Cincinnati's legendary Blue Wisp Big Band celebrates its 45th year of swingin' Big Band music at Caffe Vivace. Founded in January 1980 by drummer John Von Ohlen and trumpeter Don Johnson, the Blue Wisp Big Band got its start in and its name from the late Blue Wisp Jazz Club. Von Ohlen, a native of Indianapolis, moved to the Cincinnati area after many years on the road playing with world-class jazz orchestras, most notably those of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. After hearing all of the fine musicians in the area, he felt there was a need to form a group because most of them “weren’t playing any jazz, which is the reason they started playing in the first place.” He felt the desire to start a “world-class big band and wanted to put it in a tavern, a beer joint.” Don Johnson, who had been on the Cincinnati scene for years, suggested which instrumentalists should play in the band. Von Ohlen states, “Don was the horn connection.” Pianist Steve Schmidt and bassist Michael Sharfe were already playing with Von Ohlen at the Blue Wisp in the Steve Schmidt Trio, Wednesday through Saturday nights, so the rhythm section was easily formed. Von Ohlen remembers approaching Paul and Marjean Wisby, the original owners of the Blue Wisp, with the idea, “Wednesday is a slow night. Why don’t we bring in a big band and blow the roof off the place? It worked real good.”Since its inception, the Blue Wisp Big Band has been the top jazz orchestra in Cincinnati. The hard bop-oriented big band started recording in 1981: first, an LP sponsored by the Cincinnati television station WKRC, and then four for the Mopro label, founded by Fred and Helen Morr, in the 1980s. The Mopro LPs were reissued in the mid -’90s on two CDs on the California label Sea Breeze, with one of the sets recorded in Los Angeles during a West Coast tour in 1984. Through the devoted and hard work of Helen Morr, the LPs were distributed around the country and Europe, garnering notice, good reviews, and airplay around the world. Among the group’s more notable members were trumpeter Tim Hagans and bassist Lynn Seaton. The band continued to perform at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati on Wednesday nights until its closure in the summer of 2014. After a six-month tenure at Japp’s Annex in downtown Cincinnati, a short stint at Pirate’s Den in Westwood, and three years at the Urban Artifact in Northside, the band has a new home at Caffè Vivace in Walnut Hills. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to 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 Blue Wisp Big Band show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Ben Tweedt — piano Justin Dawson — bass Tom Buckley — drums Ben Tweedt is one of Cincinnati's most sought-after pianists and keyboardists. He performs regularly with local, regional, and national acts. His trio project is a culmination of years of work on original compositions influenced by American jazz and folk music, Latin American music, gospel music, and more. Matt Wiles will join him on bass and Tom Buckley on drums. Ben's upcoming trio album of original compositions will be released in late 2024; more information will be coming soon! 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. 

Tatiana Eva-Marie — vocalist Daniel Garlitsky — violin Wallace Stelzer — bass Max O’Rourke — guitar Vanity Fair: “A millennial shaking up the jazz scene” The Wall Street Journal: “One of the best young singers around” Nicknamed the Gypsy-jazz Warbler by the New York Times, Tatiana Eva-Marie is a transatlantic bandleader, singer, author, and actress based in Brooklyn. She plays French pop derived from the Django tradition with Balkan Gypsy and folk influences. Accruing over 70 million views on YouTube, Tatiana Eva-Marie was acclaimed as a millennial shaking up the jazz scene by the magazine Vanity Fair. She performs regularly in New York at various clubs (Dizzy’s Club, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Birdland, Joe’s Pub…), across the USA (New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Freight, and Salvage, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Tucson Jazz Festival…) and around the world. Though her interests have led her to explore a wide range of musical styles, Tatiana Eva-Marie’s craft is always inspired by her own French and Balkan heritage, a love for the Parisian art scene era spanning the 1920s to the 60s, a passion for traditional Gypsy songs; a fascination for New Orleans music; and a deep connection to the Great American Songbook. Born into a family of musicians, painters, and poets, Tatiana began her career at age four, immersed in the world of show business. Before her twenties, she had already recorded many albums, established herself as an actress on the Paris stage, and written and directed two musicals while pursuing a Master’s Degree in medieval studies at the Sorbonne University. Completely dedicated to an interdisciplinary approach to artistic creation, she developed a fascination for the Renaissance Man archetype and began to travel the world collaborating with artists of various spheres. She soon chose New York as her home base, where she quickly built up a reputation as a singer and started the Avalon Jazz Band, which became the number-one reference for French swing worldwide overnight. She performed on some of the most important American stages with her musicians and became the international ambassador of “1930s Paris”. In the past few years, incapable of abandoning herself to a pandemic-induced lethargy, Tatiana released four albums, starred as a guest singer in various projects, wrote the libretto of an opera by Swiss composer Gérard Massini, and started an online arts and culture publication – Shrine Magazine. She was recently onscreen in the cinemas of France in Gérome Barry’s first feature film, Swing Rendez-Vous, loosely based on her New York lifestyle – her first role as a leading lady! Tatiana’s latest project Djangology is a reinvention of the music composed by Parisian guitarist Django Reinhardt – the father of Gypsy jazz – through the addition of her original lyrics and arrangements. An album and several tours are in the works! 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. 

For Cyrille Aimée, music is a way of life as much as an art form, setting her free to pursue her creative talents wherever the promptings of her diverse heritage take her. She has developed a remarkable multi-award-winning, continent-spanning career as a singer, songwriter, lyricist, and educator while remaining true to her roots. She grew up in a multilingual household full of music, where dancing was an everyday activity, and she was soundtracked by the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of the bachata and merengue from her mother’s native Dominican Republic. The family home was in Samois-sur-Seine, the location of the Django Reinhardt Festival, one of the biggest annual gatherings of gypsy musicians in Europe. The teenage Cyrille would climb out of her bedroom window at night to mingle with the players, igniting a passion for jazz and inspiring her to live within a global music community united in creativity and spontaneity, without limits or borders. By the time Cyrille was 20, she had lived on four continents. A spell in Santo Domingo was followed by a move to New York City, attending SUNY Purchase by day and moonlighting as a singer in the Manhattan jazz clubs by night. Her talents quickly gained her a reputation among her peers as a fearless, warm, witty improviser and a matchless interpreter of song: she performed and recorded with Roy Hargrove, stole the show in front of the notoriously hard-to-please crowd at the Harlem Apollo, and won a string of competitions culminating in First Prize at the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. A contract with Mack Avenue Records, the home of many of the US premier league jazz artists, resulted in two highly acclaimed albums that attracted the attention of one of the premier league songwriters - Steven Sondheim. The musical theatre icon invited her to star alongside the legendary Bernadette Peters in an Encores Special Presentation tribute at New York’s City Centre in November 2013, backed by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra, which the New York Daily News hailed as “a revelation.” Her 2019 album Move On featured versions of Sondheim’s songs, which received praise from Sondheim himself, and one of its songs, "Marry Me a Little", was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award. Starting in 2020, she reached out into the digital realm via a string of YouTube video collabs with the pianist and jazz influencer Emmet Cohen, and their version of ‘La Vie en Rose’ has been viewed more than 7 million times to date. At the height of her New York success, new horizons beckoned. A growing interest in sharing her vision of the interaction of spontaneity and creativity and the importance of community-led to her developing her ideas into a TEDx Talk about the laws of improvisation and how they apply to life. A visit to New Orleans resulted in her falling in love with the city and moving there in 2017. NO’s unique mix of Latin, French, and African-American Jazz heritage allowed her to fully explore all the sides of her musical identity, freeing her to look beyond the genre's constrictions and engage with her inner creativity. Energized and unstoppable, in 2021, she bought a plot of land in the forests of Costa Rica, designed and built a house on it, and there, in the calm of the forest, started putting together material for a new project: songs drawn from her own life, encompassing every aspect of her journey so far. Linking back to New York to connect all the dots, she teamed up with producer/multi-instrumentalist Jake Sherman, and together, they have created her latest album, Grammy Nominated à Fleur de Peau. It’s a set of songs that show a new side to Cyrille’s persona: her love of storytelling, truth, and musical freedom, drawing on all sides of her heritage. Combining the depth and sophistication of jazz, the immediacy of pop, and the irrepressible dance rhythms of the Caribbean, it’s more intimate and accessible than anything Cyrille has done before. 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. 

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

Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist passionate about the Great American Songbook. With many highly acclaimed solo albums, countless awards and accolades, and over two decades of international touring experience, Jane has not only been an extremely successful bandleader but has had the privilege of making music with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz. During her childhood, Jane studied woodwinds and piano, spent a decade performing in award-winning choirs, and participated in community theater on Long Island. Throughout this, her focus remained on jazz, especially her interpretation of the Songbook. At 20, during her senior year at the prestigious Manhattan School Of Music, Jane placed second in the Thelonious Monk Competition, now known as the Hancock Competition. This led to an incredible career trajectory, catapulting Jane into the jazz stratosphere nearly overnight. By 22, Jane worked with legends such as Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron, recording her first albums and touring the planet. This led to collaborations with jazz luminaries such as Terence Blanchard, Ivan Lins, Tom Harrell, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, Vince Mendoza, Jorge Calandrelli, and many more. Countless television appearances followed, including David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, The View, and many popular international talk shows. Several successful film soundtracks have also included Jane’s music, including Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow and Never Let Me Go. After more than twenty years, twelve studio albums, and countless recorded guest appearances, Jane has continued to tour the world nearly nonstop, including playing iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl and headlining at nearly every legendary jazz club on the planet, most notably NY stalwarts such as the Village Vanguard and Birdland. In addition to touring, she also writes English lyrics for Ivan Lins. She uses the knowledge and experience she has gained at the Manhattan School Of Music and on the legendary bandstands of the world to educate and uplift students worldwide. Jane resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Rick Montalbano, and their son, who has been a drummer for over twenty years. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

The Original Farm League Big Band is a 17-piece Jazz Orchestra dedicated to expanding the modern big band repertoire while featuring the work of local arrangers/composers. Formed in 2015, the ensemble comprises many of the Cincinnati/Dayton area's most exciting up-and-coming Jazz players and performs entirely original material. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resale your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

The Jazz Ambassadors Traditional Jazz Band is an ensemble known for their positive energy and sound musicianship. Inspired mainly by the swinging styles of the great Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden, they play a wide variety of traditional jazz, from the classics of the 1920s and ’30s to the early small group swing of the 40s and 50s. Comprised of seven key members of the Jazz Ambassadors, this popular small ensemble is featured at nearly every Jazz Ambassadors concert. The ensemble’s most memorable concerts have been in VA hospitals, Soldiers’ home care facilities, elementary schools, and Independence Day appearances on Good Morning, America! and Fox and Friends. This is a free event! 

The Ambassadors Jazztet of The United States Army Field Band was developed in the legendary style of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. It comprises members of the Jazz Ambassadors of The United States Army Field Band, the Army’s premier touring jazz orchestra. Though the Jazztet performs traditional jazz standards, its primary focus is on new compositions by group members. The compositions vary greatly, sometimes paying homage to older styles and sometimes developing an entirely new sound, but always creating a vehicle for improvised solos. The Ambassadors Jazztet has presented clinics at colleges and high schools throughout the United States, addressing such subjects as improvisation, arranging, composition, jazz theory, and practice and performance techniques. Notable performances include the Midwest Clinic, Aspen Summer Music Festival, Iowa Bandmasters Conference, and jazz festivals in Toronto, Victoria, and Vancouver, Canada. This is a free event! 

Myles Ellington Twitty — trumpet Chaya Jones — vocalist Dan Karlsberg — piano Cadence Okuwobi — bass J'Mir Dixon — drums Join us for an evening of stellar jazz with the Myles Ellington Twitty Quintet, featuring the soulful vocals of Chaya Jones! Experience the rich sound of Myles’ trumpet and Chaya’s captivating voice as they bring swing, soul, and spontaneity to the stage at Caffè Vivace. Expect a night of jazz classics, fresh takes, and unforgettable performances. Don’t miss this special event on April 11, 2025! 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. 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. 

Michael Mavridoglou — trumpet & vocal Dan Drees — tenor saxophone Steve Schmidt — piano Justin Dawson — bass Phillip Tipton — drums Trumpeter Michael Mavridoglou and an all-star lineup bring the fire and soul of Lee Morgan to life in this special tribute show. From the hard-swinging grooves of The Sidewinder to the deep blues of Search for the New Land, experience the legacy of one of jazz’s most electrifying voices. Don’t miss an evening of classic hard bop, high-energy improvisation, and deep musical storytelling! A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

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

Ryan Keberle - Trombone Frank West - Piano Vince Curt - Cello Reverso is a trans-oceanic improvising chamber jazz project co-led by Jazz Times’ #1 trombonist Ryan Keberle and Frank West, the acclaimed Paris-based pianist and music director for Ibrahim Maalouf. The trio, which also features the world-class French improvising cellist Vince Curt, performs original music that crosses the boundaries of jazz and classical music inspired by the early 20th-century French composers Ravel, Faure, Poulenc, Milhaud, and the lesser-known female composer Germaine Tailleferre. The band has toured throughout the USA and Europe over the past 6 years to rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, including performances in jazz clubs, theaters, churches, chamber music series, and performing arts centers (select list of venues below). PRESS: “that Ravelian line between jazz and classical has never been more symbiotic” – Downbeat “pulsating motifs. long painterly lines, open fields and pointillist statements into a fascinating whole… captivating chamber quartet.” - Jazz Times “a decidedly contemporary take on Maurice Ravel’s musical ideas… launching from Ravel but reaching its own heights.” – Rochester City Newspaper 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. 

Cincinnati's legendary Blue Wisp Big Band celebrates its 45th year of swingin' Big Band music at Caffe Vivace. Founded in January 1980 by drummer John Von Ohlen and trumpeter Don Johnson, the Blue Wisp Big Band got its start in and its name from the late Blue Wisp Jazz Club. Von Ohlen, a native of Indianapolis, moved to the Cincinnati area after many years on the road playing with world-class jazz orchestras, most notably those of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. After hearing all of the fine musicians in the area, he felt there was a need to form a group because most of them “weren’t playing any jazz, which is the reason they started playing in the first place.” He felt the desire to start a “world-class big band and wanted to put it in a tavern, a beer joint.” Don Johnson, who had been on the Cincinnati scene for years, suggested which instrumentalists should play in the band. Von Ohlen states, “Don was the horn connection.” Pianist Steve Schmidt and bassist Michael Sharfe were already playing with Von Ohlen at the Blue Wisp in the Steve Schmidt Trio, Wednesday through Saturday nights, so the rhythm section was easily formed. Von Ohlen remembers approaching Paul and Marjean Wisby, the original owners of the Blue Wisp, with the idea, “Wednesday is a slow night. Why don’t we bring in a big band and blow the roof off the place? It worked real good.”Since its inception, the Blue Wisp Big Band has been the top jazz orchestra in Cincinnati. The hard bop-oriented big band started recording in 1981: first, an LP sponsored by the Cincinnati television station WKRC, and then four for the Mopro label, founded by Fred and Helen Morr, in the 1980s. The Mopro LPs were reissued in the mid -’90s on two CDs on the California label Sea Breeze, with one of the sets recorded in Los Angeles during a West Coast tour in 1984. Through the devoted and hard work of Helen Morr, the LPs were distributed around the country and Europe, garnering notice, good reviews, and airplay around the world. Among the group’s more notable members were trumpeter Tim Hagans and bassist Lynn Seaton. The band continued to perform at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati on Wednesday nights until its closure in the summer of 2014. After a six-month tenure at Japp’s Annex in downtown Cincinnati, a short stint at Pirate’s Den in Westwood, and three years at the Urban Artifact in Northside, the band has a new home at Caffè Vivace in Walnut Hills. A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to 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 Blue Wisp Big Band show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Phil DeGreg — piano Aaron Jacobs — bass TBA — drums On April 17, the Phil DeGreg Trio brings the spirit of the season to Caffè Vivace with Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most, a night of jazz standards celebrating renewal, change, and the beauty of spring. With Phil DeGreg’s masterful touch on the piano, expect a set filled with lush harmonies, expressive melodies, and swing-infused energy. From the wistful title tune to the bright optimism of “Joy Spring” and the timeless elegance of “It Might as Well Be Spring,” this evening will take listeners on a journey through the sounds of the season. Don’t miss this chance to welcome spring with one of Cincinnati’s finest trios in an intimate, jazz-filled setting. Phil DeGreg is a Cincinnati-based pianist who has made his mark in jazz 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 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. 

Paul Patterson — violin Brian Lovely — guitar George Cunningham — guitar Don Aren — bass Guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli fronted the Quintette of the Hot Club of France in and around Paris from 1934 to 1939. They constituted the first generation of European jazz musicians. The Hot Club blended backgrounds in traditional gypsy and European popular and classical music with the then-new sounds of American jazz artists like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, and Benny Goodman to create a new musical genre, now often called "gypsy jazz." The Faux Frenchmen adapt the Hot Club’s instrumentation and style in forging their own re-Americanized take on gypsy jazz. Their four CD releases, Faux Frenchmen (2007), Oblivion (2008), The Swing Shift (2010), and 3 AM Waltz (2011), bend the relationship between American and European jazz, utilizing elements of both to create a distinctive stylistic voice. 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. 

GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner issued Aria (2015), Moments Preserved (2018), and Solo Game (2024) to critical acclaim, the lattermost receiving 4-star reviews in DownBeat and Telerama Magazine. His 2025 release, Southern Nights, features Peter Washington and Marcus Gilmore. Winner of the 2024 DownBeat Critics Poll for Rising Star Jazz Group: Sullivan Fortner Trio, the New Orleans native has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Paul Simon, Diane Reeves, Etienne Charles and John Scofield, Ambrose Akinmusire, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Kassa Overall, Tivon Pennicott, Peter Bernstein, Nicholas Payton, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Chief Adjuah and Roy Hargrove. His works and insights have been featured in culture drivers from The New York Times to The Root. Further accolades include the American Pianists Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship, the Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship, the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, the Shifting Foundation Grant, and the Western Jazz Presenters Grant. 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. 

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. 

Greg Ward is an associate professor of music in jazz studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A saxophonist and composer born in Peoria, Illinois, Ward has performed and recorded with a varied group of artists, such as Prefuse 73, Lupe Fiasco, Tortoise, William Parker, Makaya McCraven, Linda Oh, and Mike Reed. As a bandleader, Ward has produced four recordings, including Fitted Shards: South Side Story, Phonic Juggernaut, Touch My Beloved’s Thought, and Rogue Parade: Stomping Off From Greenwood. As a composer, he has received commissions from the Jazz Gallery in NYC, the Chicago Jazz Institute, the City of Chicago’s Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz Series, and the Peoria Ballet Company. He was awarded the New Music USA Van Lier Fellowship in 2012 and a DCASE IAP grant in 2017. Ward maintains an active international touring schedule with various ensembles. 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. 

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. 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. 

Mandy Gaines — vocalist, George Simon — 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. George Simon 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. 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. 

Grammy award-winning pianist BILL CHARLAP has performed with many of the leading artists of our time, from Wynton Marsalis and Tony Bennett to Phil Woods and Ron Carter. He is acclaimed for his interpretations of the American Popular Songbook. He has recorded albums featuring the music of Hoagy Carmichael, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Duke Ellington. Since 1997, he has led the Bill Charlap Trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, recognized as one of the leading groups in jazz. The trio earned Grammy nominations for Uptown Downtown (Impulse!/Verve), Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein (Blue Note), and The Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note). Their 2016 recording, Notes from New York (Impulse!/Verve), earned a five-star review in Downbeat, which hailed it as “a masterclass in class.” The trio’s most recent release, Street of Dreams, marks their return to the Blue Note label. The Bill Charlap Trio tours worldwide and New York engagements include regular appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, and the Village Vanguard. Mr. Charlap was the Artistic Director of the 92NY’s Jazz in July Festival for 18 years. He has also produced concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the Chicago Symphony Center, and the Hollywood Bowl. He is the Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in New Jersey. Founded in 1973, it is one of the world's longest-running and most respected jazz programs. Born in New York City, Mr. Charlap began playing the piano at age three. His father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap, who wrote the score for the Mary Martin production of Peter Pan, and his mother is singer Sandy Stewart, who toured with Benny Goodman, appeared on the Ed Sullivan and Perry Como shows, and earned a Grammy award nomination for her 1963 recording, My Coloring Book. Mr. Charlap’s album with Tony Bennett, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern (RPM/Columbia), won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. It features Mr. Charlap and Mr. Bennett in duet, in collaboration with the Bill Charlap Trio, and in duo piano performances with his wife, renowned jazz pianist and composer Renee Rosnes. Mr. Charlap and Ms. Rosnes frequently perform two piano concerts. Of their recording, Double Portrait (Blue Note), Downbeat wrote: “The counterpoint and compatibilities are so perfectly balanced, the selections and arrangements so handsome, that ‘Double Portrait’ is a prize.” 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. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance. 

Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley — vocalist Phil DeGreg — piano Kris Keith — woodwinds Teddy Mechley — bass Alex Merk — drums Celebrate the season's spirit with "Up Jumped Spring" at Caffè Vivace on April 26, 2025! Acclaimed jazz vocalist Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley joins forces with Cincinnati jazz legend Phil DeGreg for an evening of elegant melodies and swinging rhythms. With Kelly’s rich, expressive vocals and Phil’s masterful touch on the piano, this duo brings fresh life to timeless standards and spring-inspired favorites. Don’t miss this intimate night of top-tier jazz in the perfect setting—reserve your spot now! 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. 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. The transfer 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. 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. 

Matthew's musical journey began at age three with a keyboard gift from his grandfather. He's now an artist, captivating audiences globally and appearing on notable T.V. shows like Showtime at the Apollo, the Today Show, Ellen, and a feature on 60 Minutes. ​Matthew is a versatile artist, starring, producing, and scoring the All-Arts Emmy-nominated documentary "About Tomorrow" and scoring the film "Starkeisha," which is currently streaming on Hulu. He also appeared in and contributed music to the Emmy-winning Apple T.V. commercial "The Greatest." Matthew made his musical director debut with the award-winning "Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For." A musical on the life of pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn, which premiered in Pittsburgh, PA, in the fall of 2023. He’s had guest soloist appearances with orchestras and symphonies, including the Aspen Chamber Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor Marin Alsop, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, CN, Alexander Shelley, conductor. He also composed a song for the 82-piece Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra in Sofia, Bulgaria, which was included in the aforementioned All-Arts documentary, “About Tomorrow.” Matthew created the musical score ‘Finding Free’ for the Alvin Ailey Dance Company’s 2024-2025 season, choreographed by Hope Boykin it premiered in New York City and toured across the U.S. ​Matthew believes that music connects us all and that every child should have access to music education. Beyond music, Matthew advocates for persons with disabilities and consults companies on improving accessibility features. He is a three-time ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award winner, with three studio albums as a leader; "Outta The Box," "Now Hear This," and "Connections." His fourth recording, "On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute," (2024) an homage to some of Matthew's heroes on the instrument, is nominated for Outstanding Jazz Album by the 2025 NAACP Image Awards. Matthew has collaborated with industry greats like pianist, multiple Grammy-award winning composer, vocalist, and band leader Jon Batiste; Grammy-award winning bassist Christian McBride; bassist, composer, and producer Derrick Hodge; pianist, composer; musical director Ray Chew; and NEA Jazz Master, violinist Regina Carter; and Anderson Paak during the 2024 Paralympics Handover Ceremony. These shows are sponsored by It's Commonly Jazz, Cincinnati's longest running free jazz summer series, and by A Tribe for Jazz, a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the legacy and advance the future of jazz through visual storytelling, live & virtual performances, education, and community engagement. 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. 

Kurt Rosenwinkel — guitar Jean-Paul Brodbeck — piano Lukas Traxel — bass Jorge Rossy — drums Rosenwinkel and Brodbeck team up again on the heels of their successful first collaboration, “The Chopin Project.” This time, with their telepathic quartet intact, they tackle the music of Johannes Brahms—the Brahms Project. Brodbeck's new arrangements take up Johannes Brahms's yearning melodies and classical-romantic harmonic structures and find a new form of expression with these familiar and carefully selected compositions. The "folk style" to which Brahms felt connected becomes a refreshing jazz sound in which the ritual element of Hungarian dances is revived, as is the touching beauty of the late piano pieces. Rosenwinkel's long expanding phrases open up a new world of sound and emotion and the expressiveness of his playing come to the fore in a powerful way on this recording. In addition, Brodbeck's selected orchestrations with the Traxel-Rossy rhythm duo move within an extremely song- serving framework. We experience earthy groove- emphasised music upon which improvisations expand. Brahms' famous lullaby rounds off the programme and canonises this extraordinary repertoire. 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. 

Eugene Goss — vocalist George Simon — guitar Sam Reuscher — bass Francis Wyatt — drums Get ready to groove and sing along as Eugene Goss, the acclaimed jazz vocalist, pays a heartfelt tribute to the living legend Stevie Wonder. In an evening filled with passion and musical mastery, Goss will captivate the audience with his soul-stirring interpretations of Stevie Wonder's most beloved hits. From "My Cherie Amour" to "I Just Called to Say I Love You," Goss brings a unique blend of jazz and soul to these timeless classics, creating a performance that resonates with the soul. Join us for a night of celebration and appreciation for the musical genius of Stevie Wonder, brought to life by the incomparable talent of Eugene Goss. It's an event you won't want to miss! 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. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.