Shows - Caffe Vivace

CCM Faculty Jazztet

Tue, Oct 20

Straight from the heart of one of the nation’s top jazz programs, the UC-CCM faculty Jazztet brings world-class players to the bandstand for a night of burning, modern jazz. Featuring artists who shape the next generation by day and light up stages by night, this is high-level music with real soul. Come hear what happens when elite teachers cut loose and just play. 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

Blue Wisp Big Band

Wed, Oct 21

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.

Cincinnati Jazz Messengers featuring Matt Harris and John Ricci

Thu, Oct 22

Ralph DiSylvestro — trumpet

John Ricci — tenor saxophone

Philip Hilger — alto saxophone

Zachary Granger — trombone

Matt Harris — piano

Mason Daugherty — bass

Alex Merk — drums

The Cincinnati Jazz Messengers are a 7-piece ensemble assembled by trumpeter Ralph DiSylvestro to celebrate the iconic and exciting music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers from the 1950s through the 1980s. Art Blakey’s band featured some of the most influential composers and instrumentalists of the 20th century, such as Benny Golson, Cedar Walton, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and Bobby Watson. The goal of the Cincinnati Jazz Messengers is to keep the music of these jazz titans alive and, in the spirit of the Jazz Messengers, contribute their compositions to the diverse and rich songbook.

Ticket price is $15 per person.

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.

Jeremy Pelt @50

Fri, Oct 23

Jeremy Pelt - trumpet

Jalen Baker - vibraphone

Misha Mendelenko - guitar

Leighton Harrell - bass

Jared Spears - drums

Join us for a special evening celebrating Jeremy Pelt @50, an anniversary tour honoring one of the most influential trumpet voices in modern jazz. As he marks this milestone, Jeremy Pelt brings to Caffè Vivace a remarkable quintet that reflects the artistry, creativity, and musical vision he has cultivated over more than two decades as a bandleader, recording artist, and internationally acclaimed performer.

Joining Pelt are an exceptional cast of rising and established stars: Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Misha Mendelenko on guitar, Leighton Harrell on bass, and Jared Spears on drums. Together they create a vibrant, contemporary sound that honors the jazz tradition while embracing bold new directions through original compositions and inspired improvisation.

Widely regarded as one of the premier trumpeters of his generation, Pelt has recorded more than two dozen albums as a leader and has performed alongside jazz legends including Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, Roy Hargrove, and Cassandra Wilson. Jeremy Pelt @50 is both a celebration of an extraordinary career and a testament to an artist who continues to shape the future of jazz.

Experience this milestone performance in the intimate listening room at Caffè Vivace, where every seat is close to the stage and every note can be heard as it was intended. Don't miss the opportunity to celebrate one of today's great jazz artists with a band worthy of the occasion.

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 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.

Braxton Cook

Sat, Oct 24

Braxton Cook - alto saxophone, vocals, keys

Paul Reinhold - electric bass

Don Gervais - drums

Saxophonist, vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Braxton Cook continues to redefine the intersection of jazz, R&B, and soul with his deeply personal artistry.

His latest album, Not Everyone Can Go, reflects a season of profound personal growth shaped by extensive international touring, fatherhood, and a renewed focus on family. The album explores the difficult but necessary process of letting go of what no longer serves us, embracing change, and investing in the relationships that matter most.

Known for seamlessly blending improvisational jazz with contemporary R&B, Cook has established a signature sound across acclaimed releases including Somewhere In Between, No Doubt, and Who Are You When No One Is Watching?. Not Everyone Can Go is his most collaborative project to date, featuring guest appearances by NNAVY and Marie Dahlstrom, plus contributions from producer Bubele, Austin Brown of Hablot Brown, and bassist Kaveh Ragestar. The album balances soulful vocal performances with expressive instrumental compositions that showcase Cook’s lyrical saxophone playing and adventurous musical vision.

The record follows the emotional arc of a relationship tested by life’s demands, then renewed and grounded in gratitude. Songs such as “My Everything,” “We’ve Come So Far,” “Bad,” and “All My Life” chronicle conflict, reconciliation, and rediscovered love, offering an honest reflection on commitment and personal accountability.

Recognized as one of his generation's leading voices, Cook has earned praise for creating music that resists categorization while staying deeply accessible. Through Not Everyone Can Go, he delivers an uplifting message of resilience, gratitude, and hope, reminding listeners that growth often requires embracing change—and that, despite life’s challenges, the future remains bright.

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.