Live at the Bop Stop

Performance used with permission from the artist.

Washington DC based Sea Change was when bassist Stephen Arnold was asked to lead a band at the Göethe-Institut’s Jazz in the Basement series. Featuring a rotating set of band members, the groups most recent release Until Now is a nine-song suite that documents the end of the pandemic and beginning of the romantic relationship between longtime friends and collaborators.

This performance features selections from that release, along with selections from their 2020 album. Featuring Stephen Arnold on Bass, Tyler Cassidy on Saxophone, Drew Kid on Piano, and...

Performance used with permission from the artist.

Since 2014, contemporary jazz band Spin Cycle has been bringing their original music to clubs and concert halls across the US and Canada. Co-lead by Drummer Scott Neumann and Saxophonist Tom Christensen, the band highlights their flexibility, reach and capacity to surprise audiences. On any given song, you might encounter the modal influence of John Coltrane, the second-line funk of New Orleans, or the edgy experimentation of free jazz.

The group features guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Dave Ambrosio, both bandleaders and well-respected artists in their own right and...

Performance used with permission from the artist.

Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, pianist and composer Marta Sánchez is actively working in the contemporary creative music scene in New York City and around the globe. Charting a significant path through her innovative and original music, she has reached an international audience, gaining significant global recognition.

When not  playing and recording with the David Murray Quartet, Oscar Noriega Quartet and the Maria Grand Duo, Marta performs with her Trio, as she does here in support of her 2024 release Perpetual Void.

Featuring Eli...

Performance used with permission from the artist.

You could argue at this point that Theron Brown is the glue that holds the Akron, Ohio jazz scene together. Between his work as the founder and director of the annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival, the artistic director of the I Promise School, the artist coordinator for the Curated Storefront and his heavy involvement with the Jazz Education program at the University of Akron, he’s arguably the hardest working man in show business.

So we were lucky to manage to snag his trio for this pe...

Performance used with permission from the artist.

In 2014, Monika Herzig had the idea to bring together fellow jazz musicians with the goal of presenting powerful role models on stage as a way of breaking some lingering stereotypes following a path initially paved by Sherri Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra in the ‘90s. That effort paid off then and continues to pay off now as you’ll hear in this performance in support of their 2024 release All in Good Time

The various Sheroes ensembles over time have represented an extended family of bandleaders, and the grou...

Performance used with permission from the artists.

Detroit based Anthony Stanco, embodies the soulful essence of the city’s musical legacy. Fueled by the city's vibrant rhythms, Stanco honed his craft under the tutelage of local luminaries like Marcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker, absorbing their wisdom like the note of a melody.

As leader of The Crucial Elements, Stanco commands attention with a distinctive blend of talent and charisma. Their music transcended borders while they served as cultural ambassadors through the US State Department's “American Music Abroad” program. From the rhythmic pulse of South Africa to the...

This performance used by permission of the artist.

THE OBLIVION PROJECT was formed in 2003, is dedicated to the exploration and performance of the over 3000 Nuevo Tango works of Argentine tango master Astor Piazzolla. The musicians from all across the Americas have collaborated to explore and share the uncompromisingly unique, unequivocally attractive language of Piazzolla’s tangos. We are extremely fortunate that they’re based here in Cleveland.

This performance catches them on their 19th tour of the Midwest and comes on the heels of a sold out larger show with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Seve...

Performance used by permission from Joe Leaman.

Akron based Joe Leaman is an in-demand percussionist, pianist, composer, arranger and educator with an active following throughout Northeastern Ohio.  For this performance, Joe leads a quintet in exploring the music of Trinidad and Tobago but with a jazz twist. 

If you’re a fan of Victor Provost or Andy Narell you’ll be familiar with the steel drum sound but if you aren’t, consider this a great introduction to the art form. Appearing here courtesy of the Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach in this October...

This performance used with permission from David Janeway.

Detroit native David Janeway cut his teeth with Marcus Belgrave and Harold McKinney before moving to New York in the late 1970s, and the enduring influences of both Motown and Latin Jazz are evident in his music. One of New York’s most thoughtful composers, David’s trio makes its Bop Stop debut in support of their second album ‘Forward Motion', released in 2024.

This performance features longtime collaborator and fellow Detroit native Robert Hurst on bass, and drumming legend Billy Hart. From June 14th, 2024 it’s the David Ja...

Guitarist Dan Bruce and Pianist Theron Brown are frequent quests on the program, so they don’t really need much of an introduction. They both have their own unique style and appear here in advance of their recent releases. For Theron Brown this was 2024’s Spirit Fruit and for Dan Bruce this was his 2025 release with his trio project Ohm!.

They both serve as Artistic Directors of regional jazz festivals. For Theron this is the Annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival, and for Dan this is the annual Hingetown Jazz Festival here in Cleveland.

Whil...

Performance used with permission from the Scheen Jazzorkester

The Scheen Jazzorkester was founded in 2010 and has evolved into the the regional Jazz Orchestra of the Southern Jazz Center in Norway. It has succeeded in becoming a major force in Norwegian progressive composer-based ensembles along with similar units in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, and has released eight critically acclaimed albums.

The group tours regularly, and for this performance you’ll hear, among other pieces, a commissioned piece by the great Norwegian saxophonist and composer, André Roligheten. He is known in Europe especially for his contributions in Gar...

Performance used with permission from Alex Anest.

The Detroit based Alex Anest Trio explores both original tunes and compositions from some of the greats on this organ trio performance. And its territory Alex knows well with appearances on over three dozen albums under his belt including a half dozen as a group leader.

Alex anchors the group’s sound on guitar, but Jim Alfredson mans the Hammond B3 and David Ward brings the funk on drums. From a January 9th, 2025 performance it’s the Alex Anest Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

Buffalo based Adam Bronstein is a guitar player known for his clever songwriting and playful improvisation. Focusing on guitar at the forefront of its sound, his trio’s music is instrumental with influences ranging from jazz through Hip Hop, R&B and Psychedelia.

We were excited to catch Adam on a recent trip to his native Buffalo, and even more excited when he appeared on tour at the Bop Stop for this August 8th, 2024 appearance in support of his most recent release ABTrio.

Featuring Adam on Guitar, James Benders on Bass and Gabriel Wells on Dr...

Performance used with permission from Marc Ribot.

The Hammond B3 sound sits, at least to me, at the core of Soul Jazz. The Hammond in the right hands expresses a depth and authenticity to music that other instruments struggle to match.

Guitarist Marc Ribot would take this thought one step further and assert that the depth and authenticity of the Soul Jazz movement of the late 1970s and the New York punk movement going on at the same time had similar expressiveness, even if the two scenes had different circles and different core motivations. Expressing...

This performance used with permission from Tommy Lehman.

None of the three members of this week’s trio really need much of an introduction. Tommy Lehman is a Northeast Ohio native and a Hartt School of Music graduate who performs regularly across the country both as leaders of his own projects and as a member of Alla Boara and Nathan-Paul and the Admirables.

Akron based guitarist Dan 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...

This performance used with permission from Stix Quintet

This week, it’s a collection of young lions as Nehemiah Stix Baker leads the Stix Quintet. Featuring five performers all under the age of 21, the Stix Quintet features a collection of musicians from Northeast Ohio and Southeast Michigan, some of whom come out of prestigious youth programs while others, such as pianist Liam Speaks, are entirely self taught.

Featuring Ayden Cohen on guitar, Alexander Thiam on Saxophone, Everett Clark on bass, Liam Speaks on piano and Nehemia Stix Baker on Drums, and from a May 29th, 2024 pe...

This performance used with permission from Jamey Haddad.

Jamey Haddad holds a singular position in the world of jazz and contemporary music. Haddad’s musical voice transcends styles and trends, and the universal quality of his playing has attracted many international collaborations with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and Sting. Among many accomplishments, Jamey partnered with, among others, Venezuelan pianist Leo Blanco on Under One Sun, a multi-generational multi-national world music collective.

Though the full group doesn’t get together often, Leo was kind enough to grace our stage in a mini reunion of sort...

This performance used with permission from Jamey Haddad.

Jamey Haddad holds a singular position in the world of jazz and contemporary music. Haddad’s musical voice transcends styles and trends, and the universal quality of his playing has attracted many international collaborations with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and Sting. Jamey is a frequent performer and an honored guest on the program, and he brings to the table unique arrangement with some of the midwest’s best performers.

This performance was the first of a sold out two night stand and features Chris Coles on s...

This performance used with permission from Chandler Carpenter.

Chandler Carpenter’s diverse musical upbringing has resulted in a genre bending style that is evident in his performance style and original compositions as you’ll hear today. He leads many projects including his own Trio and Quartet playing original compositions and arrangements of songs from the American Songbook and Jazz Standards. He is the primary recording and touring guitarist for Cleveland based jazz and R&B pianist and vocalist Jeffery Cruz.

For this performance, Chandler Carpenter is joined by a quartet that features Nate Yingling on pian...

This performance used with permission from Jake and John Hart

John Hart is a veteran guitarist with over 30 years of experience on the New York City jazz scene, with ten releases as a bandleader and over 100 appearances as a sideman.

Jake Hart is an award-winning emerging pianist whose 2024 debut Collage features a 56-minute solo piano performance.

The two pair up with veteran bassist Steven Kirsty and drummer and Vancouver native Tandy Petschauer to enmesh a wide variety of compositional styles into what we think you’ll find is a very interesting whole. From Ma...

This performance used with permission from Dan Weiss.

Three time Shifting Foundation grantee Dan Weiss has been hailed as one of the top five jazz drummers by The New York Times, and his large ensemble recording “Fourteen” made the top ten list of their best recordings of 2014. Weiss’s innovative drumming and forward-thinking compositions have been pushing musical limits for decades. Weiss’s intense study of jazz, classical Indian, contemporary classical, west African, and metal sets a musical platform that creates a sound that transcends conventional style or genre. His compositional trademarks are angular yet emotive melodies, complex...

This performance used with permission from Zakk Jones.

Columbus, Ohio based guitarist Zakk Jones is a pre-eminent educator. At Capital University he leads one of the nation’s oldest collegiate jazz programs along with the school’s big band. In his spare time he hosts the ‘Beyond the Frets’ podcast.

His guitar trio, which you’ll hear here, has been together since 2019 and this performance highlights selections from the group’s two 2024 releases entitled ‘Why Not?’ and ‘Tomorrow Comes Early’.

From an April 24th, 2024 performance, it’s the Zakk Jones Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

Ca...

This performance used by permission from Lynne Arriale.

Lynne Arriale has been a major force in the jazz world over a career spanning three decades. Hailed as “One of the most exciting pianists in contemporary by The Guardian, she has performed on the most prestigious international concert stages and won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Her 16 critically acclaimed albums have topped the Jazzweek Radio Charts and “Best of” honors in major publications, and she joined us recently on tour in support of her 17th outstanding release entitled Being Human.

This sold out performance features Lynne...

This performance used with permission from Daniel Meron

New York City based composer and pianist Daniel Meron brought his trio to Clevland to debut pieces from his 2024 Pinch Records based release Pendulum.

Over the past decade Meron has established himself as a prominent figure in the modern jazz scene releasing four critically acclaimed albums, and with featured performances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Costa Rica Jazz Festival, and tours of the US, Canada, Europe and Israel.

From a May 5th, 2024 performance that features Pablo Menares on Bass, Jimmy Macbride on Drums and Daniel...

This performance used with permission from Theron Brown.

If you’re a frequent lister to this program we mention often that Theron Brown is the hardest working performer in show business. From his work as Artistic Director with the I Promise School to his role overseeing the annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival, Theron is intimately involved with making Northeast Ohio a magnet for musical talent. For this performance, Theron brings the Fender Rhodes Mk II to life with his trio.

While the Hammond B3 gets the accolades for being the center of Soul Ja...

When Denver native and Oberlin Conservatory graduate Mitchell Galligan sits down behind a Hammond B3, people take notice. One of the best young piano and organ players to cross our path in quite some time, Mitchell has performed alongside some of the legends of jazz including Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson and Jamey Haddad.

This sold out trio performance features Mitchell on Hammond B3 alongside Tim Picard on Guitar and Ori Jossel on drums. From April 26th, 2024 it’s the Mitchell Galligan Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

Green Jeans - Green
Somewhere in the Nigh...

This performance used with permission from Aidan Plank.

While Lyle Mays was widely known for his work with Pat Metheny, his solo work has warranted considerably less attention. 

In this performance, Northeast Ohio based bassist Aiden Plank enlisted performers from the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and musicians from around the area to explore and perform compositions from the catalog of the 11 time Grammy winner.

Featuring Anthony Fuoco on Piano, Dan Bruce on Guitar, Dustin May on Drums, Brad Wagner on Saxophones, Garret Folger on Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Dan Bailey on Keyboards, Patrick Duke Graney o...

This performance used with permission from Stephane Wrembel

If you’re a fan of Gypsy Jazz, or are in tune with the extensive legacy of Django Reinhart, then Stephane Wrembel likely needs no introduction. But if you’re new to the genre you’ll be impressed with Stephane Wrembel’s extensive list of accomplishments and his gifts.

His original compositions for movies, including Midnight in Paris, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Rifkin’s Festival have earned him global accolades. He’s performed among luminaries from John Schofield to Elvis Costello to Shelia E.

There’s inspiration...

As we gear up for Season 17 of our program, please enjoy an encore performance from pianist Aaron Parks.

Aaron Parks is one of contemporary jazz’s most forward thinking and creative pianists. From his work with Terrance Blanchard to his four lauded releases as either a band leader or as a solo pianist, Aaron Parks earns accolades from The New York Times, Jazziz Magazine, the BBC and the San Jose Mercury News.

We’ve been lucky enough to host Aaron’s trio performances previously, but this time, Aaron Parks joined us for two sold out solo p...

Driven by the cause of the development and showcasing of uniquely Canadian Jazz compositions, the Canadian Jazz Collective features a dozen JUNO Awards across the group – and another nomination for their 2023 album SEPTOLOGY.

This performance is the first US appearance from the full collective and it features Kirk MacDonald on Saxophone, Derrick Gardner on Trumpet, Virginia MacDonald on Clarinet, Lorne Lofsky on Guitar, Brian Dickinson on Piano, Neil Swainson on Bass and Bernard Reiter on Drums.

From a March 22nd, 2024 performance, it’s the American debut of the Canadian Jazz Collective – Live at the Bop Stop.<

When he isn’t touring the country as a member of the free jazz collective ‘The Music Quintet’ Coleman Rose makes time as a performer and composer in the Sonny Rollins Ensemble at Oberlin College. Well equipped to live and work in both free and traditional jazz, Coleman showcases the latter here in this sextet featuring works by Wayne Shorter, Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane.

Featuring Coleman Rose on Tenor Sax, Chris Coles on Alto Sax, Mitchell Galligan on Hammond B3, Tommy Lehman on Trumpet, Tim Picard on Guitar, and Ori Jossell on drums, and from a sold o...

Washington DC Native Alex Hamburger is an outstanding flutist and vocalist who makes a return appearance here in support of her 2023 release What If?

Featuring Alex on Flute and Vocals, Jose Luiz Martins on Piano, Kip Reed on Bass, Gabe Jones on Drums and Patrick Duke Graney on Percussion, and from a March 10th, 2024 performance, it’s Alex Hamburger – Live at the Bop Stop.

New Jersey Native John Petrucelli Leverages His Diverse Background To Provide A Hard Charging, Heavily Improvisational Based Performance On This Week’s Program. From His Beginnings On The Trenton And Newark Jazz Scenes, To His Work With The Uptown Jazz Orchestra In New Orleans, John Mixes These Influences Into A Powerful Sound.

 John Spent Two Years In Ohio As The Susan Neumann Postdoctoral Fellow Of Jazz History At The Oberlin Conservatory, Working With Students To Explore The 100,000 Plus Recordings And Artifacts That Chronicle The History Of Jazz.

 The End Of That Fellowship Sees John Departing Nort...

Regarded as one of the most renowned leaders and percussionists of our time, Sammy Deleon has transcended genre, style and class into a 40+ year musical career which revels in rich influences from the 70s to the present. Deleon has fronted his own band for 27+ years becoming a staple of the Latin music scene gaining popularity for his irresistible, danceable groove-oriented music. 

Jackie Warren, pianist in several notable ensembles including the 3D Jazz Trio, and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, recently appeared Off-Broadway (New World Stages) with Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra in Maurice Hines’ critically acclaimed TAPPI...

Cincinnati native and New York based Andrew Haug has a  compositional style best described by fellow musicians as “honest and thoughtful, beautiful yet energetic, with a hint of mysteriousness and darkness.”

Bassist Ben Tiberio has spent his twenties lending a crucial voice to the upper echelons of New York City’s vibrant jazz scene. Ben’s bass playing has been a fixture in the bands of his generation’s biggest torchbearers: Joel Ross, María Grand, Veronica Swift, and Immanuel Wilkins to name a few.

Along with Vibraphonist Josh Strange and Drummer Charlie Schefft, the quartet tour...

The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has been Northeast Ohio’s premier jazz voice since 1985. Led by award-winning composer and trombonist Paul Ferguson, the CJO promotes jazz in its historical and contemporary forms, through concerts featuring a stellar line-up of jazz luminaries, arrangers, composers, and educators.

This performance is no exception, as the CJO welcomes Italian composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, and jazz composition professor Giuliana Soscia.

Giuliana Soscia has been an award winning composer, conductor, jazz accordionist and arranger for twenty five years. In addition to her current role as a professor of Jazz Composition at the G...

Equally at home and adept at both straight ahead and free jazz, Cleveland based drummer Jeremy McCabe has served as an up and coming sideman in Northeast Ohio for the past five years. For this performance he steps into the limelight as bandleader for two sets that feature everything from Herbie Hancock to Radiohead to Frank Zappa.

Performing as a sextet and featuring Coleman Rose on tenor saxophone, Tim Picard on guitar, Grant Heineman on piano, Kevin Robert Martinez on bass, Will Curry on Winds and Jeremy McCabe on Drums, and from a February 15th, 2024 performance, it’s...

Keigo Hirakawa is a jazz pianist with a unique sense of expression and rhythm section intersection. Sought after for his willingness to be musically spontaneous on stage, he brings highly personal and engaging style of improvisation to ensembles as you’ll hear in this performance in support of his latest release, Pixel.

Both Keigo and Bassist Eddie Brookshire made the trek up from Dayton for this performance and were joined by Reggie Jackson on drums. From February 19th, 2024 it’s the Keigo Hirakawa Trio, Live at the Bop Stop.

New York City based jazz artist/composer/educator/advocate Andy Bianco has performed with Kandace Springs, Bob Moses and Deborah Cox. When he’s not busy touring, he’s an educator and an advocate through the establishment of scholarships through the Phillip Bianco Memorial Scholarship Fund.

He took time out of teaching at the New York Jazz Workshop to present selections from his most recent album NYC Stories with a trio.

Featuring Jordan McBride on Bass and Andrew Kirk on Drums, and from a July 23rd, 2023 performance, it’s the Andy Bianco Trio – Live at the Bop...

Moises Borges takes pride in delighting audiences with influences born from Brazilian rhythms. Experimenting with bolero, baiao, frevo, and forro he performs both as a solo act and with musicians throughout Northeast Ohio.

An eleven time Downbeat Student Music Award winner, Ava’s vocal abilities will very quickly become apparent for those of you who haven’t seen her perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s, Andy’s or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, yet.

Together, they teamed up for a sold out performance featuring bossa nova classics. From a January 27th, 2024 performa...

Pianist Nate Yingling makes his debut on our stage this week in support of his debut EP Pilot. Hailing from Youngstown, Ohio Nate brings with him the sounds and influences of Jazz, Neo Soul, R&B, Funk and Gospel that underpin many of the musicians from the Midwest in particular and Northeast Ohio specifically.

He isn’t coming alone, however as he brings a number of other prominent Youngstown musicians with him for this performance, including Jim Richley on drums, Garret Kuchmaner on Tenor Saxophone, Darren Thompson on Flugelhorn and Cleveland mainstay Taylor Arbogast on Bass.

Pianist Nate Yingling makes his debut on our stage this week in support of his debut EP Pilot. Hailing from Youngstown, Ohio Nate brings with him the sounds and influences of Jazz, Neo Soul, R&B, Funk and Gospel that underpin many of the musicians from the Midwest in particular and Northeast Ohio specifically.

He isn’t coming alone, however as he brings a number of other prominent Youngstown musicians with him for this performance, including Jim Richley on drums, Garret Kuchmaner on Tenor Saxophone, Darren Thompson on Flugelhorn and Cleveland mainstay Taylor Arbogast on Bass.

Hailed by Stereophile Magazine for “sound[ing] like 21st-century grandchildren of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding” (with his co-bandleader Chris Glassman) and praised by the International Trombone Associations Journal for his “virtuosity [and] melodic and harmonic mastery,” Altin Sencalar is in high demand across the country as a performer, educator, and composer.

We caught Altin on tour in support of his 2023 release ‘In Good Standing’. Featuring Altin on Trombone, Bijan Taghavi on Piano, Aidan Plan on Bass and Jeremy McCabe on Drums, and from an October 19th, 2023 performance, it’s Altin Senclair – Live at the Bop Stop.

It’s Jazz, it just doesn’t sound like it.

Or, at least, that’s what Oz Noy will tell you. I’m not so sure I agree with that, but we’re delighted to have the chance to let you be the judge.

Since 1996, Oz Noy has regularly toured in trio and quartets with more musicians than we have time to list here. Although some of us will remember Will Lee and Anton Fig. This sold out show was the first of two shows in support of his tenth release Triple Play.

Featuring...

All music used with permission from the artists.

One of Northeast Ohio’s most promising guitarists – Jonah Ferguson splits his time as a session performer among numerous projects when he’s not busy serving as the guitar instructor at the Tri-C Jazzfest Academy.

This trio performance features up and coming drummer Gabe Jones and veteran bassist Jordan McBride – and together they kicked off the Bop Stop’s 2024 season with a special performance – the first set of which we have for you here today.

From January 6th, 2024 – it’s the Jonah Ferguson Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

All Music Used by Permission from Russ Nolan

New York City based saxophonist Russ Nolan makes his first Bop Stop appearance in five years in this appearance from May 26th, 2023. Russ operates in the worlds of Modern Jazz and Salsa with ease and aplomb and it’s evident in both sets of this performance, the second of which we feature on this program.

Featuring Joey Skoch on piano, Ahmed McLemore on Bass, Aaron Yanda on Drums and Russ Nolan on sax, it’s the Russ Nolan Quartet – Live at the Bop Stop.

All Music Used by Permission From Theron Brown

You could argue at this point that Theron Brown is the glue that holds the Akron, Ohio jazz scene together. Between his work as the founder and director of the annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival, the artistic director of the I Promise School, the artist coordinator for the Curated Storefront and his heavy involvement with the Jazz Education program at the University of Akron, he’s arguably the hardest working man in show business.

So we were lucky to manage to snag his trio for th...

All Music Used With Permission From Concurrence (Horton/Bryant)

What Could Have Been Still Can Be

Now is Still the Time

I-40 Was a Razor

Grooving at the Del Morroco

Pianist Paul Horton and Bassist Greg Bryant work together as the driving forces behind beat driven improvisational Nashville based collective Concurrence.

 This performance celebrates the release of their 2024 album Indivisible - which examines the impact and after effects of the harm caused by the development of the interstate system within communities in the United States but with a...

All music used with permission from Fuoco/Folger/Castaldi

IO (Folger)
Contemplation (Castaldi)
Light Gaps (Fuoco)
Lavendula Angustifolia (Folger)
All in All (Castaldi)
First Voice (Fuoco)
There is Another Sky (Fuoco)
Lattice (Folger)
Piroutte (Fuoco)
Mais l'Aube Approche (Folger)
Soleil (Folger

Anthony Fuoco’s compositions feature prominently in multiple groups including the Pulse Quartet, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and the Wedmedyk/Fuoco Duo. He’s also a classically trained pianist who performs frequently with his spouse Christine. 

For this performance, Anthony teams up wi...

All Music Used With Permission from Orrin Evans

For more than two decades pianist Orrin Evans has made an art form of the unexpected. With more than 25 albums to his credit, Evans has become the model of a fiercely independent artist who’s made a habit of rattling the jazz world’s confining cages. That determination has paid off in accolades like topping the “Rising Star Pianist” category in the 2018 DownBeat Critics Poll and two Grammy nominations. As a daring pianist, Evans combines raw-edged vigor and left-field nuance into a sound wholly his own.

This week, on...

All Music used with permission from OHM! Trio. 

Ohm! is the latest project from Cleveland based guitarist Dan Bruce. Featuring original compositions from all three of the group’s members, the trio brings high energy original compositions set to forceful and distinctive grooves. Everyone comes out of a performance with a different favorite song, and I’m always hesitant to put a thumb on the scale, but I’d encourage you to pay attention to a piece in this pe...

All music used with permission by Ari Hoenig.

The Fat Tea Me May - Hoenig

Conception - Shearing

Tea For Two - Youmans

Sophisticated Lady - Ellington

Golden Schatze - Hoenig

Home - Hoenig

Song 7 - Hoenig

Song 8  - Hoenig

Ari Hoenig is a jazz drummer, composer and educator known for his unusual and intense approach to drumming emphasizing complex rhythms in direct harmony with other group members. Ari is widely noted particularly for his drumming not b...

All music used with permission by Hilario Duran.

Segundo Encuentro - Duran 

Song 2 - Duran 

Song 3 - Standard

Spain in My Mind - Duran 

Song 5 - Duran 

Descarga en la EGREM - Duran

Cuban born Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by a variety of diverse musical influences on a daily basis. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun¬-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats. Later on, in t...

All music used with permission by Brandon Coleman Trio.

Blues For Ron - Coleman

Alone Together - Schwartz

Weaver of Dreams - Burrell

A Trust Fall - Coleman

Phobos - Coleman

Invitation - Kaper

Having been called a “wonderful composer” and “sophisticated player” as well as “one of the most unique guitar voices to emerge over the last decade,” Brandon Coleman is an on-the-rise and in-demand performer in the world of creative guitar playing. Based out of Cincinnati, OH, Coleman performs and composes...

All music used with permission by Ben Tweedt Trio.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon - Standard

Flow Out - Tweedt

Back to School - Tweedt

Otherscape - Tweedt

Iowa - Tweedt

Chasing Ghosts - Tweedt

Vera Cruz - Nascimento

Elegy - Tweedt

Apex - Tweedt

Fatima - Pascoal

Cincinnati based pianist Ben Tweedt is a pianist, composer, and arranger known for his lush harmonies, intricate compositions, and lyrical improvisation...

All music used with permission by Shawn Maxwell Quartet.

Ravage Eject - Maxwell

Squared Circle - Maxwell

Year 3 - Maxwell

Mr. Strongbow - Maxwell

Welcome Anxiety - Maxwell

Elbow of Phyllis - Maxwell

Snow Snow - Maxwell

Napping in the Sunshine - Maxwell

Dangerous Curve - Maxwell

Chicago based saxophonist Shawn Maxwell is consistently regarded as one of the boldest and most unique voices in jazz. Whether he’s performing material from his nine solo al...

All music used with permission by Jamey Haddad.

Bop-Be - Jarrett

Lawns - Jarrett

Le Mistral - Bley

Questar - Jarrett

River Man - Drake

The Wind Up - Jarrett

Jamey Haddad holds a unique place in both jazz and world music. Working with Yo Yo Ma – Paul Simon and Sting, Jamey is one of America’s most prominent world music percussionists. 

This August 19th, 2023 performance catches the Jamey Haddad Quartet in the midst of a tour that features the w...

All music used with permission by Monika Herzig.

Help Me - Mitchell

Both Sides Now - Mitchell

My Old Man - Mitchell

Improv - Herzig

I Want to Dance Again - Mitchell

Don't Interrupt the Sorrow - Mitchell

Hissing of Summer Lawns - Mitchell

Chelsea Morning - Mitchell

The Circle Game - Mitchell

Both Sides of Joni is a reinterpretation of Joni Mitchell’s music that was born as a collaboration between pianist Monika Herzig an...

All music used with permission by Todd Marcus Quintet.

Privacy - Marcus

Soltice - Marcus

Last Call at Dimitris - MacDonald

Glisten - Marcus

Everyone comes to jazz in their own way and growing up for me, that pathway to jazz came via the clarinet, bass clarinet and alto clarinet which I will not be playing for you on today’s show.

So when Todd Marcus and Virginia MacDonald made an appearance on our stage, it was a must attend for me. And th...

All music used with permission by Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini.

Song 1 - Faquini

Song 2 - ?

Medley - Guinga/Faquini

Auburn Whisper - Cressman/Faquini

You Go To My Head - Coots

Shada Bein Mayama? - Hayes

Bencao de Iansa - Faquini

Song 8 - ?

Song 9 - ?

Can't Find My Way Home  - Winwood

Already There - Cressman/Faquini

Just One of Those Things - Porter

Song 13 - 

Medley 2 - Cressman/Faquini

All music used with permission by Ricardo Vivero Morales .

Introspectiva - Morales

Blue In Green - Morales

Equinox - Contrane

Sabor a Mí - Morales

West Blvd - Morales

Take 2 - Morales

Corazón Delator - Cerati

Ricardo Vivero Morales is a guitarist and composer born in Quito, Ecuador who recently relocated to Cleveland. A musician with an eclectic background, Ricardo brings together a variety of musical traditions to deliver a sound that feels fresh but familiar to listeners fr...

All music used with permission by Dan Wilson and Dan Bruce.

West Coast Blues - Montgomery

Oh! Lady Be Good! - Gershwin

James - Metheny

Smiling Eyes - Wilson

Fotografia - Jobim

Solo - Wilson

Beatles Medley - Lennon/McCartney

Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? - DeLange/Alter

Dan Bruce graces our stage regularly now – but he spent a number of years cutting his teeth in Chicago where guitar duo jam sessions we...

All music used with permission by Keigo Hirakawa Trio.

Myth of Poseidon - Hirakawa

Far Above - Hirakawa

Whatchamacallit - Hirakawa

Home Somewhere - Hirakawa

Summertime - Standard

Dreaming Awake - Coleman

Pixel - Hirakawa

Tones for Joan's Bones - Corea

Change of Plans - Hirakawa

Keigo Hirakawa is a jazz pianist with a unique sense of expression and rhythm section intersection. Sought after for his willingness to be musically spontaneous on stage, he brings...

All music used with permission by Graney and Hamburger.

And She Spoke - Hamburger

Ladybug - Hamburger

Surface Unknown - Hamburger

Unconditional Love - Allen

Meditation on the Wind/The Journey  - Hamburger

Little Wing - Hendrix

Plastic Stars - Hamburger

On the show today, it’s Set Two of an outstanding double feature. Cleveland native Patrick Duke Graney is a multi instrumentalist, percussionist and drum-set player. He feels at home playing a diverse range of music including Jazz, Bra...

All music used with permission by Graney and Hamburger.

On the show today, it’s Set One of an outstanding double feature. Cleveland native Patrick Duke Graney is a multi instrumentalist, percussionist and drum-set player. He feels at home playing a diverse range of music including Jazz, Brazilian, Funk and other folk and contemporary styles from around the globe, whether he’s performing in India, Spain or Brazil.

Washington DC native Alex Hamburger is an outstanding flutist and vocalist who appears here in support of her 2023 release What If? Fresh...

All music used with permission by Hilario Duran.

Canto De Lenguaje - Duran

Contumbao - Duran

Blues for Parisio - Duran

Belong Especial - Duran

Tumboa  - Duran

Cuban born Hilario Durán grew up in Havana in a musical family surrounded by a variety of diverse musical influences on a daily basis. He began working as a professional musician in Cuba’s Los Papa Cun¬-Cun Ensemble and in a variety of musical formats. Later on, in the 70’s, Durán was Chucho V...

All music used with permission by Ari Hoenig Trio

The Fet in Me May - Hoenig

Conception - Shearing

Tea forTwo - Standard

Sophisticated Lady - Ellington

Goldenes Schatze - Hoenig

Home - Hoenig

Song 7 - Hoenig

Song 8 - Hoenig

Ari Hoenig is a jazz drummer, composer and educator known for his unusual and intense approach to drumming emphasizing complex rhythms in direct harmony with other group members. Ari is widely noted particularly for his drumming not...

All music used with permission by Bobby Selvaggio

This week: We're out of the office, so it's an encore presentation of one of our favorite episodes with one of our favorite performers, Bobby Selvaggio.

Bobby Selvaggio never sits still with close to a dozen albums under his belt – including a live double album recorded on our stage – Bobby spent the spring of 2021 regrouping and emerged with an entirely new group – The Reframing Experience.

As Bobby will be performing at this year's Rubber City Jazz Festival, we're bringing you an encore...

All music used with permission by the Stephen Phillip Harvey Octet.

Stephen Phillip Harvey’s works sit squarely at the intersection of popular culture and jazz. In his latest Octet project, Stephen explores the elements on a composition he calls Elemental.

The Stephen Phillip Harvey Octet performs this suite of six original compositions to bring his original interpretation of these elements and the balance they create. Fusing modern harmonies, driving vamps, and a myriad of textures, Harvey brings these forces of nature to aural landscape. 

From a...

All music used with permission by Clint Bleil with the Bryan Kennard Octet.

Ten time award winning composer, arranger and saxophonist Clint Bleil sits in for a night of large group arrangements with the Bryan Kennard Octet. Clint has performed along side luminaries such as Randy Brecker and Dave Holland, and has worked with acts as diverse as The Shirelles and the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

Heard here with the Bryan Kennard Octet in this June 4th, 2023 performance, it’s Clint Bleil – Live at the Bop Stop. 

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All music used with permission by Sam Blakeslee Sextet.

On the heels of two successful releases with Wistful Thinking, Sam Blakeslee returns to The Bop Stop with a set of Sextet Compositions to perform in advance of going into the studio for his latest big band album.

This performance features Sam collaborating with Wistful Thinking saxophone bandmate Chris Coles, and Akron cohorts Tommy Lehman on Trumpet, Theron Brown on Piano, Zaire Darden on Drums and guest Kip Reed on Bass.

From a June 30th, 2023 performance, it’s the Sam Blak...

All music used with permission by Prism.

What do you get when you combine saxophone, piano, bass and drums with violin and cello? This week, the answer is Prism, a jazz sextet that provides a unique and interesting jazz experience.

An idea born from saxophonist John Klayman, the group features both classic and contemporary jazz pieces with a classical twist.

Featuring Aidan Plank on Bass, Anothony Fuoco on Piano, Sunny Tabler on Drums, Carrie Singler on Violin and Viola, Jeffrey Singler on Cello and John Kla...

All music used with permission by Jamey Haddad.

Jamey Haddad holds a unique place in both jazz and world music. Working with Yo Yo Ma – Paul Simon and Sting, Jamey is one of America’s most prominent world music percussionists. 

Grammy award winning pianist Sullivan Fortner has been stretching his deep rooted talents as a composer, band leader and uncompromising individualist. Whether playing solo or leading an orchestra, Fortner engages harmony and rhythmic ideas through curiosity and clarity. Within phrases, he finds universes, and listeners often hear how he’s moved by each...

All music used with permission by Ellie Martin.

Toledo, Ohio based Vocalist-composer Ellie Martin channels her diverse musical influences of jazz, pop, Latin, and singer-songwriter styles into a broad collection of all original material on this performance, which features pieces from her debut album, Verdant.

From May 31st, 2023 and featuring Ariel Kasler on Guitar, Kury Krahnke on Bass, Dr. Olman Piedra on Drums and Ellie Martin on Vocals, it’s Ellie Martin – Live at the Bop Stop.

Live at the Bop Stop is made possible by The Music...

All music used with permission by The Atlas Tango Project.

Founded in 2009 and hailed as "one of the foremost tango ensembles in the country," The Atlas Tango Project specializes in the music of the late Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla as well as original nuevo tango compositions. They’ve appeared globally, with noteworthy performances including the premiere of “The Angel of Buenos Aires” with the world-renowned Colorado Ballet in 2016 and a premier of their own works with the Wilmington, Nort Carolina Symphony Orchestra.

Featuring James Anderson on Violin, Tony Rogers on Cello...

All music used with permission by Javier Red.

Following up on their highly acclaimed 2019 debut album, Chicago based Javier Red’s Imagery Converter returns to the Bop Stop in support of their sophomore release ‘Life and Umbrella’, a performance and an album meant to contribute to empathy and love for kids with autism.

Featuring Javier Red on Piano, Jake Wark on Tenor Sax, Gustavo Cortinas on Drums and Ben Dillinger on Bass, and present in conjunction with our friends at New Ghosts, and from a June 15th, 2023 performance, it’s Javier R...

All music used with permission by Alba Trio.

Northeast Ohio based Alba Trio was founded as a way of exploring the potential of trumpet driven chordless trios.

Anthony Taddeo is perhaps heard more often as the driving force behind Alla Boara and he serves this group from behind the drum kit. Tommy Lehman works with and leads a number of groups as one of Cleveland and Akron’s busiest trumpet players. And amidst a long career spent -among other things in revitalizing the now flourishing Cape May, New Jersey jazz...

12All music used with permission by Luca Mundaca.

Acclaimed guitarist & singer/songwriter of television and films, Luca Mundaca, brings brilliant melodies, profound lyrics, and a glorious blend of flavors of her native Brazil to the program. Winner of the 2008 Independent Music Awards World Fusion category, Luca Mundaca’s compositions have appeared in over a dozen films and television shows.

From June 3rd, 2023, it’s An Evening With Luca Mundaca – Live at the Bop Stop.

Live at the Bop Stop is made possible by The Music Settlement – serving Northeast Oh...

All music used with permission by Third Law with Sam Blakeslee.

Thriving jazz communities offer performers at all skill levels not only stages to play on but places to compose and perform original works.

Northeast Ohio is no different, and the Third Law Collective is the music settlement’s initiative with this goal in mind. Periodically musicians from throughout the area meet up and share original works with each other and audiences. This week, we feature one of those performances.  Led by bop stop director Bryan Kinnard on flute with a guest...

All music used with permission by Daversa and Cohen.

John Daversa is a distinguished trumpet-player, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader and educator. He is world-renowned for his virtuosic, dynamic and emotive style of trumpet and EVI playing, along with imaginative, genre-bending compositions and arrangements. 

Tal Cohen is a Grammy award winning jazz pianist who has been playing around the Globe with Terence Blanchard, Greg Osby, and Joe Lovano at venues from Detroit to the Sydney Opera House. This week, these two team in a return Bop Stop appearance for The Art of the...

All music used with permission by Russ Nolan Quartet.

New York City based saxophonist Russ Nolan makes his first Bop Stop appearance in five years in this appearance from May 26th, 2023. Russ operates in the worlds of Modern Jazz and Salsa with ease and aplomb and it’s evident in both sets of this performance, the first of which we feature on this program. 

Featuring Joey Skoch on piano, Ahmed McLemore on Bass, Aaron Yanda on Drums and Russ Nolan on sax, it’s the Russ Nolan Quartet – Live at the Bop Stop.<...

All music used with permission by Dan Wilson Trio.

What can we say about Akron based guitarist Dan Wilson, at this point, that hasn’t already been said. From his work with Joey DeFrancesco and Christian McBride, to his extraordinary solo work, we were lucky to snag Dan for an intimate trio evening celebrating his release of his fourth album Things Eternal.

For this performance, which draws on that album among a myriad of other influences, Dan once again engages Kip Reed on bass and welcomes Jessica Yefanaro on vocals.

From a so...

All music used with permission by Joey Skoch and Ava Preston.

Joey Skoch left Northeast Ohio to return to his musical roots in Chicago, but not before a weekend full of dynamite performances with some of the Midwest’s best up and coming jazz artists. For this performance, not only does Joey show off his considerable talents on piano, but he’s joined by teenage vocal sensation Ava Preston.

An eleven time Downbeat Student Music Award winner, Ava’s vocal abilities will very quickly become apparent for those of you who haven’t s...

All music used with permission by Tamir Hendleman.

Social Call/If You Could See Me Now/Our Delight - Dameron

Tones for Joan's Bones/500 Miles High/Bud Powell - Corea

Babushka - Hendleman

It's Only a Paper Moon - Arlen

Weather Medley - Hendleman

Infant Eyes/Yes or No - Shorter

Blues for Zoey - Hendleman

Here's to Life - Mandel

Pianist/composer/arranger Tamir Hendelman is known for his dynamic and sensitive approach at the piano and his i...

All music used with permission by the Engine Room.

Song 1 - 

Song 2 - 

Corcovado - Jobim

Song 4 - 

Some Other Time - Bernstein

Song 6 - 

Song 7 - 

Cantaloupe Island - Hancock

The rhythm section powers the jazz band whether the horn players want to admit it or not, much in the same way a ship isn’t particularly useful without a working engine room. Which brings us to this week’s performance, featuring the rhythm section of the Cleveland Jazz Orche...

All music used with permission by David Bixler and the Trio Incognito.

6-29-21 - Bixler

Bomb - Bixler

Nobody Else But Me - Standard

Luminal Space - Bixler

Old Dog, New Bix - Bixler

Inside the Grief - Bixler

Saxophonist David Bixler keeps busy. When not hosting the podcast Liner Notes or leading the Jazz Studies program at Bowling Green State University, he tours in support of his most recent creative renaissance that culminated in the 2020 release of Inside the Grief with h...

All music used with permission by the Matthew Fries Trio.

The Fog - Fries

Continuum - Fries

For My Nephews - Williams

Senhoras Do Amazonas - Bosco

Quarantine - Fries

June Blues - Fries

Michigan based pianist Matthew Fries is a joyful voice on the piano with a unique and recognizable style that is authentically rooted in the tradition of the classic jazz pianists, while still looking forward to the future of the music and the instrument.

As a co...

All music used with permission by the Chris Hovan Organic Trio.

Beatrice - Rivers

Indonesian Nights - Monaco

While We're Young - Wilder

Your Mama's Got a Complex - Smith

Cease the Bombing - Creque

Bird of Beauty - Wonder

Chris Hovan is an accomplished photographer, journalist and musician who dedicated himself to the drums in his early teens and never looked back. On this week’s show the Northeast Ohio native teams up with two Detroit heavyweights and one awesome Hammond B3 Organ for a...

All music used with permission by the Chris Coles Trio.

All the Things You Are - Kern

Take the "A" Train - Ellington

Life Every Voice and Sing - Johnson

Lonnie's Lament - Coltrane

Excuse Not - Samuels

Rhythm-A-Ning - Monk

Jibun dake o aisuru - Coles

Orbits - Davis

It's Fine - Strayhorn

Voted one of Cleveland Magazine’s most interesting people in 2021, saxophonist Chris Coles is an essential part of several projects when he’s not b...

All music used with permission by Sammy DeLeon and Jackie Warren.

Mambo Influenciado - Valdés

Corcovado - Jobim

My Little Suede Shoes - Parker

Caravan - Ellington

Triste - Jobim

Armando's Rhumba - Corea

Jackie Warren and Sammy DeLeon need no introduction. Jackie is a star, a legend performing with the 3D Jazz Trio, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, off Broadway as part of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra in Maurice Hines’ critically acclaimed Tappin’ Thru Life and at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival among...

All music used with permission by Grant Heineman.

East of the Sun (and West of the Moon) - Bowman

Janine - Adderly

Emily - Plank

How Little It Matters How Little You Know - Carmichael/Mercer

I'm Deep In A Dream of You - Baker

Blues for Ike - Reinhardt

Anyone who explores the rich history of jazz spends a good amount of time considering jazz pianists like Jim Hall, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Geri Allen, to name four. 

...

All music used with permission by Grant Heineman.

Go East, Young Man - Miller

Blue and Green - Evans

Big Sky - Heineman

Not Even Two Weeks - Regis

Sarsaparilla Song - Heineman

Lean Not - Heineman

Danny Boy - Standard

Grant Heineman first caught our attention at the Bop Stop’s open jazz jam sessions. Back in Northeast Ohio after winning awards at the Berklee College of Music, Grant very quickly worked his way into being an in demand pianist on...

All music used with permission by Paul Francis.

All I Do - Wonder

Mother Nature's Son - Lennon/McCartney

I Will - McCartney

Walking On The Moon - Sting

Truth - Flugge

Something - Harrison

We Didn't Start The Fire - Joel

Let Him In/Revolution - Lennon/McCartney

Black Bird - McCartney

In Your Eyes - Gabriel

One of the enduring and arguably underappreciated aspects of music by The Beatles is how easily most o...

All music used with permission by Eli Naragon.

Nah, Man - Naragon

She Meant - Naragon

If That's True - Spalding

Walking Away - Naragon

Peter's Sons - Naragon

View From Webster - Naragon

Hold The Line - Naragon

Sister Cheryl - Naragon

Pittsburgh based bassist Eli Naragon has toured and worked with some of the biggest names in jazz including Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart and Roger Humphries. He pays tribute to all of them on his 2022 debut album H...

All music used with permission by Darren Frate.

African Bloom - Frate

Inner Piece II - Frate

Inner Piece III - Frate

E Flat Minor 9 C Minor 9 - Frate

Alba - Frate

Into the River - Frate

Assault on Montez - Frate

Capo 10 - Frate

Tisdale - Frate

As host of the program, I try not to put my thumb on the scale and encourage people to like one artist or song over another. I have my f...

All music used with permission by Camila Meza.

Atardecer - Meza

Away - Meza

Coracao Vagabundo - Veloso

Uncovered Ground - Meza

Luchin - Jara

Para Volar - Meza

Camila Meza is equally prized as a vocalist, guitarist and composer and has brought a sound full of warmth, intricacy and rhythmic clarity to the New York jazz scene ever since her arrival from Santiago, Chile in 2009. Inspired by jazz, South American music and American popular song of many eras and genres, she has u...

All music used with permission by Tommy Lehman.

Not Right Now - Hodge

Lake Erie Sushi - Lehman

Song 3 - 

Super Moon - Stern

Surprise! Hi. Hello again. We’re back with a bonus episode of the program. The first set of the Tommy Lehman Quartet featured the group doing material among themselves from the Uplift EP. The second set of that performance was something equally special. In addition to the quartet themselves, every performance in this episode contains a special guest sitting in with the band. This...

All music used with permission by Tommy Lehman.

Song 1 - 

Song 2 - 

A Home In Any Place - Senpai

Uvalde - SmokeFace

Jaro - Lehman

Song 6 - 

Song 7 -

One of the joys of being involved with this program and though I hesitate to use the term jazz scene is the opportunity to see a group come together, coalesce around an initial idea, and watch that idea grow into a fully developed quartet that produces outstanding music. This week, it’s the To...

All music used with permission by Dan Pugach.

Brooklyn Blues - Pugach

Crystal Silence - Corea

Say What - Oz Noy

Tolerance - Pugach

Coming Here - Pugach

Grammy Nominated and New York based drummer and composer Dan Pugach wows audiences globally with energetic and joyous compositions and an interplay among group members that is as impressive as it is complex. 

Racking up multiple ASCAP and BMI awards for his Nonet competitions, Dan’s 2018 debut Plus One made the jazz radio Top 20. His None...