As beloved old events fade away, promising new things crop up to take their place.
A new summer concert series called What’s Good, Cleveland is starting up at the Galleria. It’ll be a grownup night out with classic-style R&B and jazz bands, with an event every other Friday.
It kicks off this week with an illustrious name from Cleveland’s own music history: The Kinsman Dazz Band.
Those who are up on their R&B will recall that this Cleveland-bred band found national success as the Dazz Band after initially naming themselves after their early stomping grounds. In the early ’80s they had numerous funky hits like “Let It Whip” and “Joystick.”
Co-founder Bobby Harris kept the Dazz Band going focusing on the band’s more uptempo material. But co-founder Michael Calhoun says he was hearing from old-time fans that they’d like to hear the band’s romantic ballads with a full band again.
So he’d put one together that’s just starting to get rolling in a major way. It includes nine members, plus a dancer and female vocals from a group called Bedazzle.
The Etiquette, a seasoned wedding band making the shift to clubs, will open up the evening.
What’s Good, Cleveland is the brainchild of Cleveland Heights community activists George and Sheronda Hunter, who’ve started a company called the Surely N Powered entertainment group to showcase talent they’re excited about.
Future Fridays will feature acts like Horns and Things, Alvin Frazier, and Forecast.
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.