C Performing Arts season. The lineup included Miguel Zenón (alto saxophone), Joel Ross (vibraphone), Charles Altura (guitar), Aaron Parks (piano), Matt Brewer (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums) and Sachal Vasandani (vocal). Parks, Brewer and Scott conducted a master class with the Spirit of the Groove student ensemble, who opened the concert.
Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) — Tri-C JazzFest director Terri Pontremoli interviewed Kathleen Ermitage about her film Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music. Stories presented in the film include those of former Akronite Dylan Yellowlees, who attended 350+ Indigo Girls concerts and found the courage to be her true self in the process; and of Michael Ford, founder of Hip Hop Architecture, who uses prompts from rap music to help kids think about how they would build better cities. The film functions as a thank-you note to the role music has played in shaping our culture and our world. More than 300 people viewed the interview on the CIFF website.
Disney and Pixar’s Soul — Under the direction of trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, Tri-C JazzFest Academy students provided live music for 75 attendees prior to a screening of this awardwinning film. Creative Arts dean, Paul Cox, conducted a virtual interview with Pixar’s chief creative officer, Pete Docter. Attendees participated in Q&A with Docter and enjoyed refreshments at the conclusion of the event.
Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart — The acclaimed organ trio featuring Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein and Bill Stewart performed as part of the Tri-C Performing Arts season. After 30 years and more than a dozen recordings, they had a lot to offer in their master class with students from the Tri-C Jazz Academy, who opened the show.
Downbeat Jazz Education Days — Two days of educational adjudications and workshops took place at Westlake and Hudson high schools, reaching 122 students throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. Teaching artists included Dominick Farinacci, bassist Brian Thomas, pianist Jonathan Thomas, drummer Jerome Jennings and Grammy Award-winning bassist John Clayton. Student ensembles were critiqued and coached after their performances and engaged in rhythm section, improv and listening sessions.
Debut at Dizzy’s — The Tri-C JazzFest Academy’s Spirit of the Groove band performed two sold-out shows at NYC’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. Made up of pre-college students, the ensemble was led by renowned trumpeter Dominick Farinacci.
Being invited to perform at Lincoln Center is an amazing achievement for the College and its Creative Arts Center of Excellence. Special thanks are due to Gill and Tommy LiPuma, who encouraged Tri-C to cultivate young talent and gifted the endowment to do so. Jazz at Lincoln Center invited Tri-C to make this a yearly event and are willing to provide fundraising assistance to expand the program.
A handful of professionals who sat in with the students included Chris Coles (alto saxophone), Jonathan Thomas (piano), and Carmen Intorre Jr. (drums). JazzFest Academy students included Ava Preston (vocal), Liam Speaks (bass), Eli Leder (bass), Oscar Lacombe (bass), Henry Peyrebrune (bass), Ted Clouser (guitar), Drew Hoschar (drums), Ben Bosler (instrument), Rohit Kashyap (instrument), Nehemiah Baker (instrument) and talented JazzFest Academy alum
Thomas Schinabeck (alto saxophone). The JazzFest Academy is a part of the Creative Arts Academy, directed by Emanuela Friscioni.
Paul Cox, Ph. D.
Dean, Creative Arts
Terri Pontremoli
Director, Tri-C JazzFest and Tri-C Performing Arts
Emanuela Friscioni
Director, Tri-C Creative Arts Academy
Orlando Watson
Associate Director/Project Manager, Tri-C JazzFest and Tri-C Performing Arts
Madeline Shepherd Marketing, Tri-C JazzFest and Tri-C Performing Arts
Cliffie Jones
Box Office, Artist Relations and Community Liaison
Bill Horschke
Production Manager, Tri-C JazzFest and Tri-C Performing Arts
Deborah Benz
Visual Design Specialist
Joél Tucker Outreach
Ann Garbler
Grant Writer
}There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone the light remains
.
In loving memory of Jackie Guerra
. Dedicated volunteer, colleague and
friend.
Jacob Wargo
Snodgrass
Safranek
Coordination Assistant, Production Activities
Dave Brooks
Set Production, Hughies A/V
Paul Braden (Woodsys A/V)
Backline and Audio Coordination
Liam Roth
Production Manager, Mimi Ohio Theatre
Katrina Yeigh Setup Coordinator
Penny Zaletel
Director of Production, Playhouse Square
Tony Hanf
Outdoor Production Manager, Playhouse Square
Jody Dagg
Indoor Production Manager, Playhouse Square
Shawna Melnykowski
U.S. Bank Kids Club Coordinator Stage Managers
Gina Vernaci, David Greene, Megan Anderson, Cindi Szymanski and Playhouse Square staff
Victor Rucker
Bob Bryan and Tri-C TV Production Hughie’s Event Production Services
Vincent Lighting Systems
Woodsy’s Music
Leonard DiCosimo, Sandra Baxter and AFM Musicians Local 4
Cuyahoga Community College Foundation
Tri-C JazzFest Community Advisory Board
Steinway Hall and Catherine Goode
Stephen Hilbert
Karen Mrak
Joann Miller
Jennifer Nycz
Bill Collister
Dave
Stazone
Tri-C Interns, Stagehands and Assistants
Marky Ray,
David Rosenfeldt
Joe Amschlinger
Janet Macoska
Jeff Forman
Tammy London
Black Valve Media
FastSigns
Chief Clayton Harris, Sgt. Benjamin Wilson and Lt. Reginald Eakins
Chris Moir
Lorraine Felan
Robin Van Lear and Art Acts
Victoria Monteiro, Lisa Dobransky, Stephanie Metzger, Anthony Moujaes, Erik Cassano and Beth Cieslik
And all of the wonderful JazzFest volunteers
PRESENTING SPONSOR
KeyBank
JAZZ MASTER SPONSORS
The Francine and Jules Belkin
Philanthropic Fund
The George Gund Foundation
Kulas Foundation
The Roy Minoff Family Fund
National Endowment for the Arts
Ohio Arts Council
Strassman Insurance Services Inc.
Margaret Wong & Associates LLC
JAZZ LEGEND SPONSORS
U.S. Bank Cleveland
William M. Weiss Foundation
FRONT LINE SPONSORS
The Balogh Brothers
BMW
Char and Chuck Fowler
Ohio Lottery Commission
SHOUT CHORUS SPONSORS
Carol Cunningham
Dominion Energy
JACK Cleveland Casino
Beth Anne and Don Nettis
RHYTHM SECTION SPONSORS
DownBeat Magazine
Giant Eagle
John O’Brien
Sweetwater Sound Inc.
T-Mobile
Ruvene and David Whitehead
Ellen and Dan Zelman
Scott Balogh
Mar-Bal Incorporated
Steven Balogh
Mar-Bal Incorporated
Jules Belkin
The Francine and Jules Belkin Philanthropic Fund
Liz Conway
Cuyahoga Community College Foundation
Carol A. Cunningham, M.D.
Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS
Barry Gabel
Live Nation
Donald Nettis
American Controls
Nwaka Onwusa
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Robert Shenton
Plante Moran
Jim Strassman
Strassman Insurance Services Inc.
Alan Zang U.S. Bank
Tom
Susan
American
Wanda
Gaylen
Alice
Sharyse
PNC
Sherrie
David
Paul
Jay
Suzanne
Mr.
Mr.
At U.S. Bank, we believe art enriches and inspires our community. That’s why we support the visual and performing arts organizations that push our creativity and passion to new levels. When we test the limits of possible, we find more ways to shine. u sb a n k.com/communitypossible
When kids play, they imagine a world where anything is possible. That’s why U.S. Bank supports nonprofit and neighborhood-based organizations in our community. We’re committed to building safe places where kids can dream big and have fun. usbank.com/communitypossible
U.S. Bank is proud to support the 43rd Annual Tri-C JazzFest .
At U.S. Bank, we believe art enriches and inspires our community. That’s why we support the visual and performing arts organizations that push our creativity and passion to new levels. When we test the limits of possible, we find more ways to shine. u sb a n k.com/communitypossible
U.S. Bank is proud to support the 2021 Tri-C JazzFest
U.S. Bank is proud to support the 43rd Annual Tri-C JazzFest .
WE BELIEVE THE SPIRIT OF MUSIC & ART ARE THE PULSE OF THIS CITY!
WE BELIEVE THE SPIRIT OF MUSIC AND ART ARE THE PULSE OF THIS CITY!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO KEEP THAT SPIRIT ALIVE!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO KEEP THAT SPIRIT ALIVE!
Proud to be sponsors of the 43rd Annual Tri-C JazzFest!
ProudToBeSponsorsOfThe C JazzFest!
Entertainment is proud to support
Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland.
Classes begin in September Monday – Friday | 1 - 4 p.m. Metropolitan Campus
$300 (Scholarships available)
Dominick Farinacci, Director
The internationally recognized Tri-C JazzFest Academy gives students the opportunity to develop their skills and perform in both large and small ensembles through rehearsals that focus on music history, theory and improvisation. Students participate in workshops lead by national artists, throughout the year and during Tri-C JazzFest. The semester will end with a public performance and selected ensembles will perform at local venues. Call 216-987-6145 or visit tri-c.edu/jazzfestacademy to learn more and register
What a show! Ohio Lottery players take home billions in prizes every year! And that’s just the opening act. Thanks to the Ohio Lottery, more than 29 billion dollars have gone to fund K-12 education since 1974. Plus, retailers across the state earn hundreds of millions in bonuses and commissions annually too. That’s a whole lotto winning!
Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 3 p.m.
Limón Dance Company
Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
Co-presented with DANCECleveland
Beth
Fran and Jules Belkin
Ellen
