Join us for the 45th Annual Tri-C JazzFest at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland. The artists on this year’s lineup are prize-winning creatives, pushing the boundaries, advocating for social change, and exploring the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood. But it’s when they hit the stage and play live, that the MAGIC begins! From the legendary Charles Lloyd to the amazing Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa to reigning vocal queens Cécile McLorin Salvant and Ledisi, you’re going to love it! 

Schedule:

Indoor Lineup:

5:00pm - Jason Moran and the Bandwagon

Jason Moran is a pianist, composer, and artist from Houston, TX. His groundbreaking trio, The Bandwagon (with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits) is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary. Moran’s recent awards and fellowships include the MacArthur Foundation, US Artists, Doris Duke Foundation and Ford Foundation. He has composed scores for Ava DuVernay’s films Selma and 13th, and author Ta-Nehisi Coates’ staged version of Between the World and Me. Moran is currently the Artistic Director for Jazz at The Kennedy Center. He teaches at New England Conservatory and Jazz Ahead, and curates the Artist’s Studio series for Park Avenue Armory in New York City.

Location: Allen Theatre Playhouse Square

6:30pm - Cécile McLorin Salvant

Cécile McLorin Salvant, is a composer, singer, and visual artist. The Late Jessye Norman described Salvant as “a unique voice supported by an intelligence and full-fledged musicality, which light up every note she sings.”

Location: Mimi Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square

7:45pm - Marcus Miller/Bob James Quartet

Grammy-nominated artist Marcus Miller has dozens of movie scores and over 500 recording credits to his name across Jazz, R&B, and Opera. He has worked with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Luther Vandross, Wayne Shorter, and David Sanborn, among others. His instruments include bass, guitar, vocals, saxophone, clarinet, keyboards, and recorder. In 2012 Miller was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace, supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project. In 2021, Bass Player magazine awarded Miller a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Location: Connor Palace Playhouse Square

10:00pm - Scary Goldings

Supergroup Scary Goldings combines hard-hitting grooves and well-crafted parts to make for a truly fun and unique time. The group consists of funk ensemble Scary Pockets (anchored by guitarist Ryan Lerman and keyboardist Jack Conte) and Larry Goldings. With his signature Hammond organ style and versatility on many keyboards, Boston native Larry Goldings has traversed not only the wide spectrum of jazz where he is perhaps best known, but also the worlds of funk, pop, and electronic music.

Location: Mimi Ohio Theatre Playhouse Square

SeibertKeck Insurance Stage - Outdoor Lineup:

Moises Borges - 3:00pm - Based in Cleveland for over two decades, guitarist and vocalist Moises Borges was born in Bahia, Brazil. Samba and bossa nova are hallmarks of his performances, along with his soothing voice and charm. Borges has performed in numerous countries, venues and events, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Severance Hall and Playhouse Square.

Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band - 4:15pm - Ernie Krivda is one of Cleveland’s most accomplished, awarded and well-known jazz artists. This 19-piece group and its legendary frontman have earned a reputation as one of the region’s hardest-swinging big bands.

HORNS AND THINGS - 5:30pm - Founded by saxophonists J.T. Lynch and Ken LeeGrand 40 years ago, HORNS AND THINGS has shared the spotlight with a who's who list of legendary performers. The band consists of bassist Derrick James, keyboardist Sakait Baksar and drummer Ray Harvin. The group’s albums include Till the Dawn, Northern Wind, Da Boss and its latest release, GET Your HAT On!

Sam Blakeslee - 6:45pm - Sam Blakeslee is a New York City-based trombonist and composer who has performed at iconic jazz clubs such as the Birdland Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club and the Blue Note Jazz Club, among others. He is a tenured faculty member at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music in Connecticut.

Ronell Regis - 8:00pm - Ronell Regis is a saxophonist and composer who comes from a line of musicians. His compositions are inspired by his family’s history and reflect the uplifting music of the island of Grenada in the West Indies. 

Sam Hooper - 9:15pm - A captivating guitarist, vocalist and songwriter from Cleveland, Sam Hooper has thrilled audiences in China, Finland, Japan and the United States. Millions have heard his songs on All My Children and The Young and the Restless. The band also played Tri-C JazzFest in 2018 and 2022.

Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band - 10:30pm - Carlos Jones has been entertaining audiences for over 35 years, first as a member of the reggae group I-Tal and then with the legendary First Light, before pursuing a solo career with his current group, the Peace, Love, Unity Syndicate (The P.L.U.S. Band). The group brings a brand of high-energy reggae to its shows.

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Date: June 20-22, 2024