Cincinnati's legendary Blue Wisp Big Band celebrates its 44th 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 resale your seats with no refund. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

David S. Burk — vocals and harmonica David Lloyd — bass Greg Chako — guitar Mike Meloy — drums David & The HeartStrings perform a mix of original & covers of blues/swing, plus songs from the Great America Songbook such as This Time the Dream’s on Me, It’s Easy to Remember, On the Street Where You Live, The Night They Called it a Day, and the Ray Charles classic, You Don’t Know Me. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Michael Sharfe — bass John Zappa — trumpet Brian Batchelor-Glader — piano Tim McCord — tenor saxophone Ali Schweitzer — percussion 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

On Sunday, November 14, 2021, Chicago-based vocalist G. Thomas Allen made history by becoming the first male to win 1st Place at The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition held at Newark's New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Allen wowed judges and music lovers with his formidable yet fluid vocals, as evidenced by the standing ovation he received when he performed his riveting rendition of Errol Garner’s immortal classic, “Misty.” Since that fateful night, Allen has graced some of the world's most prestigious venues and honed his vivid voice into the amazing instrument it is. “[Winning the competition] was a beautiful experience,” Allen fondly reminisced, “and it changed my life forever.” Allen’s stratospheric vocals are in full effect on his new recording, Love Affair: Serenades of the Heart, a cool and caressing collection of standards, vocal interludes, and original compositions that narrate and navigate the intricate nuances of romance. The follow-up to his 2020 self-titled album, Love Affair, is a conceptual evolution from Allen’s first record. “The first album is a collection of songs,” Allen says. “I had a lot of melodies, and I wanted to get them on paper and put them out. [The new recording] is a bit more thematic and dramatic in terms of the focus. I wanted to have an album that shows the complexity of love, the good and the bad.” Supported by drummer Jonathan Pinson, bassist Jeremiah Hunt, pianist Dennis Luxion (who worked with Chet Baker), and alto saxophonist Brent Griffin, Allen’s expressive and elegiac vocals on the album’s ten selections ride on a melodic, moving magic carpet powered by intricate and evocative moods and grooves. 

Kosta Brunson — trombone Andrew Brown — saxophones Zach Karp — piano Teddy Mechley — bass Aidan Schram — drums The Brown-Brunson quintet, colloquially known as the AB/KB, is a group that focuses on original compositions and arrangements from the jazz greats. Created by Kosta Brunson and Andrew Brown, this group aims to broaden original ideas while also studying the music of the masters. Their dedication to innovation and tradition makes their performances timeless and forward-thinking. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Nduduzo Makhathini — piano Zwelakhe Duma Bell le Pere — bass Kabelo Boy Mokhatla — drums Nduduzo Makhathini grew up in the lush and rugged hillscapes of umGungundlovu in South Africa, a peri-urban landscape in which music and ritual practices were symbiotically linked. The area is significant historically as the site of the Zulu king Dingane kingdom between 1828 and 1840. It’s important to note that the Zulu, the African warrior code, deeply relies on music for motivation and healing. This deeply embedded symbiosis is key to understanding Makhathini’s vision. The church also played a role in Makhathini’s musical understanding, as he hopped from church to church in his younger days in search of only the music. The legends of South African jazz are also deeply influenced, particularly by Bheki Mseleku, Moses Molelekwa, and Abdullah Ibrahim. “The earlier musicians put a lot of emotions in the music they played,” he says. “I think it may also be linked to the political climate of those days. I also feel that the uniqueness of South African jazz has created interest worldwide, and we are slowly losing that interest in our music today. I feel that our generation must be very conscious about retaining these nuances in the music we play today.” Through his mentor, Mseleku, Makhathini was also introduced to the music of John Coltrane’s classic quartet with McCoy Tyner. “I understood my voice as a pianist through John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme,” he says. “As someone who started playing jazz very late, I had always been looking for a kind of playing that could mirror or evoke how my people danced, sang, and spoke. Tyner provided that and still does in meaningful ways.” Makhathini also cites American jazz pianists, including Andrew Hill, Randy Weston, and Don Pullen, as significant influences. Active as an educator and researcher, Makhathini is the head of the music department at Fort Hare University in the Eastern Cape. He has performed at renowned festivals, including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Essence Festival (in both New Orleans and South Africa), and in 2019, he made his debut appearances at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, as well as Jazz at Lincoln Center where he was a featured guest with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on their 3-night musical celebration The South African Songbook in Rose Theater. He is a member of Shabaka Hutchings’ band Shabaka and the Ancestors, appearing on their 2016 album Wisdom of Elders. He has collaborated with artists including Logan Richardson, Nasheet Waits, Tarus Mateen, Stefon Harris, Billy Harper, Azar Lawrence, and Ernest Dawkins. In addition to producing albums for his peers (such as Thandiswa Mazwai’s Belede and Tumi Mogorosi’s Project Elo), Makhathini has released eight albums of his own since 2014 when he founded the label Gundu Entertainment in partnership with his wife and vocalist Omagugu Makhathini. Those albums earned him multiple awards and include Sketches of Tomorrow (2014), Mother Tongue (2014), Listening to the Ground (2015), Matunda Ya Kwanza (2015); Icilongo: The African Peace Suite (2016), Inner Dimensions (2016), and Reflections (2016). His 2017 album Ikhambi was the first to be released on Universal Music South Africa and won Best Jazz Album at the South African Music Awards (SAMA) in 2018. His Blue Note debut Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds was named one of the “Best Jazz Albums of 2020” by The New York Times and was followed by In the Spirit of Ntu in 2022 and uNomkhubulwane in 2024. 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. Refunds 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 & roots musician, composer, teacher, producer, & engineer. He plays acoustic & electric guitar, bass guitar, and mandolin, & sings. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Alan Barnes — alto saxophone Phil DeGreg — piano Aaron Jacobs — bass John Taylor — drums Alan Barnes is a revered figure in British jazz, known for his exceptional musicianship and over three decades of studio and live performances. With a prolific recording career, he has released over thirty albums as a leader or co-leader and worked alongside artists like Björk, Bryan Ferry, and Jamie Cullum. He has also toured with legends such as Freddie Hubbard and Scott Hamilton. Barnes has garnered over 25 British Jazz Awards and has been named BBC Jazz Musician of the Year twice. His melodic ingenuity and stylistic versatility have made him stand out in jazz. Phil DeGreg is a Cincinnati-based pianist who has made his mark in the jazz world over the past four decades as a recording artist, composer, and pedagogue. He has toured with The Woody Herman Orchestra and performed with Randy Brecker, Ira Sullivan, Claudio Roditi, J.J. Johnson, Harry Allen, Conrad Herwig, and many others. He has released 12 albums as a leader. As an educator, Phil retired after 27 years as a Professor of Jazz Studies at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He continues to teach private students and master classes locally and worldwide and has taught with Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops for 36 years. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Peter Bernstein — guitar Steve Schmidt — piano Justin Dawson — bass Jim Leslie — drums The jazz guitarist, among the most sought-after in the New York area, has a feather-light touch, an encyclopedic knowledge of chords, and the ability to play standards like he’s inventing them on the spot. - The Los Angeles Daily News Mr. Bernstein is a fluidly improvising guitarist in the post-bop tradition, with control over harmony and a beautiful sound. - The New York Times Peter Bernstein produces a warm, ringing, muscular tone that echoes that of giants such as Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Kenny Burrell. - Jazziz Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time, he has participated in over 80 recordings and numerous festivals, concerts, and club performances with musicians from all generations. As a leader, Peter has released nine albums and a DVD, Live at Smoke. He got his first break while attending the New School when he met the legendary guitarist Jim Hall. Hall asked Peter to participate in his Invitational Concert as part of the 1990 JVC Jazz Festival. The event featured such guitarists as John Scofield and Pat Metheny and was released as Live at Town Hall Vol. 2. by Music Masters. Hall noted that Peter “…has paid attention to the past and future. He is the most impressive guitarist I’ve heard. He plays the best for swing, logic, feel, and taste.” Also in 1990, Peter Bernstein was discovered by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and took part in the first of four recordings with him. He was a regular member of his group throughout the 1990s. “Some people just have it,” Donaldson said. “…most of the time, you have to teach someone what to do, but Peter knows it all.” Peter has also enjoyed long musical associations with legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb (Cobb’s Mob), organist Larry Goldings, and drummer Bill Stewart as a member of their highly acclaimed trio and the New York Times called them “the best organ trio of the last decade”. Together, they recorded a dozen records, all displaying their distinctive sound, whether exploring the depths of jazz standards or playing their original compositions. From 1995 through 1997, Peter played on Redman’s Freedom in the Groove CD as a Joshua Redman's band member. He played with Diana Krall’s quartet from 1999 through 2001 and with Dr. Lonnie Smith, the legendary organist who made his debut on the George Benson Cookbook albums. He has also recorded five CDs with organist Melvin Rhyne, known for his association with Wes Montgomery. In addition, Peter has appeared in groups led by Nicholas Payton, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, Tom Harrell, and Eric Alexander. His current projects include his recent album, Monk, which was recorded for the newly reactivated Xanadu label. Together with Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart, he put their own spin on the rich legacy of Thelonious Monk. In September, Bernstein released a solo guitar record, Solo Guitar—Live at Smalls (Smalls Live). 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. Refunds must be within 24 hours of the start of the performance. 

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

This group will perform original compositions and fresh arrangements of classic jazz songs, adding their unique twist to well-known standards while shaping future ones. The ensemble consists of six musicians from the CCM: Zach Karp (piano), Sophia Troyer (bass), Aiden Schram (drums), Bradley Pangburn (saxophone), Andrew Brown (saxophone), Jake Petmecky (trumpet), and Kosta Brunson (trombone). Prepare to enjoy a blend of timeless jazz with a modern edge! 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Andy Smith — Hammond organ Daniel Nail — tenor saxophone Carlos Vargas-Ortíz — guitar Isaiah Cook — drums Hydrophonics is a funk and soul organ quartet based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their sound is a melting pot of styles reflecting the different musical backgrounds of the band members, with priority always given to danceable grooves and tasteful melodies. Hydrophonics’ catalog includes original music and arrangements of the works of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, and more. If you like Soulive, Medeski, Martin, Scofield & Wood, Jimmy Smith, Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles, then you’ll enjoy the soulful sounds of Hydrophonics. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley — vocalist Lynne Scott — vocalist Hank Mautner — trumpet Phil DeGreg — piano Bill Jackson — bass Jim Leslie — drums Get into the Thanksgiving spirit, and join us for A Swinging Friendsgiving jazz event at Caffé Vivace in Cincinnati’s hip Walnut Hills! Featuring the fabulous Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley on vocals with the sensational Phil DeGreg Trio. The evening will be filled with swingin’ tunes and festive spirit, with special guests, including the legendary Lynne Scott, joining the celebration. Set against the backdrop of cozy caffé vibes, the night promises a delightful blend of music and camaraderie, making it the perfect way to give thanks and get your groove on with friends. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of jazz and joy. That’s straight fire…and no turkey! Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She has sung in operas, musicals, cabarets, festivals, and concerts throughout the United States, Australia, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Germany, including performances at Cincinnati’s Music Hall, Harlech Castle in North Wales, and the Sydney Opera House. Kelly has been on the voice faculty at NKU’s School of the Arts for nine years and has also run voice studios in Sydney, London & Cincinnati, where she worked with private students, recording studios, and vocal ensembles and was recently invited to join the voice faculty of the University of Dayton. In 2018, she became the NKU Vocal Jazz Ensemble director and continued her studies with Darmon Meader of New York Voices. In October 2021, Kelly served as a Jazz Ambassador for the Cincinnati-Nancy Sister Jazz Initiative in Nancy, France, and Kelly continues to perform regularly throughout Southwest Ohio. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Spencer Merk — trombone Eric Lechliter — trumpet Josh Kline — tenor saxophone Chris Caporale — piano Justin Dawson — bass Alex Merk — drums The Spencer Merk Sextet explores Cincinnati jazz's storied past while shaping its future. The band will play music by Frank Foster, Fred Hersch, Gordon Brisker, John von Ohlen, and many other legendary musicians from the Queen City. It will also play originals written by its members as they aspire to join the ranks of countless Cincinnati jazz greats. 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. Refunds 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 Redmans 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. 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. Refunds 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 Redmans 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. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Will Kjeer - piano Kevin McClellan - bass Matt McAllister - drums 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 composing genius Billy Childs as a Ravinia’s Bridges Composition Competition winner. 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 resale your seats with no refund. Refunds must be within 24 hours of 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 44th 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

El Ritmo Del Mañana gets together for the first time since Zion moved to California. ERDM will bring you some of their classic Latin jazz compositions and your favorite covers. Join us as we celebrate our thankfulness to this music and to everyone who supports it! Zion Sosa — congas Eric Wurzelbacher — tenor saxophone Eric Lechliter — trumpet Colin Palmieri — alto saxophone Chris Caporale — piano Mason Daughterty — bass Derek Johnson — drums ERDM plays music from Chucho Valdes to Sivuca, including original Latin jazz compositions and arrangements. It will make you want to get up and dance! 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. Refunds must be within 24 hours of the start of the performance. 

Kathy Wade — vocalist Dan Karlsberg — piano Justin Dawson — bass Phillip Tipton— drums Kathy Wade Christmas brings her quartet's sizzling sounds to timeless holiday Jazz standards. Join us for a most wonderful swinging time of the year! 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Enjoy a night of jazz with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory Of Music Prep Combos! The CCM Preparatory Department Combos are host to a variety of community members whose mission is to become familiar with the jazz idiom and repertoire. The CCM Prep High School Combo features the best young musicians from the greater Cincinnati area showcasing their talents in a small combo setting. The CCM Prep Adult combo features musicians enriched in the Cincinnati jazz scene and believes that learning does not stop at any age. 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. Refunds must be within 24 hours of the start of the performance. 

Brent Gallaher — tenor saxophone Michael Mavridoglou — trumpet Steve Schmidt — piano Justin Dawson — bass Jim Leslie — drums You can expect to hear some classic and newer tunes, swinging and funky, by Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, and other jazz greats, as well as some original songs by some of the Bears! Please come and plan on having fun - without bearly trying! :) 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Cincinnati's legendary Blue Wisp Big Band celebrates its 44th 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 resale your seats with no refund. Refunds 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

“Horn is among the most exciting young vocalists in jazz, with a proud traditionalism that keeps her tightly linked to the sound of classic figures like Nancy Wilson and Betty Carter, but a vivacity of spirit and conviction that places her firmly in the present.” — The New York Times Jazzmeia Horn, named by her jazz-loving grandmother, was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1991. She grew up in a close church-going family, singing gospel music. Ms. Horn graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, which was attended by other great artists such as Roy Hargrove, Norah Jones, and Erykah Badu. 2009, she enrolled at The School of Jazz at The New School in New York City. Ms. Horn won the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition and, shortly after, was signed by Concord Records. In 2017, she released her debut album, A Social Call, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Ms. Horn continued to tour nationally and internationally, honing her vocal, performance, and writing skills to convey her message about the global need for love and social change. In 2019, she released Love and Liberation, which also received a Grammy nomination. The following year, she published her book Strive From Within The Jazzmeia Horn Approach while recording her big band album, Dear Love. Dear Love, an album of encouragement through poetry and spoken word addressing the aspects of her community, her love, and herself, was released in September 2021. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

“Horn is among the most exciting young vocalists in jazz, with a proud traditionalism that keeps her tightly linked to the sound of classic figures like Nancy Wilson and Betty Carter, but a vivacity of spirit and conviction that places her firmly in the present.” — The New York Times Jazzmeia Horn, named by her jazz-loving grandmother, was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1991. She grew up in a close church-going family, singing gospel music. Ms. Horn graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, which was attended by other great artists such as Roy Hargrove, Norah Jones, and Erykah Badu. 2009, she enrolled at The School of Jazz at The New School in New York City. Ms. Horn won the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition and, shortly after, was signed by Concord Records. In 2017, she released her debut album, A Social Call, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Ms. Horn continued to tour nationally and internationally, honing her vocal, performance, and writing skills to convey her message about the global need for love and social change. In 2019, she released Love and Liberation, which also received a Grammy nomination. The following year, she published her book Strive From Within The Jazzmeia Horn Approach while recording her big band album, Dear Love. Dear Love, an album of encouragement through poetry and spoken word addressing the aspects of her community, her love, and herself, was released in September 2021. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Paul Patterson — classical/12-string guitars Justin Dawson — bass Dan Dorff — drums/percussion Sylvia Mitchell — violin/accordion A night of Paul’s original music with flavors of Brazilian jazz guitar and ambient 12-string guitar. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Myles Ellington Twitty — trumpet Chaya Jones — vocalist Dan Karlsberg — piano Justin Dawson — bass Phillip Tipton — drums Join us for A Holiday Special with the Myles Ellington Twitty Quintet featuring the soulful vocals of Chaya Jones! Let the warmth of Myles’ trumpet and Chaya’s captivating voice bring you into the spirit of the season at Caffè Vivace. Get ready for jazz classics, holiday favorites, and a night of festive cheer, perfect for celebrating the magic of the holidays. Don't miss this special event! Myles Ellington Twitty is a jazz trumpeter, arranger, and bandleader from Cincinnati, Ohio. He began playing trumpet at six years old after being introduced to it by his father, a music educator and jazz trombonist. Several years later, he heard Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue,” which showed him a whole new world of musical possibility, pushing him to become the best trumpeter and Jazz musician he could be. In 2018, he was admitted to the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and graduated in the spring of 2022. As a recent graduate, Twitty is well on his way to becoming a powerful force in the Jazz scene, having performed/studied with some of the most prominent modern Jazz giants, including Marcus Printup, Kurt Elling, Carla Cook, Craig Bailey, Mike Wade, Walter Blanding, and Marc Cary. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Ralph DiSylvestro — trumpet Eric Wurzelbacher — tenor saxophone Joe Duran — alto saxophone Garett Arrowood — 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 own 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Ben Levin — piano/vocals Art Gore - drums Aron Levin - guitar/vocal Walter Cash Jr. — bass Ben Levin is a pianist/vocalist based in Cincinnati, OH. He has released five albums on the Vizztone Label Group and has received three Blues Music Award nominations, including Best Piano Player of the Year (2023, 2024). Ben Levin recently released his fifth VizzTone album, a Christmas present wrapped in the blues: Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue. For years, Levin has been inspired by classic holiday blues recordings from artists like Freddy King, Charles Brown, and Amos Milburn, among others. He recorded his first holiday-themed track in 2019 and has been building towards this album ever since. This album features many guest artists and many different blues styles. As Ben puts it: “I am honored to have been able to feature so many great artists on this album, and they each contributed perfectly to these unique styles and sounds: Lil’ Ed showcases pure Chicago blues inspired by his uncle J.B. Hutto, Sonny Hill channels soul from the chitlin’ circuit, Candice Ivory highlights how to defy genres, blending blues and jazz, and Lil’ Jimmy Reed brings out the deep blues of Baton Rouge.” Art Gore's drumming style is characterized by signature driving cymbal beats, crisp, sharp snare accents, and well-placed bass drum "bombs." During his six-decade career, he has performed and recorded with such artists as George Benson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lonnie Liston Smith, Pharoah Sanders, Woody Shaw, Larry Young, Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, John Scofield, Hank Marr, J.J. Johnson, Joey Defrancesco, Kenny Dorham, Hank Crawford, James Moody, and Ahmad Jamal, to name a few. Dr. Lonnie Smith has said of Art, "Art has the kind of rhythm and drive that's always right there." 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 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. There are no refunds within 24 hours of the start of the performance. 

To watch Stella Cole perform is to be transported back in time. Her sense of joy and wonder is infectious—one look at her massive social media following makes this clear. Take a quick scroll through the comments of any of her many viral videos, and you'll see not only her irresistible charm but also her ability to expose fans of all ages to the wonders of the Great American Songbook, especially when these timeless stories are told honestly by an artist with an uncanny ability to transcend generations. On her highly anticipated debut recording, Stella is presented performing interpreting a collection of classics in a variety of settings, including many featuring an orchestra arranged by multiple Grammy-winner Alan Broadbent. Featuring songs made famous by everyone from Barbra Streisand (“When the Sun Comes Out”) and Judy Garland (“The Boy Next Door” and a classic re-interpretation of “Over the Rainbow”) to Billie Eilish (“My Future”) and Audrey Hepburn (“Moon River” of course!), it is sure to be one of the most impressive vocal recordings of 2024. Upon first hearing Stella Cole, one is immediately struck by her rich tone and extraordinary vocal control. However, what is particularly rare is her ability to interpret songs initially intended for actors in character in a direct, personally vulnerable way that connects to something within herself, placing her in the lineage of the greatest interpreters of the repertoire. Perhaps most exciting to her many young fans, who have never heard these songs before, these are Stella Cole songs, making her one of her generation's most exciting artists. 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. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Cincinnati's legendary Blue Wisp Big Band celebrates its 44th 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 resale your seats with no refund. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Steve Schmidt — Hammond organ Brad Myers — guitar Jason Smart — drums Please join the STEVE SCHMIDT ORGAN TRIO in celebrating Christmas and the Holidays for five big nights of fun - Thursday — Monday 12/19-12/23/24. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Steve Schmidt — Hammond organ Mandy Gaines — vocalist Brad Myers — guitar Jason Smart — drums Please join the STEVE SCHMIDT ORGAN TRIO in celebrating Christmas and the Holidays for five big nights of fun - Thursday — Monday 12/19-12/23/24. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Steve Schmidt — Hammond organ Dixie Karas — vocalist Brad Myers — guitar Jim Leslie — drums Please join the STEVE SCHMIDT ORGAN TRIO in celebrating Christmas and the Holidays for five big nights of fun - Thursday — Monday 12/19-12/23/24. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Steve Schmidt — Hammond organ Mandy Gaines — vocalist Brad Myers — guitar Jim Leslie — drums Please join the STEVE SCHMIDT ORGAN TRIO in celebrating Christmas and the Holidays for five big nights of fun - Thursday — Monday 12/19-12/23/24. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Steve Schmidt — Hammond organ Mandy Gaines — vocalist Dixie Karas — vocalist Brad Myers — guitar Jim Leslie — drums Please join the STEVE SCHMIDT ORGAN TRIO in celebrating Christmas and the Holidays for five big nights of fun - Thursday — Monday 12/19-12/23/24. 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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

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. Refunds must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Celebrating Charlie's return to Cincinnati from the U.S. Air Force Band of the West, the Merk Brothers present the music of the Brecker, Marsalis, Jones, Jensen, and Heath siblings with a healthy dose of Merk originals. Spencer Merk — trombone Charlie Merk — trumpet Alex Merk — drums Ben Tweedt — piano Justin Dawson — bass 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 cannot attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. 

Walfredo Reyes Jr. — drums and percussion Ben Tweedt – keyboards Matt Wiles – bass Walfredo is the current drummer for the legendary band Chicago. He has been a recording and touring percussionist and drummer with artists such as Santana, Steve Winwood, Robbie Robertson, Lindsey Buckingham, Joe Sample, Sergio Mendes, and many more. With the trio, he infuses many music styles, funky grooves, and melodies of songs we love. 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. 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 and notify us at least 24 hours before the performance start time, we can offer a one-time transfer to a future show of equal or lesser value. 

Jordan Pollard – piano Matt McCoy — bass Tom Buckley — drums Ahmad Jamal is celebrated for his innovative blend of jazz elements, emphasizing subtlety, space, and rhythm. His music often features a minimalist approach, highlighting conventional interplay between musicians. Join us as we exhibit the moods and textures of this unique sound, notable for its sophistication, melodic creativity, and the use of silence as a powerful musical tool. Jordan Pollard is a jazz pianist originally from Minnesota, where she started performing at age 15. From 2006-2012, she performed and taught in San Antonio, TX, including an original works group called the San Antonio Jazz Workshop. She’s been local to Cincinnati since 2012, where she freelances. During her Cincinnati years, she hosted the Monday Night Jazz Jam at Stanley’s Pub from 2015 to 2021 while playing several local and regional venues. As of late, she can be seen regularly at Palm Court at the historic Netherland Plaza, The Härth Room, Schwartz’s Point Jazz & Acoustic Club, and Caffe Vivace. Jordan earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of MN-Duluth and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from UC's College-Conservatory of Music. During her studies, Jordan was fortunate to have opportunities to travel, perform with top-tier professionals, and take occasional lessons from pianists Billy Taylor, Kenny Werner, and George Cables. She’s been composing since 2002 and thoroughly enjoys exploring her and others' compositions, especially in this trio setting. Important Notices: 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. 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. 

Bria Skonberg is a Juno-award-winning artist, 10x Downbeat Rising Star, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing! Awardee and the 2022 recipient of the "Legend" Award by the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook. The trumpeter, vocalist, and composer has been called the"shining hope of hot jazz" (NY Times) and is considered "one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation." (WSJ) She has been a featured artist at hundreds of festivals and stages worldwide, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, Monterey, Newport, and Montreal Jazz Festivals. The daughter of teachers, Bria was introduced to jazz by a spirited public school band program and local festival in her hometown of Chilliwack, British Columbia. A professional band leader since her teens, she moved to Vancouver and obtained her degree in Trumpet Performance from Capilano University. Since arriving in New York in 2010, she has been at the forefront of a revival of classic American music as both a performer and educator, programming concerts and workshops for students of all ages on behalf of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Jazz House Kids and more. Bria is an active mentor in the Women in Jazz Organization, a Bach Conn-Selmer artist, a board member of the International Trumpet Guild, and became a mother in 2020. Her upcoming seventh studio album, What It Means, was recorded in New Orleans with Crescent City’s finest and will be released in July 2024. 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. 

Nate Smith — drums Jason Lindner — keys/synth Tim Lefebvre — bass Nate Smith is a drummer, composer, & producer from Chesapeake, Virginia. His visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming has led to three GRAMMY® nominations and work with esteemed artists, including Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Brittany Howard, Van Hunt, The Fearless Flyers, Norah Jones, and Somi. Smith fuses his original compositions with an eclectic mix of music, including everything from jazz to R&B to hip-hop to pop. His latest album, Kinfolk 2: See The Birds (released September 2021 on Edition Records) is the highly-anticipated follow up to his 2017 GRAMMY® Award-nominated album, Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere. In recent years, Smith’s viral videos have been viewed by millions of people, underscoring his popularity as one of the most influential drummers of his generation. 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. 

After almost three years, Kandace Springs’ legion of worldwide fans finally has a new album to watch. 2024’s Run Your Race, her tribute to her late father, legendary Nashville soul singer Scat Spring, is the first album of hers to feature almost all original songs, written by Kandace both solo and with some stellar collaborators, such as Gregg Wells (Adele), Matt Hales (Liane La Havas), and her long-time partners Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken (Rihanna). “This album is probably the most personal one I’ll ever make,” says Ms. Springs. “My dad was a huge influence on my life and music, and when he passed away earlier this year, I knew I had to pay tribute to him with this record.” Backed by her ace all-female rhythm section and joined as usual by a stellar group of guest artists, including Elena Pinderhughes (Herbie Hancock) and Karriem Riggins (Diana Krall), Kandace delivers her most heartfelt and personal record yet. The songs range from an early gem, “Look,” that Kandace wrote with her father, to the album’s feature track, “Run Your Race,” written in late 2022, a touching tribute to her college track star dad’s journey through life. A couple of classic standards, “Wild Is The Wind” (made famous by Nina Simone) and “What a Wonderful World,” make their appearance as well, as they were songs that Scat introduced to his daughter in her formative years. “He opened the door for me of a whole musical world, I went in and I’ve never left.”  Kandace’s last album, The Women Who Raised Me, was released in 2020, garnering 5-star reviews from publications ranging from DownBeat to The New Yorker, as well as winning the Deutscher JazzPreis for best vocal album of the year. Three years is a long time, but Kandace is convinced that her fans will feel the wait was worth it. “In a way, this album took a lifetime to make,” she says, “and I think it shows.” 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. 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. 

After almost three years, Kandace Springs’ legion of worldwide fans finally has a new album to watch. 2024’s Run Your Race, her tribute to her late father, legendary Nashville soul singer Scat Spring, is the first album of hers to feature almost all original songs, written by Kandace both solo and with some stellar collaborators, such as Gregg Wells (Adele), Matt Hales (Liane La Havas), and her long-time partners Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken (Rihanna). “This album is probably the most personal one I’ll ever make,” says Ms. Springs. “My dad was a huge influence on my life and music, and when he passed away earlier this year, I knew I had to pay tribute to him with this record.” Backed by her ace all-female rhythm section and joined as usual by a stellar group of guest artists, including Elena Pinderhughes (Herbie Hancock) and Karriem Riggins (Diana Krall), Kandace delivers her most heartfelt and personal record yet. The songs range from an early gem, “Look,” that Kandace wrote with her father, to the album’s feature track, “Run Your Race,” written in late 2022, a touching tribute to her college track star dad’s journey through life. A couple of classic standards, “Wild Is The Wind” (made famous by Nina Simone) and “What a Wonderful World,” make their appearance as well, as they were songs that Scat introduced to his daughter in her formative years. “He opened the door for me of a whole musical world, I went in and I’ve never left.”  Kandace’s last album, The Women Who Raised Me, was released in 2020, garnering 5-star reviews from publications ranging from DownBeat to The New Yorker, as well as winning the Deutscher JazzPreis for best vocal album of the year. Three years is a long time, but Kandace is convinced that her fans will feel the wait was worth it. “In a way, this album took a lifetime to make,” she says, “and I think it shows.” 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. 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.