Shows - Caffe Vivace

Davis/Pimentel Quartet

Thu, Aug 27

Alec G. Davis - tenor saxophone Gabriel Pimentel - trumpet Sophia Troyer - bass Alex Merk - drums The Davis/Pimentel Quartet explores the fire and intimacy of the chordless jazz quartet. Inspired by the classic collaborations of Stan Getz and Chet Baker, they blend bebop, lyricism, and bold interplay into a sound that’s both steeped in tradition and unmistakably their own. 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.

Mike Clark Organ Trio w/Rob Dixon

Fri, Aug 28

Mike Clark - drums

Dave Stryker - guitar

Jerry Z - Hammond organ

Rob Dixon - tenor saxophone

Mike Clark is one of the most influential drummers in modern jazz and funk, known for his groundbreaking work with Herbie Hancock and the legendary The Headhunters. A Sacramento native, Clark helped define the East Bay Sound of Oakland in the 1970s and is widely regarded as the "Father of Linear Drumming" for his innovative approach on Hancock's landmark album Thrust.

Over a career spanning five decades, Clark has recorded and performed with an extraordinary roster of artists, including Christian McBride, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Chris Potter, Tony Bennett, Donald Harrison, and many others. His grooves with The Headhunters rank among the most sampled drum performances in hip-hop history.

A prolific bandleader, educator, and author, Clark has released numerous acclaimed recordings, including Give The Drummer Some, Actual Proof, Blueprints of Jazz, and Mike Clark Plays Herbie Hancock. His instructional books, including The Post Bop Drum Book and Funk Drumming: Innovative Grooves & Advanced Concepts, have become essential resources for drummers worldwide.

Today, Clark continues to tour internationally as both an acoustic jazz artist and co-leader of The Headhunters, remaining one of the most respected and influential drummers in contemporary music.

A $20 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.

Camille Saba Smith Quartet: THE PEARL LOUNGE

Sat, Aug 29

Welcome to The Pearl Lounge—where jazz glows, soul lingers, and elegance never goes out of style. Join Camille Saba Smith (The Soul Pearl) for a richly curated evening of intimate jazz, soulful reinterpretations, romance, wit, and late-night sophistication

Backed by a stellar trio — Zach Karp on piano, Jack Early on bass, and Isaiah Cook on drums — the music unfolds in lush arrangements and timeless selections. Think candlelit jazz salon energy: sensual, intelligent, and unforgettable.

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.

Jeremy Long Quartet: Blue Note Classics & Earth Tones

Tue, Sep 01

Few record labels have shaped the sound of modern jazz more profoundly than Blue Note Records. Saxophonist Jeremy Long returns to Caffè Vivace with a quartet that celebrates this remarkable musical legacy while showcasing his own distinctive voice as a composer and bandleader.

Joined by guitarist Brandon Coleman, bassist Peter Gemus, and drummer Phillip Tipton, Long presents music from landmark Blue Note albums including Joe Henderson's Inner Urge, Wayne Shorter's Night Dreamer, Larry Young's Unity, and other classics that helped define the post-bop era. These timeless compositions continue to inspire generations of musicians with their melodic sophistication, harmonic depth, and fearless improvisation.

The program also features selections from Long's acclaimed recent release, Earth Tones, an album of original compositions inspired by the adventurous spirit of 1970s rock and jazz. Together, these works create an engaging program that honors the Blue Note tradition while illustrating how its influence continues to resonate in contemporary jazz.

Whether you're revisiting these iconic recordings or discovering them for the first time, this performance promises an evening of inspired improvisation, exceptional ensemble playing, and the intimate listening-room experience that has become a hallmark of Caffè Vivace.

Artist Bio

Jeremy Long is an acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and educator whose music bridges the rich traditions of jazz with a contemporary creative voice. His debut recording, In Suspension, received widespread critical acclaim for reimagining the classic organ trio format and was considered for a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. His latest release, Earth Tones, explores the intersection of 1970s rock and modern jazz, drawing inspiration from artists as diverse as Led Zeppelin and Wayne Shorter's Native Dancer.

Long has performed on Grammy-nominated recordings, toured internationally with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and appeared as a featured soloist at the XIX World Saxophone Congress in the Canary Islands, Spain. He has also performed before audiences of more than 40,000 alongside Academy Award-winning composer A. R. Rahman.

Dr. Long is Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, lead alto saxophonist with the Blue Wisp Big Band, and a member of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. Recognized for his expressive playing, thoughtful compositions, and versatility across musical styles, he has become one of the region's most respected jazz artists.

Blue Wisp Big Band

Wed, Sep 02

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 46th 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.

Caffe Vivace's Upcoming Shows