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. 

Organized Gentlemen is a Cincinnati-based trio featuring Brian Batchelor-Glader on organ, George Simon on guitar, and Jeff Mellott on drums. Originally rooted in the classic organ trio tradition, they cut their teeth playing instrumental covers of funk, soul, pop, and R&B gems from the ’60s through the ’90s. Over time, their creative chemistry led them into original territory—writing and recording music that balances groove-driven joy with audience connection. As their sound evolves, their dedication to the craft continues to deepen, always grounded in the spirit of exploration. 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. 

George DeLancey — bass Jon Beshay — tenor saxophone Edwin Bayard — tenor saxophone James Gaiters — drums George DeLancey, a bassist and composer from Cambridge, OH, has performed with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Russell Malone, and Bria Skonberg. A graduate of the Michigan State University Jazz Studies Program, he toured internationally with the Larry Fuller Trio and has released three acclaimed albums, including his 2016 debut, named to DownBeat’s Best Albums list. His commissioned work “Charles” premiered with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in 2025. An active educator and bandleader, he also performs with the Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra and regularly appears at Caffè Vivace. Saxophonist Jon Beshay is a versatile New York-based musician known for his work with Ron Carter, Christian McBride, and the WDR Big Band. A Detroit native, his style reflects that city’s hard bop roots. He has served as musical director for Winard and Philip Harper and was composer and music director for the off-Broadway production *A Loft Modulation*. Beshay leads his own group and plays regularly at NYC venues like Smalls, Birdland, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. He holds degrees from Michigan State and the Manhattan School of Music. Tenor saxophonist Edwin Bayard channels the intensity and legacy of the bebop era with a fiery, virtuosic approach shaped by early studies at Berklee and Ohio State. A professional performer since the age of 16, he has played with notable artists such as Betty Carter, Gary Bartz, Talib Kweli, and Mark Lomax, among others. Known for his passionate delivery, Bayard strikes a balance between explosive energy and deep sensitivity on the bandstand. Drummer James Gaiters has worked with a wide range of artists, including Mulgrew Miller, James Carter, JD Allen, and Pharez Whitted. A longtime fixture in the jazz world since his early days at Ohio State, Gaiters blends gospel roots with modern jazz fluency. His albums *Looking Back Ahead*, *Exodus*, and *Understanding Reimagined* reflect his vision as a bandleader and composer. 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. 

Michael Mavridoglou — trumpet Josh Kline — tenor saxophone Spencer Merk — trombone Dan Karlsberg — piano Justin Dawson — bass Josiah Wolf — drums Join the Michael Mavridoglou Sextet for an evening of genre bending jazz.  Drawing from a wide range of artists in the rock, pop, and folk world, the group will adapt their favorite songs into the jazz idiom.  This is sure to be a night of beautiful music and inventive adaptation - played by some of the area’s finest musicians.   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. 

GA Combo # 1 7:00- 7 :30pm Jazz Vocal Ensemble 7:45 - 8:15pm Trad Ensemble 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. 

The Original Farm League Big Band is a 17-piece Jazz Orchestra dedicated to expanding the modern big band repertoire while featuring the work of local arrangers/composers. Formed in 2015, the ensemble comprises many of the Cincinnati/Dayton area's most exciting up-and-coming Jazz players and performs entirely original material. 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. 

The Studio Big Band has been the home for Cincinnati’s finest musicians ever since drummer and leader Carmon DeLeone formed it back in 1967. Jazz greats like Jimmy McGary, Michael Moore, Tim Hagans, Steve Schmidt, Gordon Brisker, Lynn Seaton, Wilbert Longmire, and many more have been a part of the Studio Big Band, along with countless other Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame inductees. The band has performed with world-class jazz soloists like Clark Terry, Joe Williams, and Nancy Wilson. Its exceptional library of music features the compositions and arrangements of David Matthews, conductor and arranger for James Brown, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Julian Lennon, Nina Simone, Bonnie Raitt, and Paul McCartney. Carmon DeLeone, known as “Cincinnati’s Resident Conductor” and host of his long-running popular radio program “Sunday Morning Music Hall,” has not only conducted orchestras at New York’s Carnegie Hall and all over the world, but has been a drummer on recordings with James Brown, and in concerts with Phil Woods, Jack Sheldon, “Blue” Lou Marini, Dakota Staton, and Cal Collins. He has also toured with Henry Mancini, Alan Sherman, Juliet Prowse, and the New York State Theatre of Lincoln Center. 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 Steve Schmidt — piano 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. Pianist Steve Schmidt was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He took two years of basic piano lessons in grade school but spent more time playing baseball and basketball. An attraction to the guitar - to blues and blues-oriented rock bands - drew Steve into pursuing music. Throughout high school, he spent much of his free time playing guitar along with records and jamming with others around the city. Blues led to jazz, and he switched to piano the summer after high school to teach himself the chords and melodies of jazz. 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 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. 

Richard Cortez — vocalist Steve Schmidt — piano Aaron Jacobs — bass Jim Leslie — drums Join us at Caffè Vivace on Friday, November 21, 2025, for a swinging tribute to Frank Sinatra with acclaimed vocalist Richard Cortez and the Steve Schmidt Trio. Known for his deep knowledge of the Great American Songbook and his fresh, heartfelt interpretations, Cortez brings warmth, wit, and style to Sinatra’s timeless classics. Don’t miss this evening of unforgettable songs, impeccable swing, and rich storytelling in the intimate setting of Cincinnati’s premier jazz venue. Cortez, known for his ambition and extensive knowledge of The Great American Songbook, has shared the bandstand with some of New York City’s most celebrated and respected musicians — Sullivan Fortner, Adam Birnbaum, Paul Gill, Peter Bernstein, Grant Stewart, Alexander Claffy, Joe Farnsworth, Jerry Weldon, Joe Strasser, Nicole Glover, Russell Hall, and Emmet Cohen — to name a few. Splitting his time between several weekly residencies at iconic LGBT venues across the city—among them: Club Cumming, Metropolitan Bar, and Rebar—Cortez has focused and refined his artistry while growing his wide fan base. Recent performances in distinguished productions such as Live at Emmet’s Place with the Emmet Cohen Trio or Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz at Pride with drummer/bandleader Bryan Carter have marked the vocalist’s career for success. Cortez’s openly gay renderings of timeless treasures by Cole Porter, Billie Holiday, Jerome Kern, and many others deliver sweetness, self-assuredness, and disarming vulnerability with a well-timed wit. Richard breathes exciting new life into this beloved material, forever reminding us that as we progress as a society, so do our stories told within these sacred songs. 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. 

Camille Saba Smith — vocalist Zack Karp — piano Jack Early — bass Melvin Broach — drums Join us at Caffè Vivace on Saturday, November 22, 2025 for Camille Saba Smith 4-Tet — Soulful Silhouette. With a warm, luminous voice and elegant swing, Camille blends classic jazz and modern soul in an intimate set crafted for the room. Expect heartfelt storytelling, graceful grooves, and melodies that linger long after the last note. Sassy, irrepressible, and wonderfully profound…Cleveland native Camille “Saba” Smith—is a FORCE. A powerhouse of talent, Smith is the quintessential slash artist. Blessed with a five-octave range—she is a self-taught vocalist. Singing brings her joy and has fascinated her for over twenty years! Camille founded the musical ensemble “Saba Jazz” and other groups. She is in demand as an accomplished, versatile studio vocalist and band leader. She has also worked with several well-known artists around the globe. Smith believes that the key to making great music—is diversity. Being well-versed in a variety of genres has taken her far. She has an acute ability to sense the changing needs of her listeners. She considers her performances—a vehicle to connect with the divine while sharing inspiring messages with the world. 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 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. 

Will Kjeer - piano Josh Kline — tenor saxophone NYC-based pianist and composer Will Kjeer stands out as one of his generation's most versatile jazz artists. A recent graduate of the Juilliard School’s M.M. program, Will’s expansive and nuanced approach to creative music has earned him recognition from living legends of the jazz vanguard and contemporary pioneers alike. The great guitarist Russell Malone called Will “a pianist of exceptional heart,” and drum sorcerer Dave King was so impressed with Will’s intentionality that he offered to produce and perform on Will’s 2025 debut album and eventually invited him to sub for Ben Monder in The Bad Plus - making him the only musician ever asked to sub with the band. Will has won numerous awards as a performer/composer, including being selected by American composer Billy Childs as a winner of the Ravinia’s Bridges Composition Competition. He also won the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition, the Angel City Jazz Festival Young Artist Competition, and the Jazz Fest Bonn International JazzBeet Competition. He is an alumnus of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead and the Steans Music Institute. He has performed for Herbie Hancock as a finalist for admission to the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute. He is currently a member of the BMI Composer’s Workshop in New York. He has performed his original music across America at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall in Chicago, and Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center in New York City. 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. 

See Cincinnati's premier big band kick off the holidays with powerful, festive big-band jazz. 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 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 why they started playing in the first place.” He wanted to start a “world-class big band and 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. The group’s 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 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. 

Ron Jones — alto saxophone Rob Allgeyer — piano Michael Sharfe — bass Jim Leslie — drums Join us at Caffè Vivace on Thursday, November 28, for an unforgettable evening of classic jazz as renowned alto saxophonist Ron Jones and his ensemble perform the timeless music of Cannonball Adderley. A cornerstone of hard bop and soul jazz, Adderley’s music is celebrated for its infectious swing, joyful spirit, and emotional depth. Ron Jones brings this legacy to life with his rich tone, dynamic improvisation, and heartfelt delivery, drawing listeners into the same spirit that made Cannonball an icon. Expect a program filled with signature classics—spirited blues, lyrical ballads, and hard-driving grooves—that showcase both the artistry of Adderley and the creativity of Jones. Whether you’re a dedicated jazz aficionado or simply curious to experience the excitement of live jazz up close, this night promises to be a memorable celebration of one of the music’s most beloved voices, all in the intimate listening environment of Cincinnati’s premier jazz lounge. Ron Jones graduated Cum Laude from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Jones was also a member of the world-famous FAMU Marching 100 Band. Jones is involved in jazz education, giving workshops at many Universities and High Schools in the Midwest. He has been a guest artist, clinician, and lecturer at Ohio State University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Purdue University, Central Michigan University, Bradley University, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Kentucky, Indiana Wesleyan University, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Ball State University, Indiana State University, The University of Evansville, Vincennes University, Berea College, Ferris State University, University of Louisville, Grand Rapids Community College, University of Indianapolis, Eastern Kentucky University, and many others. In 1997 Jones recorded his first CD, “A Vision of Beauty”. The CD has received nationwide airplay and great reviews from Jazziz and Cadence Magazines. Jones has performed with some of the biggest names in jazz like Diane Reeves, Terell Stafford, Christian McBride, Wynton, Branford, & Delfeayo Marsalis, Slide Hampton, James Williams, Kenny Kirkland, Bill Cunliffe, John Von Ohlen, Richard Davis, Jimmy Rainey, Cal Collins, Nat Adderley, Rufus Reid, Conrad Herwig, Donald Brown, John McNeil, Bobby Shew, Wycliffe Gordon, Gregory Hutchison, Winard Harper, Joe Labarbera, Pat Labarbera, Bob Hurst, Don Braden, Ed Soph, David Baker, Jamey Aebersold, Dan Hearle, Jerry Coker, Adam Nussbaum, David Liebman, Hal Galper, Ed Thigpen, Richard Groove Holmes, and many others. 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 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. 

Kathy Wade — vocalist Phil DeGreg — piano Chris Berg — bass Melvin Broach — drums Swing into your holiday season with the snap, crackle and pop of Jazz with the Kathy Wade Quartet, featuring Phil DeGreg, piano, Chris Berg, bass, Melvin Broach, drums and two-time Emmy award winning international Jazz vocalist Kathy Wade. From jingle bells to midnight under the mistletoe, make a date and join us as we make merry melodies. Renowned international jazz vocalist and recording artist Kathy Wade, a Top Music Influencer in the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, has been a popular Cincinnati performer for over 40 years. A two-time regional Emmy® award winner, she has sung in concerts across the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. Kathy opened for the legendary Eartha Kitt, Dionne Warwick, Dame Cleo Laine, Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson, Diane Schuur, Anita Baker, Alex Bugnon, Kenny G, Whitney Houston, David Sanborn, George Benson, Al. Jarreau, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Will Downing and Ramsey Lewis. Kathy debuted with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in July 2021 as a guest performer with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra with former conductor Keith Lockhart and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra won rave reviews for their work in Ain’t Misbehavin’, the 60s review Beehive; Crowns at Tony recipient Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; and Crowns at the Repertory Theater of St. Louis; Suessical, Jr., the world premiere of The Wiz, Jr. with the Children’s Theater of Cincinnati and guest performer in the national tour of The Vagina Monologues. Kathy is the 2023 Ohio Governor’s Awards for the Arts honoree in Arts Administration and presenter at the Oxford University, Oxford, UK World Literacy Summit. She co-founded Learning Through Art, Inc., a nonprofit organization celebrating 32 years of building resilient communities through art. A graduate of Xavier University with a master’s in arts administration from UC’s CCM, Kathy is the 2024 University of Cincinnati Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Kathy serves on Xavier University's Board of Trustees and CCMpower Board. 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. 

Led by Professor Craig Bailey, the CCM Jazz Lab Big Band is a 17-20 member ensemble that performs a wide variety of styles from historical swing, bebop, post-bop, fusion, and Latin to avant-garde. Special emphasis is placed on the idiom's great art-music composers, such as Thad Jones, Bill Holman, Bob Brookmeyer, and Maria Schneider, and historic re-creations such as Ellington, Basie, Herman, and Kenton. 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. 

Alex Merk — drums Colin Palmieri — alto/soprano saxophones Alec Davis — tenor saxophone Kosta Brunson — trombone Chris Caporale — piano Teddy Mechley — bass Higher Heights is a sextet that performs original music and arrangements from their favorite modern jazz groups. The band consists of six classmates from UC’s College-Conservatory of Music and was formed under the concept of the members pushing each other through complex writing in a setting outside of school. Spearheaded by drummer Alex Merk, the group features original music from every member and seeks to push its musical boundaries continually. 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.