BLU Jazz+

06/01/2026

Saturday, June 13th (6/13): Esto Jazz

Esto Jazz, led by saxophonist, Robert Esterle, brings their variety of contemporary jazz, pop, standards and original compositions back to BLU!

Featuring:
Dominic Reto - piano/keyboards
Billy Joe Wiseman - Guitar
James "J.R." Richley - Drums
Robert Esterle - Saxophone

Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show)
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/4862/?date=2026-06-13

Esto Jazz-is an instrumental quartet that performs a variety of contemporary jazz, pop, standards and original compositions. The group is led by saxophonist, Bob Esterle, who has performed with such popular artists as Bob James, Bobby Caldwell, Olivia Newton-John, Sandy Duncan, Ray Charles, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Frankie Avalon, Martha Reeves, The Platters, The Fifth Dimension, The Four Lads, Rich Little, Joan Rivers, Guy Lombardo, The Rat Pack and Dean Lives (from Las Vegas), Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular, Michael Cavanaugh (from the Broadway Musical “Movin’ Out”), Hal Linden and Red Skelton.

06/01/2026

05/27/2026

Saturday, June 6th (6/6): Forest City Django Club feat. Kara Scott

Vocalist, Kara Scott returns to BLU Jazz+ with the Forest City Django Club!

The FCDC is a NEO-based jazz band featuring violin, guitar, accordion, and upright bass. The group brings the timeless sound of Django Reinhardt’s European Swing to Cleveland. Experience the energy of American jazz with the charm of a Parisian cafe. The group is a combination of jazz, folk, and bluegrass veterans who love to bring this music to a new audience.

Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: $20 General Admission
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/11136/?date=2026-06-06

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

05/26/2026

Saturday, May 30th (5/30): Grey-Throckmorton-Heulitt

Join us May 30th, as we welcome heavy hitters, Tony Grey (bass), David Throckmorton (drums), and Matthew Charles Heulitt (guitar), to the Rubber City by way of the Steel City!

Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show)
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/8013/?date=2026-05-30

"Grey-Throckmorton-Heulitt is a Pittsburgh-based jazz fusion trio with world-class players. Longtime Pittsburgh veteran David Throckmorton on drums (Maynard Ferguson, Dan Wilson, David Fiuczynski, Reb Beach), Matthew Charles Heulitt on guitar (Narada Michael Walden, Carlos Santana, Zigaboo Modeliste), and Tony Grey on bass (Hiromi, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock). This trio merges high-level playing with intimate improvisational dialogues and genre-crossing melodies full of depth and emotion."

05/21/2026

Thursday, June 4th (6/4): Eli Leder Group - Jam Session

Eli Leder returns to BLU Jazz+ with an all-new band playing a mix of their favorite standards and originals! Bring your axe/horn and join in on the second set for an inclusive jam session!

Doors: 6:00pm
Show: 7:00pm
Tickets: General Admission ($10 in advance, $15 day of show)
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/9757/?date=2026-06-04

Eli Leder: bass
Chris Coles: sax
Dan Bruce: guitar
Gabe Jones: drums

Eli Leder is a bassist and composer from the west side of Cleveland. He currently studies Jazz Bass Performance at William Paterson University, 20 miles outside New York City. Eli treats music as exploratory, searching for new sounds and considering all genres. You may catch him playing Baroque string music, bluegrass, 2010s pop, and straight-ahead swing all in one weekend. He synthesizes all of his experiences into both his bass playing and writing.

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

05/18/2026

Friday, June 5th (6/5): Dan Wilson Organ Trio w/ Horn Section

World renown jazz guitarist and Akron native, Dan Wilson, returns to BLU Jazz with his all-star organ trio and horn section on Friday, June 5th!

Featuring:
David Throckmorton- Drums
Clifford Barnes- organ
Brad Wagner- sax
Chris Coles- sax
Tommy Lehman- Trumpet
Chris Anderson- Trombone

Doors: 6:00pm
Show: 7:00pm
Tickets: General Admission ($25 in advance, $35 at the door)
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/11464/?date=2026-06-05

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.

World renown jazz guitarist and Akron native, Dan Wilson, returns to BLU Jazz with his all-star organ trio and horn section on Friday, June 5th! Featuring: David Throckmorton- Drums Clifford Barnes- organ Brad Wagner- sax Chris Coles- sax Tommy Lehman- Trumpet Chris Anderson- Trombone Doors: 6:00pm....

05/14/2026

Friday, May 29th (5/29): Evelyn Wright & The Moonlight Serenaders present "The Art of Swing & Soul"

Vocalist, Evelyn Wright, and trombonist, Chris Anderson, join The Moonlight Serenaders for an epic night of "Swing and Soul".

Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Tickets: $30 General Admission
🎟️ https://blu-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/11252/?date=2026-05-29

The Moonlight Serenaders, led by Trombonist Scott Marsh, focus on keeping the traditions of the classic Big Band Era alive, playing songs from the late 1930's up to the mid 1960's...from Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, and Artie Shaw to Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich. The band features vocal and instrumental soloists, and plays clubs, public concerts, and private events throughout Northeast Ohio.

Evelyn Wright has been a professional vocalist for over twenty-five years, with experience in jazz, R&B, and pop music. A native of Cleveland, she was voted Best Female Vocalist in 1985 at WCPN Radio. Wright was also named the Winner of Most Promising Female Artist and Favorite Female R&B Singer at the 1993 Midwest Urban Music Awards. In 2008, she was presented the Jazz Legend Award at the Tri-C Jazz Fest. Throughout her career, she has toured across the United States and Canada with artists such as Mel Tormé, Joan Rivers, and Harry Belafonte, but she loves performing in Cleveland.

Chris Anderson is the founder of Open Tone Music, a non profit organization which provides access to premier music education and performance programming for all people. Through Open Tone Music he has reached thousands of individuals in the northern Ohio area. In addition to being a successful music educator, Chris composes and performs many different styles of music. He has performed trombone with some of the best in the Classical, Jazz, Gospel, Latin and other musical idioms. He’s had the pleasure of performing with such recording artist as Clark Terry, John Fedchock, Jon Faddis, Nancy Wilson, Frank Wess, Louie Bellson, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Barry Manilow, Bobby Caldwell, The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Band featuring Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Antonio Hart and many others.