BLU Jazz+

09/06/2026

Saturday, September 19th (9/19): Dave Banks Big Band Featuring Scott Brotherton

“Diamond, Dean and Dave!” That’s a lot of D’s! Scott Brotherton teams up with The Dave Banks Big Band to bring you some old, some new and some Songs Sung Blu! Okay, enough alliteration… The DBBB will play some original arrangements from the band, and then feature Scott Brotherton as he takes you on a journey through musical time with the sounds of Dean Martin, and Neil Diamond! Classic songs you know and love. Scott has performed all over the world and the DBBB will once again bring it’s dynamic sound back to BLU JAZZ! Don’t miss this great show. What a way to kick off the fall season!

Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: $30 General Admission
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/12626/2026-09-19

📍Location:
BLU Jazz
47 E. Market St.
Akron, OH 44308

09/01/2026

Friday, September 18th (9/18): The Black Dog Octet

Lead by a front line of five premier saxophonists and backed by a hard-swinging rhythm section, join us as this eight-piece group of NE Ohio all-star musicians swings back into BLU! Featuring Tony Spicer, Brad Wagner, Chris Coles, Tim McDonald, Dave Kasper, Joe Leaman, Bryan Thomas, Ed Davis.

Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: General Admission - $20
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/12897/2026-09-18

The Black Dog Octet is a collective of musicians featuring 5 saxophones and piano trio. This performance group specializes in a wide variety of musical styles and influences. The musicians come from various parts of NE Ohio and include Brad Wagner (soprano saxophone), Chris Coles (alto saxophone), Tony Spicer and Tim McDonald (tenor saxophones) and Dave Kasper (baritone saxophone). The powerhouse rhythm section of Joe Leaman (keyboards), Bryan Thomas (bass) and Ed Davis (drums) propel the Octet through a wide range of repertoire, with the intention to present the music to the audience in an engaging and fun performance.

📍Location:
BLU Jazz
47 E. Market St.
Akron, OH 44308

08/25/2026

Tickets are selling fast— grab yours before they sell out!

Saturday, September 5th (9/5): The Dan Wilson Community Band

Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: General Admission ($30 in advance, $40 at the door)
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/12638/2026-09-05

Featuring:
Nathan Paul - Saxophone
Chris Coles - Saxophone
Brad Wagner - Saxophone
Chris Anderson - Trombone
George Delancy - Bass
Patrick Graney - percussion
Weedie Braimah - percussion

Growing up in Akron, Ohio, Dan Wilson spent the majority of his youth within the church community, where his musical path began.

Traces of his major guitar influences – including Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Joe Pass, and George Benson to name a few – can be discerned through his playing, but his musical identity has been shaped by everything from gospel and blues to traditional jazz, hip-hop and horn players like Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.

After graduating from Hiram College, Wilson made his recording debut with pianist Joe McBride and performed to worldwide acclaim with Joey DeFrancesco and Christian McBride’s Tip City, eventually recording his debut as a leader To Whom It May Concern.

Wilson has had the honor of sharing the stage with jazz greats including Eric Marienthal, Russell Malone, Les McCann, René Marie, Jeff Hamilton, David Sanborn and Dave Stryker. He also teaches jazz guitar and music theory through private lessons.

Wilson’s career took him on an exploratory journey into foundations laid down by the guitar/organ tradition, eventually leading to an invitation to perform with jazz great Joey DeFrancesco’s trio quartet, with which Wilson went on to earn a GRAMMY® Award nomination with for DeFrancesco’s Project Freedom album (Mack Avenue Records, 2017).

This collaboration allowed the guitarist to insert his own dialect into the musical prowess and respect that DeFrancesco had earned throughout his journey.

Wilson had been playing with DeFrancesco for a few years when he met bassist, composer, arranger, Christian McBride. From there, Wilson went on to tour with McBride’s trio Tip City, eventually leading McBride to serve as producer on "Vessels of Wood and Earth" and release the album on his newly formed imprint Brother Mister Productions through Mack Avenue Music Group.

📍Location:
BLU Jazz
47 E. Market St.
Akron, OH 44308

World-renowned jazz guitarist and Akron native, Dan Wilson, returns to BLU Jazz with his all-star "community band' on Saturday, September 5th! Featuring: Nathan Paul - Saxophone Chris Coles…

08/24/2026

The Dave Banks Big Band will be back at Blujazz with some of their own great arrangements, along with vocalist Scott Brotherton as we highlight the songs of Dean Martin and Neil Diamond in a fun evening of jazz, rock, laughs, and great music!

08/24/2026