Thu 6/23-Sat 6/25
The 43rd annual Tri-C JazzFest returns to Playhouse Square Thursday June 23-Saturday June 25, after a two-year hiatus that included a virtual JazzFest (2020) and two nights at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights (2021). For many years a series of events spread at venues all over town for multiple weeks, the festival caught fire as a real EVENT when it consolidated to one weekend and moved to Playhouse Square.
This week Tri-C JazzFest announced its lineup for this summer and it promises to be a feast for music-starved fans. It includes nine ticketed concerts inside Playhouse Square’s historic theatres, plus its usual free outdoor stage, food vendors, a beer garden, chef and art demos, kids’ activities and more.
The festival kicks off on Thursday June 23 with a concert by vocalist Anthony Hamilton at Music Hall in Cleveland Public Auditorium, the only concert not being held at Playhouse Square. That night also honors Tri-C president Alex Johnson who is retiring at the end of June.
The following day, Playhouse Square will bustling, with a concert by Warren native and former music director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, trumpeter Sean Jones and his quartet, at the Allen Theatre @ 5pm. At 6:30pm, sax player composer Joe Lovano — a Cleveland boy who’s gone on to become an international star — and trumpeter Dave Douglas will perform as Sound Prints in the Mimi Ohio Theatre. Keyboardist/synth player/composer Brian Culbertson is the headliner of the always-popular smooth jazz/R&B concert, taking place in the Connor Palace Theatre at 8pm. Friday night winds down — or up — in the Mimi Ohio at 9:30pm with Ghost-Note, a high-energy funk/hip-hop/world music/etc ensemble led by Snarky Puppy percussion Robert Searight and Nate Worth.
Opening Saturday at 2pm at the Allen Theatre is a pair of musicians all Cleveland jazz fans will know: another native son and regular at Tri-C JazzFest, trumpeter Dominick Farinacci with his new ensemble Triad. They open for French vocalist Cyrille Aimee, who has performed in Cleveland many times. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Raul Midon performs at the Mimi Ohio at 4:30pm, with veteran jazz pianist, 85-year-old Eddie Palmieri, taking the same stage at 6:15.
Finally, the Tri-C JazzFest All-Star Big Band under the direction of John Clayton will wind up the festival at 8:15 in the Connor Palace, with special guest John Pizzarelli.
Festival passes are currently on sale; single tickets go on sale April 15 through the Playhouse Square Box Office at 216-241-6000 or playhousesquare.org.
Also Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland is currently accepting submissions from local and regional acts to play the popular outdoor stage on the plaza off East 14th and Huron on Friday and Saturday of the festival between 3pm and midnight. It’s the stage where people come to hang out, enjoy the ambiance or cool their heels between ticketed shows in the Playhouse Square theaters.
Fifteen acts in various genres — including jazz, blues, R&B, funk, gospel, jam and reggae — will be chosen to perform. Application deadline is April 3. Go here to apply.
Festival passes are currently on sale; single tickets go on sale April 15 through the Playhouse Square Box Office at 216-241-6000 or playhousesquare.org.