Caffe Vivace's Upcoming Shows

John Zappa — trumpet Brad Myers — guitar Steve Schmidt — keyboard Aaron Jacobs — bass Jason Smart — drums An artful combination of Contemporary jazz with the rhythms of afrobeat and world-beat music, Now Hear This is electric, funky, and organic. The group is comprised of musicians with extensive professional experience, playing the music of various styles, including jazz greats Ignacio Berroa, Benny Golson, Tim Hagens, Fareed Haque, Charlie Hunter, Jeff Hamilton, Warren Vache, Don Braden, and local popular groups including Ray’s Music Exchange, The Blue Wisp Big Band, and Brasilia. The result is a well-balanced blend of the jazz tradition with the experimental elements requisite to find an original approach. Rhythms not typically associated with jazz or American dance provide their music with an exotic flavor while maintaining accessibility to audiences through its groovabilty. If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.

Brent Gallaher — tenor saxophone Michael Mavridoglou — trumpet Steve Schmidt — piano Aaron Jacobs — 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: Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.

Richard Cortez — vocalist Ben Tweedt — piano Aaron Jacobs — bass Jim Leslie — drums Join us at Caffè Vivace on Friday, July 10 2026, for a swinging tribute to Frank Sinatra with acclaimed vocalist Richard Cortez and The Ben Tweedt Trio. Known for his deep knowledge of the Great American Songbook and his fresh, heartfelt interpretations, Cortez brings warmth, wit, and style to Sinatra’s timeless classics. Don’t miss this evening of unforgettable songs, impeccable swing, and rich storytelling in the intimate setting of Cincinnati’s premier jazz venue. Cortez, known for his ambition and extensive knowledge of The Great American Songbook, has shared the bandstand with some of New York City’s most celebrated and respected musicians — Sullivan Fortner, Adam Birnbaum, Paul Gill, Peter Bernstein, Grant Stewart, Alexander Claffy, Joe Farnsworth, Jerry Weldon, Joe Strasser, Nicole Glover, Russell Hall, and Emmet Cohen — to name a few. Splitting his time between several weekly residencies at iconic LGBT venues across the city—among them: Club Cumming, Metropolitan Bar, and Rebar—Cortez has focused and refined his artistry while growing his wide fan base. Recent performances in distinguished productions such as Live at Emmet’s Place with the Emmet Cohen Trio or Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz at Pride with drummer/bandleader Bryan Carter have marked the vocalist’s career for success. Cortez’s openly gay renderings of timeless treasures by Cole Porter, Billie Holiday, Jerome Kern, and many others deliver sweetness, self-assuredness, and disarming vulnerability with a well-timed wit. Richard breathes exciting new life into this beloved material, forever reminding us that as we progress as a society, so do our stories told within these sacred songs. A $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.

“Eng’s star wattage is undeniable” — Chicago Sun-Times Bryan Eng - piano/vocalist Stephen Parisi - bass TJ Thompson -drums Multifaceted actor and New York jazz musician Bryan Eng has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in today’s entertainment scene. His artistry has been featured on Broadway, television, film, and in premier venues across the country including the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, Birdland Jazz Club, Drury Lane Theatre, and Ford’s Theatre. The youngest resident performer in the Carlyle Hotel’s storied history, Eng has been hailed by BroadwayWorld as “the heir apparent to evenings with Bobby Short.” In 2025, the Mabel Mercer Foundation honored him with the Julie Wilson Award, calling him “one of the freshest and most accomplished artists in contemporary performance history.” Recent highlights include headlining performances at the Met Gala Party and Tony Awards Party, opening for Chaka Khan and Sheryl Crow, and captivating audiences ranging from Martin Scorsese and Jennifer Aniston to President Joe Biden. His music has also taken him abroad, including a featured appearance on the Dave Koz Somma Cruise along the French Riviera. 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.