Caffe Vivace's Upcoming Shows
Sat, Nov 07
Marquis Hill - Trumpet, percussion synths, effects
Micah Collier- Bass, percussion
Jillian Upshaw - Drums, percussion
From his beginnings as one of Chicago’s most exciting young trumpeters to his emergence as an internationally acclaimed musician, composer and bandleader, Marquis Hill has worked to break down the boundaries between musical genres. Jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house and neo-soul are all part of the African-American creative tradition he embraces. “It all comes from the same tree,” he says. “They simply blossomed from different branches.”
Born in Chicago in 1987 and raised on the city’s South Side, Hill began playing drums at age four before switching to trumpet in sixth grade. At Kenwood Academy, he excelled in its renowned jazz program and studied with Chicago greats including Bobby Broom, Willie Pickens and Tito Carrillo through the Ravinia Jazz Scholars program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northern Illinois University and a master’s in jazz pedagogy from DePaul University.
While in college, Hill became an active presence on Chicago’s music scene, performing and learning from artists such as Fred Anderson, Ernest Dawkins and Von Freeman. His soulful, highly textured trumpet sound—drawing on influences ranging from Miles Davis and Clifford Brown to Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd—quickly established him as a distinctive voice.
Before winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz competition in 2014, Hill had already built a reputation as a member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, an in-demand sideman, and a bandleader. He also founded his own label and released four albums independently. His breakthrough led to a move to New York and a rapidly expanding international career.
Today, Hill maintains a nonstop touring schedule while continuing to draw inspiration from the music of his Chicago roots. His work reflects a belief that musical boundaries are ultimately artificial—and that the many branches of Black music remain connected to the same creative tree.
This performance is part of the the (MJC)
MIDWEST JAZZ COLLECTIVE (MJC) is a consortium of nearly 20 clubs and presenters dedicated to jazz across Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. They are aligned with a shared passion for the preservation and advancement of the great American art form that is jazz. Together they announce their third collaboratively routed tour featuring trumpeter Marquis Hill. The tour includes 12 concert engagements and several educational workshops at regional universities.
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.
Tue, Nov 10
Dan Dorff Jr. – drums
Brandon Coleman — guitar
Justin Dawson — bass
Alexis Marsh — saxophone
Drummer and soundsmith Dan Dorff Jr. is known in Cincinnati as a working drummer and keyboardist. He has also spent the last two decades collaborating with artists such as Ben Sollee, Ray Lamontagne, Jim James, Blessid Union of Souls, and DYAN in the studio and on the road. Trained in classical and jazz styles, Dan brings a utilitarian sense of playfulness and curiosity to his composition and improvisation.
A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the party's total beverage purchases do not meet the minimum.
Important Notices:
If you do not check in within 15 minutes of the set start, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund.
Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we will accept a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value. You must request the transfer 24 hours before the start of the performance.
Wed, Nov 11
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.
Trumpeter Alex Norris performs all over the world with the Mingus Big Band and Dynasty, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Conrad Herwig’s Latin Sides All Stars, the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, The Birdland Latin Jazz Orchestra, his own jazz group, and with countless other jazz and Latin jazz artists. He has also performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider’s Band, and was a member of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead from 1994-1998.
Norris has performed and recorded with Pat Martino, Ron Carter, Dafnis Prieto, Lonnie Plaxico, Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Carl Allen, Amina Figarova, John Patitucci, Gary Thomas, Helen Sung, Donald Harrison, Mulgrew Miller, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Brian Blade. Norris is active in Afro-Carribean jazz and Salsa, having worked with Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo, Ruben Blades, Poncho Sanchez, and Eddie Palmieri. In other idioms,
Alex has worked with Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic, Incognito, Dr. John, Steve Winwood, and Gloria Estefan.
After receiving a master’s degree in 1995 from the Manhattan School of Music, Norris taught at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, Towson University, and the City College of New York. In 2007, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and taught there from 2004-2008. He was a member of the Jazz Studies faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music from 2010-18 and again in 2024. Alex was on the Jazz Studies Faculty at Rutgers University from 2022-2026.
He maintains an active schedule as a jazz clinician worldwide. As a sideman, Alex Norris has recorded on over 100 albums. As a leader, he has five recordings. His sixth release, entitled “Exit Strategy” will be released in February 2027 on SteepleChase Records. Several of his Latin jazz compositions are published by 3-2music.com.
Ticket Price is $18-$23 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.
Thu, Nov 12
On Thursday, November 12, sparks will fly as acclaimed New York City trumpeter Alex Norris meets four of Cincinnati’s leading trumpet voices—Scott Belck, Michael Mavridoglou, John Zappa, and Eric Lechliter—for an unforgettable night of high-energy, hard-swinging jazz.
With five trumpets sharing the stage, expect fiery solos, rich ensemble passages, and spirited musical exchanges that showcase the power, brilliance, and versatility of the instrument. Pianist Sergio Pamies, bassist Aaron Jacobs, and drummer John Taylor provide the driving rhythm section for this one-of-a-kind gathering at Caffè Vivace.
Trumpeter Alex Norris performs all over the world with the Mingus Big Band and Dynasty, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Conrad Herwig’s Latin Sides All Stars, the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, The Birdland Latin Jazz Orchestra, his own jazz group, and with countless other jazz and Latin jazz artists. He has also performed with the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider’s Band, and was a member of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead from 1994-1998.
Norris has performed and recorded with Pat Martino, Ron Carter, Dafnis Prieto, Lonnie Plaxico, Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Carl Allen, Amina Figarova, John Patitucci, Gary Thomas, Helen Sung, Donald Harrison, Mulgrew Miller, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Brian Blade. Norris is active in Afro-Carribean jazz and Salsa, having worked with Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo, Ruben Blades, Poncho Sanchez, and Eddie Palmieri. In other idioms,
Alex has worked with Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic, Incognito, Dr. John, Steve Winwood, and Gloria Estefan.
After receiving a master’s degree in 1995 from the Manhattan School of Music, Norris taught at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, Towson University, and the City College of New York. In 2007, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and taught there from 2004-2008. He was a member of the Jazz Studies faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music from 2010-18 and again in 2024. Alex was on the Jazz Studies Faculty at Rutgers University from 2022-2026.
He maintains an active schedule as a jazz clinician worldwide. As a sideman, Alex Norris has recorded on over 100 albums. As a leader, he has five recordings. His sixth release, entitled “Exit Strategy” will be released in February 2027 on SteepleChase Records. Several of his Latin jazz compositions are published by 3-2music.com.
Ticket price is $23-$33 per person.
If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $20 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.