Thu 6/20-Sat 6/22
It’s time again for the big weekend-long music party called Tri-C JazzFest. If you’re a big jazz fan, there are ticketed concerts in the Playhouse Square theaters that cover the gamut of jazz styles with players ranging from hot newcomers to legends.
Headliners perform in the Mimi Ohio, the Allen and the O’Connor Palace Theatres at Playhouse Square, and include: Take 6, Jason Moran and the Bandwagon, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Marcus Miller/Bob James Quartet, Scary Goldings, Ledisi, ARTEMIS, Flying Home: A Trumpet Summit (featuring Dominick Farinacci), Harold López-Nussa: Timba a la Americana/Diego Figueiredo, and Charles Lloyd Ocean Trio II featuring Gerald Clayton & Martin Sewell.
And if you’re just looking for a cool party to go to with music and more, Tri-C JazzFest is the place to be as well, with two days of free outdoor entertainment and more on Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22 on the corner of East 14rth Street and Euclid Avenue which is closed off for those two days. There’s a big outdoor stage where, from 4pm until midnight, a variety of mostly local artists will perform, culminating each night with one of the area’s primary party-starter bands, reggae kings Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S Band on Friday and Sammy DeLeon’s Latin jazz orchestra on Saturday. There’s also the Next Gen stage where you can hear talented kids from the JazzFest Academy Ensemble. Last year, stunningly talented teenager jazz composer/vocalist performed there; this year, she makes her debut on the big stage (5:30pm). She’s on her way to Juilliard in the Fall and is definitely going places. Catch he now while she’s 19.
The street party also features food trucks, a beer garden, vendors, the Jazz Corner tent featuring interviews with artists and cooking demonstrations, the Kids’Corner, and more. Spend the whole evening there or enjoy the activities between the ticketed concerts.
Find a full schedule of events (and buy tickets to the indoor shows) here.
Cleveland, OH 44115