Brad Goode — trumpet Ernie Watts — tenor saxophone Adrean Farrugia — piano Jay Anderson — bass Adam Nussbaum — drums Trumpeter Brad Goode and legendary tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts join forces for a powerhouse quintet, with the incomparable Adam Nussbaum on drums. Watts, known worldwide for his soulful sound, was a featured soloist in The Tonight Show Band led by Doc Severinsen, bringing his fiery tenor voice to millions of viewers for two decades. Pairing his iconic presence with Goode’s daring melodic explorations and Nussbaum’s driving swing, this group delivers music that is both adventurous and deeply rooted in jazz tradition. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Brent Gallaher — tenor saxophone Spencer Merk — trombone Chris Caporale — piano Peter Gemus — bass Alex Merk — drums Caffè Vivace co-owner and saxophonist Brent Gallaher returns to his home stage on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, with his quintet for a night of timeless jazz. The group will explore works by Billy Strayhorn, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Harold Arlen, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk, alongside original pieces by Gallaher. Expect an evening of lyrical melodies, swinging rhythms, and modern improvisation in Cincinnati’s most intimate jazz room. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance 

Jeremy Long — alto saxophone Jamie Walkenhauer — alto saxophone Brent Gallaher — tenor saxophone Dan Drees — tenor saxophone Larry Dickson — baritone saxophone Jeff Owen — trombone Clarence Pawn — trombone Brian Stevens — trombone Gary Langhorst — bass trombone Jeff Folkens — trumpet Hank Mautner — trumpet John Zappa — trumpet Kim Pensyl — trumpet Steve Schmidt — piano Mike Sharfe — bass Jim Leslie — drums Cincinnati's legendary Blue Wisp Big Band celebrates its 45th year of swingin' Big Band music at Caffe Vivace. Founded in January 1980 by drummer John Von Ohlen and trumpeter Don Johnson, the Blue Wisp Big Band got its start in and its name from the late Blue Wisp Jazz Club. Von Ohlen, a native of Indianapolis, moved to the Cincinnati area after many years on the road playing with world-class jazz orchestras, most notably those of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. After hearing all of the fine musicians in the area, he felt there was a need to form a group because most of them “weren’t playing any jazz, which is the reason they started playing in the first place.” He felt the desire to start a “world-class big band and wanted to put it in a tavern, a beer joint.” Don Johnson, who had been on the Cincinnati scene for years, suggested which instrumentalists should play in the band. Von Ohlen states, “Don was the horn connection.” Pianist Steve Schmidt and bassist Michael Sharfe were already playing with Von Ohlen at the Blue Wisp in the Steve Schmidt Trio, Wednesday through Saturday nights, so the rhythm section was easily formed. Von Ohlen remembers approaching Paul and Marjean Wisby, the original owners of the Blue Wisp, with the idea, “Wednesday is a slow night. Why don’t we bring in a big band and blow the roof off the place? It worked real good.”Since its inception, the Blue Wisp Big Band has been the top jazz orchestra in Cincinnati. The hard bop-oriented big band started recording in 1981: first, an LP sponsored by the Cincinnati television station WKRC, and then four for the Mopro label, founded by Fred and Helen Morr, in the 1980s. The Mopro LPs were reissued in the mid -’90s on two CDs on the California label Sea Breeze, with one of the sets recorded in Los Angeles during a West Coast tour in 1984. Through the devoted and hard work of Helen Morr, the LPs were distributed around the country and Europe, garnering notice, good reviews, and airplay around the world. Among the group’s more notable members were trumpeter Tim Hagans and bassist Lynn Seaton. The band continued to perform at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati on Wednesday nights until its closure in the summer of 2014. After a six-month tenure at Japp’s Annex in downtown Cincinnati, a short stint at Pirate’s Den in Westwood, and three years at the Urban Artifact in Northside, the band has a new home at Caffè Vivace in Walnut Hills. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future Blue Wisp Big Band show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Gabrielle Cavassa — vocalist Dave Miller — guitar Lex Warshawsky — bass Kyle Swan — drums “Her voice gets under your skin,” writes Stereophile, “It is idiosyncratic, but it is trustworthy in its clarity and almost physical in its intimacy… her intuitive interpretations and riveting voice make you sit very still in your chair.” Gabrielle Cavassa is a singer and composer, recently signed to the legendary Blue Note Records. She was ushered into the spotlight through her collaboration with renowned saxophonist Joshua Redman on his critically acclaimed 2023 record ‘where are we’. In a five-star album review by Downbeat, Cavassa is hailed as “a young singer with a deep, rich, and fragile voice…a star in the making.” Born in Escondido, California, of Italian descent, Cavassa began “obsessively listening” to records from a young age. Largely self-taught, she developed a unique approach to singing that would characterize her artistry. Cavassa received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Francisco State University, but says that her “real education” came from playing San Francisco jazz clubs throughout her college years. In 2017, Cavassa relocated to New Orleans, where she currently resides. She won the prestigious International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition in 2021 after the independent release of her eponymous debut record in 2020. Following her 2023 collaboration with Joshua Redman, Cavassa toured extensively with the Joshua Redman Group, a collection of several of today’s most exciting young players, from Fall 2023 to Spring 2025. It is Cavassa’s distinctive expression that has poised her to become one of the defining artists of her generation. Cavassa’s Blue Note debut is set to release in Spring 2026. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Clay Jenkins — trumpet, Rick VanMatre — tenor saxophone, Steve Schmidt — piano, Justin Dawson— bass, Jim Leslie — drums Clay Jenkins’ career as a jazz artist has encompassed a diverse range of musical experiences and responsibilities, positioning him at the forefront of jazz performance and teaching. Clay’s experience as a performer began at an early age, playing and recording with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. In 1978, Clay moved to Los Angeles, where he was in demand as a performer and studio recording musician. He toured with the big bands Buddy Rich and the Count Basie Orchestra. Since moving to Rochester, New York, in 2000 to join the Eastman faculty, Clay has maintained a busy performing, recording, and teaching schedule. He has remained active throughout the United States and abroad. Clay continues to perform and record with the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, of which he is a charter member, whose trumpet section also included the great Eugene “Snooky” Young (1919-2011). Clay’s close friendship with Snooky Young led to three guest appearances at Eastman by the great trumpet player. Clay recently established the “Snooky Young Endowed Scholarship” at Eastman to assist underrepresented minority students. Clay is currently writing a biography of Snooky Young’s life. Clay has performed on over one hundred recordings. He has released seven solo recordings under his name, and as a co-leader, he has recorded with Gene Bertoncini, Kim Richmond, and Don Aliquo. Clay has also recorded with Joe LaBarbera’s Quintet, The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Harold Danko, Rufus Reid, Alan Ferber, and Charles Pillow. Clay also records with his Eastman colleagues Jeff Campbell and Rich Thompson as “Trio East.” Clay’s latest recording project, soon to be released, included guitarists Gene Bertoncini and Larry Koonse, drummers Joe La Barbera and Jeff Hamilton, and bassist John Clayton. Clay attended North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in music theory. He then received his master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of Southern California. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Craig Bailey — alto saxophone Eric Lechliter — trumpet Sergio Pamies — piano Jim Anderson — bass Phillip Tipton — drums Craig Bailey Quartet presents Ballads, Blues and Bebop—a soulful journey through jazz’s most essential forms, led by one of today’s most expressive and accomplished reed players. Saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist Craig Bailey returns to his Cincinnati roots with a program that explores the expressive core of jazz, Featuring Ballads, Blues, and Bebop. A dynamic and inventive reedman, Bailey built his career playing with legends like Ray Charles, Charlie Persip, and Slide Hampton, and has released several acclaimed recordings as a leader. With his quartet, Bailey brings decades of experience and artistry to the stage for a night of deep grooves, lyrical ballads, and hard-swinging bebop. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Al West Jr. — vocalist Greg Chako — guitar David Lloyd — bass Michael Meloy — drums Al West, Jr., conceived in Mississippi, born in St. Louis, and raised in Chicago, is a jazz vocalist whose journey follows the genealogy and geography of this uniquely American musical art form. His silky smooth vocals and classic-man vibe naturally suit his expansive repertoire. Al interprets a broad range of selections from the Great American Songbook with emotion, sensitivity, and vitality that poignantly conveys each story. Straddling classic and contemporary jazz worlds, he easily moves from intimate lounge settings to larger performance halls. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Scott Belck — trumpet Gregory Tardy— tenor saxophone/clarinet Dan Karlsberg — piano Justin Dawson — bass John Taylor — drums Dr. Scott Belck is Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he leads the CCM Jazz Orchestra and teaches jazz trumpet. A versatile performer, he’s played lead trumpet with the Cincinnati Pops, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Bootsy Collins’ Funk Unity Band, and numerous symphonies and jazz festivals. He co-founded several ensembles including Tromba Mundi, Jazz Central Big Band, and the Flying Circus Big Band. Belck is also a published author and the founder of Lip Slur World Headquarters. Gregory Tardy is a saxophonist and clarinetist known for his soulful, expressive style rooted in jazz tradition yet always pushing forward. Originally a classical clarinetist, he shifted to jazz after hearing Coltrane and Monk’s “Monk’s Mood,” eventually immersing himself in the New Orleans scene alongside artists like Nicholas Payton and Brian Blade. Tardy gained national attention with Elvin Jones’ Jazz Machine and went on to perform and record with jazz luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Andrew Hill, Betty Carter, and Bill Frisell. His work as a leader includes acclaimed albums for Impulse!, Palmetto, and Steeplechase Records, most recently If Time Could Stand Still on WJ3. Now a professor at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville, Tardy continues to perform internationally and inspire the next generation of jazz musicians. As All About Jazz notes, “Tardy already has his own voice and is on track to help write the next chapter in jazz history.” A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance 

Mandy Gaines — vocalist, Brad Myers — guitar Mandy Gaines began singing at an early age in school and church. She holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster in Speech/Arts. She has continued her studies through private vocal instruction and workshops emphasizing oral interpretation, jazz improvisation, vocal technique, theatre, and broadcasting/media studies. Brad Myers is a jazz, rock, and roots musician, composer, teacher, producer, and engineer. He plays acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, and mandolin and sings. A $15 food/drink minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Ben Levin — piano/vocals Art Gore — drums Walter Cash Jr. — bass Joe Polen — tenor saxophone Ben Levin is a pianist/vocalist based in Cincinnati, OH. Ben has released five albums on the Vizztone Label Group and has four Blues Music Award nominations, including best piano player of the year. "Ben's 2024 release "Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue", featured collaborations with blues legends Lil' Ed, Lil' Jimmy Reed, and Sonny Hill, as well as Grammy nominated vocalist Candice Ivory. The album climbed into the top ten on Living Blues radio charts, and the single "Elf Boogie" received daily airplay on Sirius XM radio during the holiday season. Ben maintains a busy touring schedule and has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Brazil, and Japan. Art Gore was born into a family of musicians, which began his early exposure to music. By age sixteen, he was playing professionally. After graduating high school, Art attended Berklee College of Music and was drafted into the armed forces for two years. His musical development continued by playing with the First Armored Division Band and orchestra and leading his groups. After serving in the military, Art attended the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with renowned drum instructor Alan Dawson and later at the New England Conservatory of Music under Vic Firth. In 1972, Art joined Dr. Lonnie Smith, leading to traveling and recording with the Grammy-winning guitarist and vocalist George Benson. Upon leaving George Benson's band, Art began working with Lonnie Liston Smith. Art's recordings with Lonnie were some of the most important of his early career. Many jazz enthusiasts consider one of the recordings, "Expansions" (RCA 1975), a jazz-fusion classic. "Voodoo Woman," one of the compositions that Art recorded with Lonnie, is included in the Recommended Recordings of the Decade for the Smithsonian Collection of Jazz in the Seventies. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley — vocals & percussion Erwin Stuckey — piano Saulo Moura — bass Kiko Sebrian — drums & percussion Kris Keith — woodwinds & percussion Batucada brings the authentic sound of Brazilian music direct from the streets of Rio de Janeiro. With a vibrant explosion of rhythm and energy, they ignite the stage with infectious grooves, soaring melodies, and dazzling percussion! Batucada- experience the soul of Samba, the heart of the Carnival, and the pulse of a nation! If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set. If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

The Charlie Ballantine Trio plays music from their acclaimed album ‘Life Is Brief: The Music of Bob Dylan,’ where they reimagine classic Bob Dylan songs in an instrumental setting. The album was listed in Downbeat Magazine's albums of the year and praised as a “masterpiece.” This is a night not to be missed. Joining him are Quinn Sternberg on bass and Brendan Brady on drums.  If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Harry Allen — tenor saxophone Andy Brown — guitar Chris Berg — bass Jim Leslie — drums The Harry Allen/Andy Brown Quartet brings together two masters of straight-ahead jazz with a deep and enduring musical connection. Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen is internationally celebrated for his warm tone, impeccable swing, and lyrical phrasing. With over 70 albums as a leader and collaborations with legends like Tony Bennett and John Pizzarelli, Allen is widely regarded as one of the premier tenor players of his generation. Jazz writer Gene Lees once wrote: “Stan Getz was once asked his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer was, ‘My technique, Al Cohn's ideas, and Zoot's time.’ The fulfillment of that ideal may well be embodied in... Harry Allen.” Guitarist Andy Brown, a Cincinnati native now based in Chicago, is admired for his refined, melodic playing and deep knowledge of the jazz guitar tradition. A protégé of legendary Cincinnati guitarists Kenny Poole and Cal Collins, Brown has carved out a distinctive voice on the instrument, equally at home in solo guitar settings or as a sensitive accompanist. He has released several well-regarded CDs, including three for the famed Delmark label, and is a mainstay of the Chicago jazz scene. Allen and Brown have collaborated for close to twenty years, performing regularly in New York, Chicago, and beyond. Their quartet, rooted in the Great American Songbook, blends elegance, swing, and nuanced musical chemistry. Recent studio collaborations between the two musicians have yielded fresh material and original compositions, including the 2025 release “Weary,” now available on streaming platforms. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Ralph DiSylvestro — trumpet Josh Kline — tenor saxophone Colin Palmieri — alto saxophone Zachary Granger — trombone Ben Tweedt — piano Justin Dawson — bass Alex Merk — drums The Cincinnati Jazz Messengers are a 7-piece ensemble assembled by trumpeter Ralph DiSylvestro to celebrate the iconic and exciting music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers from the 1950s through the 1980s. Art Blakey’s band featured some of the most influential composers and instrumentalists of the 20th century, such as Benny Golson, Cedar Walton, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and Bobby Watson. The goal of the Cincinnati Jazz Messengers is to keep the music of these jazz titans alive and, in the spirit of the Jazz Messengers, contribute their compositions to the diverse and rich songbook. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Trombone and Effects-Spencer Merk Electronic Valve Instrument-Eric Lechliter Synthesizer-Eric Snyder Piano-Chris Caporale Electric Bass-Justin Dawson Drums-Alex Merk Spencer Merk's FEaR (Frightening Electronics and Rhythms) Collective presents a night of the spookiest, scariest, and hippest electric jazz to celebrate Halloween. You'll hear seasonal classics (Edgar Winter, Michael Jackson, etc.) mixed in with an eclectic variety of the band's favorites from a wide variety of genres. If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested at least 24 hours prior to the performance's start time. 

LUCÍA is a 23-year-old vocalist from Veracruz, México, whose singular artistic vision bridges the gaps between Jazz, Latin, and Pop music. Lucía Gutierrez Rebolloso started her musical career at the age of two, singing and dancing in her parents’ son jarocho band, “Son de Madera.” She began studying voice at the age of 13 at Universidad Veracruzana and, in 2022, received a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from this same university. In 2022, she became the first artist from Mexico to win the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Lucía has already collaborated with several world-renown artists and musicians, including Natalia Lafourcade, Aloe Blacc, La Santa Cecilia, Quetzal, Son de Madera, Alex Mercado, and the National Jazz Orchestra of Mexico (ONJMX in Spanish). She has performed on stages around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Royce Hall at UCLA, ASU Gammage in Arizona, El Cantoral, the National Center for the Arts, and the Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris in Mexico City. She has also performed at renowned festivals, including the Vancouver Folk Festival and the International Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico. Most recently, Lucía has just released her first full album. Produced by Grammy-winner Matt Pierson, it presents Lucía’s interpretations of jazz standards (“What a Difference a Day Makes,” “You Must Believe in Spring,” etc.) classic Spanish songs (including “Silencio,” “La Llorona,” “Como Fue”) and current pop songs (by Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo), featuring an extraordinary group of musicians including Edward Simon, David Sanchez, Larry Grenadier, and Antonio Sánchez. If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Ryan Hamilton Combo #1 7:00 - 7:30 pm Ryan Hamilton Combo #2 7:45 - 8:15 pm Modern Jazz Combo 8:30- 9:00 pm A $15 ($5 for students) drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. 

Sophia Troyer - vocals/bass Edgar Byars - tenor saxophone Brian Cashwell - piano John Taylor - drums Experience an unforgettable evening of elegance, soul, and swing as the Sophia Troyer Quintet pays tribute to the legendary women vocalists who shaped jazz history. Featuring timeless selections made famous by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Doris Day, Carmen McRae, and more. This performance is a love letter to the golden age of jazz vocals. “Ladies Night” features Sophia’s personal favorites — the icons who inspire her voice and artistry. Sophia Troyer graduated from the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is studying at the University of Cincinnati- College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in their jazz studies program, focusing on upright bass. Sophia recently won first prize in the Vocal Division of the 2023 Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards at the Aronoff Center. Brian Cashwell maintains an active and varied performing and teaching schedule throughout Ohio and the Midwest. Equally at home in jazz and classical idioms, he teaches Jazz Theory and Rudiments of Music at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and World Music at Miami University Regionals. John Taylor is a freelance drummer, composer, arranger and educator based in Southern Ohio. Primarily a drum set player, he also plays piano, guitar and electric bass. He performs regularly with the Phil DeGreg Trio, Brasilia, Kim Pensyl Group, Rusty Burge, Steve Allee, Puzzle of Light, Theater of Sound, PanVibe and leads his own trio with Brian Cashwell and Chris Berg. Edgar Byars is a saxophonist from Cincinnati, Ohio. Having recently graduated from the Frost School of Music, he spends his time freelancing and teaching lessons. Inspired by Latin rhythm, Armenian Folk music, and the classic hard bop sound, he brings a unique modern concept to his music. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Jeremy Long — alto saxophone Jamie Walkenhauer — alto saxophone Brent Gallaher — tenor saxophone Dan Drees — tenor saxophone Larry Dickson — baritone saxophone Jeff Owen — trombone Clarence Pawn — trombone Brian Stevens — trombone Gary Langhorst — bass trombone Jeff Folkens — trumpet Hank Mautner — trumpet John Zappa — trumpet Kim Pensyl — trumpet Steve Schmidt — piano Mike Sharfe — bass Jim Leslie — drums Cincinnati's legendary Blue Wisp Big Band celebrates its 45th year of swingin' Big Band music at Caffe Vivace. Founded in January 1980 by drummer John Von Ohlen and trumpeter Don Johnson, the Blue Wisp Big Band got its start in and its name from the late Blue Wisp Jazz Club. Von Ohlen, a native of Indianapolis, moved to the Cincinnati area after many years on the road playing with world-class jazz orchestras, most notably those of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. After hearing all of the fine musicians in the area, he felt there was a need to form a group because most of them “weren’t playing any jazz, which is the reason they started playing in the first place.” He felt the desire to start a “world-class big band and wanted to put it in a tavern, a beer joint.” Don Johnson, who had been on the Cincinnati scene for years, suggested which instrumentalists should play in the band. Von Ohlen states, “Don was the horn connection.” Pianist Steve Schmidt and bassist Michael Sharfe were already playing with Von Ohlen at the Blue Wisp in the Steve Schmidt Trio, Wednesday through Saturday nights, so the rhythm section was easily formed. Von Ohlen remembers approaching Paul and Marjean Wisby, the original owners of the Blue Wisp, with the idea, “Wednesday is a slow night. Why don’t we bring in a big band and blow the roof off the place? It worked real good.”Since its inception, the Blue Wisp Big Band has been the top jazz orchestra in Cincinnati. The hard bop-oriented big band started recording in 1981: first, an LP sponsored by the Cincinnati television station WKRC, and then four for the Mopro label, founded by Fred and Helen Morr, in the 1980s. The Mopro LPs were reissued in the mid -’90s on two CDs on the California label Sea Breeze, with one of the sets recorded in Los Angeles during a West Coast tour in 1984. Through the devoted and hard work of Helen Morr, the LPs were distributed around the country and Europe, garnering notice, good reviews, and airplay around the world. Among the group’s more notable members were trumpeter Tim Hagans and bassist Lynn Seaton. The band continued to perform at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati on Wednesday nights until its closure in the summer of 2014. After a six-month tenure at Japp’s Annex in downtown Cincinnati, a short stint at Pirate’s Den in Westwood, and three years at the Urban Artifact in Northside, the band has a new home at Caffè Vivace in Walnut Hills. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future Blue Wisp Big Band show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Alex Nicodemus — piano Edgar Byars — tenor saxophone Justin Dawson — bass Josiah Wolf — drums DownBeat award-winning pianist Alex Nicodemus debuts a new quartet at Caffè Vivace with two sets celebrating the creative spirit of Cincinnati’s jazz community. The program features original works by Nicodemus, Edgar Byars, On A Limb, and others, spanning styles from classic bebop to contemporary. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Michael Sharfe — bass John Zappa — trumpet Tim McCord — tenor saxophone Brian Batchelor-Glader — piano Andrew Gillum — drums Baba Charles Miller — percussion Celebrating the classic mambo, Latin jazz, and cha-cha of Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Poncho Sanchez, and Mark Levine, Mambo Combo has its compass set toward Cuba. It produces music that is powerfully exciting rhythmically, by turns celebratory and yearning. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Brooks Giles III - saxophones & vocals Winton Reynolds - piano/keyboard Tom Covello - bass Devon Leigh - drums With deep respect and boundless energy, Brooks Giles III steps onto the Caffè Vivace stage to present Tribute to My Heroes of the Saxophone and the Microphone. Expect heartfelt interpretations of classics made famous by Cannonball Adderley, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Billy Eckstine, and Ernie Andrews, delivered with Giles’s unique blend of swinging saxophone and soulful vocals. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of these legends or discovering them anew, this evening promises to capture the warmth, passion, and joy that define the very heart of jazz. International Saxophonist/Vocalist Brooks Giles III has taken his high energetic musical mixture of Jazz and Blues to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, China, Seoul, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Bangkok, Thailand, Myanmar and Santiago, Chile, where he recorded his CD, “Romance de Los Andes” with “The Pancho Aranda Trio”. His first CD, “Somewhere On Earth, The Bangkok Sessions”, was released in 2002. That same year, Brooks and his ensemble were featured on the first-ever “Hennessy X.O. Smooth & Mellow Jazz Tour”. After rave reviews, the ensemble was invited to perform again in 2003. Along with leading his ensembles, Brooks has performed with Donald Byrd, The Drifters, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Charli Persip’s Super Sound, Eldee Young, The Apollo Theater Band, and The Harlem Renaissance. Orchestra, The Peter Duchin Orchestra, and others. After obtaining his M.F.A. from Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music in Queens, New York, Brooks toured Europe with the Broadway musical “Bubbling Brown Sugar” from 1993 to 1994. In 1999, Brooks made his acting debut in the Woody Allen film “Sweet & Lowdown”. In 2005, he performed on the soundtrack and acted in the DVD of the original stage play “It’s A Hard Bop Life” by Gregory Charles Royal. Since 2018, Brooks’ ensembles have been regularly featured performers at The Annual Fort Harrod/Heritage Jazz Festival in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and WORLDFEST in Louisville, Kentucky. If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested at least 24 hours prior to the performance's start time. 

Guitar Ensemble 7:00-7:30pm Straight Ahead Ensemble 7:45 - 8:15pm Jazz USA (CB) 8:30- 9:00pm A $15 ($5 for students) drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. 

Joshua Redman — tenor saxophone Paul Cornish — piano Philip Norris — bass Nazir Ebo — drums Joshua Redman is one of the most acclaimed and respected jazz artists to have emerged in our generation. With a career of over thirty years, it is hard to imagine a year of firsts for a musician as prolific as Redman. And yet, 2023 proved to be exactly that: launching his debut album, Where Are We, on the venerable Blue Note Records label, this album was planned largely by phone and text – a direct result of the difficulties of the pandemic - and finds Redman recording with a vocalist and writing lyrics for the first time. Through the lens of geographic location, Redman and his band march across the United States, asking us to examine what we find critically. Of this particular assemblage, hand-picked for this album, Redman says, “The magic of this particular gathering of musicians was that we were able to come together from points afar, to converge (physically and creatively) in a particular place at a particular time; and to embrace, with fullest imagination and without the slightest reservation, the ethic of ‘serving the songs.’ In this sense, where are we is perhaps above all a meditation on the power and importance of place — the unique human beauty created when we locate ourselves in shared physical spaces together with others; the loss, anomie, and angst suffered when we divide ourselves unnaturally and unjustly apart.” But he wasn’t supposed to be a musician. In 1991 Redman graduated from Harvard College summa cum laude and had already been accepted by Yale Law School, having deferred entrance for what was only supposed to be one year. Instead, he moved to New York City and immediately immersed himself in the jazz scene. Five months later, Redman won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition and began touring and recording with jazz masters such as Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Elvin Jones, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, Dewey Redman, and Clark Terry. As renowned for his musicianship as he is for his visionary ability to assemble talent, one of Redman’s earliest bands, heard on his 1994 album MoodSwing, includes musicians who would later become some of the most influential artists of their generation: pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade. They reunited nearly 30 years later, releasing RoundAgain (2020) and LongGone (2022) to resounding critical acclaim and sold-out performances worldwide. He has recorded nearly two dozen albums, but Redman’s prodigious talent has taken him beyond the bandstand as well: helming the creation of the SFJAZZ Collective, an ensemble distinguished by a unique emphasis on composition; expanding jazz departments via his appointments as a Visiting Artist at Stanford University and as the Artistic Director of the Roots, Jazz, and American Music program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music; and writing music for film. He wrote and performed the music for Louis Malle’s final film, “Vanya on 42nd Street,” and is both seen and heard in the Robert Altman film Kansas City. He has recorded and performed with a vast array of luminaries, both in jazz and beyond: Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, The Dave Matthews Band, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Quincy Jones, Big Daddy Kane, B.B. King, Yo Yo Ma, The Rolling Stones, The Roots, McCoy Tyner, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few. Born in Berkeley, California, he is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Joshua Redman — tenor saxophone Paul Cornish — piano Philip Norris — bass Nazir Ebo — drums Joshua Redman is one of the most acclaimed and respected jazz artists to have emerged in our generation. With a career of over thirty years, it is hard to imagine a year of firsts for a musician as prolific as Redman. And yet, 2023 proved to be exactly that: launching his debut album, Where Are We, on the venerable Blue Note Records label, this album was planned largely by phone and text – a direct result of the difficulties of the pandemic - and finds Redman recording with a vocalist and writing lyrics for the first time. Through the lens of geographic location, Redman and his band march across the United States, asking us to examine what we find critically. Of this particular assemblage, hand-picked for this album, Redman says, “The magic of this particular gathering of musicians was that we were able to come together from points afar, to converge (physically and creatively) in a particular place at a particular time; and to embrace, with fullest imagination and without the slightest reservation, the ethic of ‘serving the songs.’ In this sense, where are we is perhaps above all a meditation on the power and importance of place — the unique human beauty created when we locate ourselves in shared physical spaces together with others; the loss, anomie, and angst suffered when we divide ourselves unnaturally and unjustly apart.” But he wasn’t supposed to be a musician. In 1991 Redman graduated from Harvard College summa cum laude and had already been accepted by Yale Law School, having deferred entrance for what was only supposed to be one year. Instead, he moved to New York City and immediately immersed himself in the jazz scene. Five months later, Redman won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition and began touring and recording with jazz masters such as Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Elvin Jones, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, Dewey Redman, and Clark Terry. As renowned for his musicianship as he is for his visionary ability to assemble talent, one of Redman’s earliest bands, heard on his 1994 album MoodSwing, includes musicians who would later become some of the most influential artists of their generation: pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade. They reunited nearly 30 years later, releasing RoundAgain (2020) and LongGone (2022) to resounding critical acclaim and sold-out performances worldwide. He has recorded nearly two dozen albums, but Redman’s prodigious talent has taken him beyond the bandstand as well: helming the creation of the SFJAZZ Collective, an ensemble distinguished by a unique emphasis on composition; expanding jazz departments via his appointments as a Visiting Artist at Stanford University and as the Artistic Director of the Roots, Jazz, and American Music program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music; and writing music for film. He wrote and performed the music for Louis Malle’s final film, “Vanya on 42nd Street,” and is both seen and heard in the Robert Altman film Kansas City. He has recorded and performed with a vast array of luminaries, both in jazz and beyond: Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, The Dave Matthews Band, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Quincy Jones, Big Daddy Kane, B.B. King, Yo Yo Ma, The Rolling Stones, The Roots, McCoy Tyner, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few. Born in Berkeley, California, he is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.