Cliff Bell's

The Jeff Cuny Trio
2019-06-21 17:30 - 20:15 (America/Detroit)
Jeff Cuny is a fine string bassist. He is also the chief arranger & bassist for the Planet D Nonet and appears around the city with Tbone Paxton and also the Rhythm Society Orchestra. His fellow musicians include David Dunham on guitar & David Alavarz III on drums, together they also lead the collective band Beartrap.

Father's Day Dinner featuring Steven Taetz Ensemble
2019-06-16 19:00 - 22:00
Celebrate Father’s day with vintage pop, swing, and jazz singer and composer/lyricist Steven Taetz from Toronto. He will be singing hits made popular by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and his own new standards that have been praised by JazzTimes. Taetz is joined by talented bassist David Maclean, and local legends Scott Gwinnell on piano and Dave Zwolinski on drums.
Steven Taetz has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall (NY), The Rogers Centre (Toronto), Hotel Café (LA), House of Jazz (Montreal), and will be featured at Rochester International Jazz Festival and Toronto International Jazz Festival shortly after this debut at Cliff Bells.
“As sophisticated as Cole Porter, as sly as Blossom Dearie.” – JazzTimes

Fathers Day Brunch with Shawn McDonald
2019-06-16 11:30 - 14:30
Shawn plays blues, boogie-woogie and jazz piano and is a strong vocalist as well. He has toured much of the world with Larry McCray, Alberta Adams, Joe Weaver & Johnnie Bassett

The Evan Mercer Trio
2019-06-15 18:00 - 20:30
Our early Saturday piano trio series, led by Evan, a fine young pianist along with several strong young musicians that have all graduated from WSU. Evan now tours throughout the world with soul diva Bettye LaVette. Evan Mercer on piano, Samuel Chase Harris on string bass & Jake Matthews on drums.

Private Event
2019-06-14 00:00 - 23:59

Seth Ebersole & in Absentia
2019-06-09 19:00 - 22:00
With – David Dunham – guitar, Liany Mateo – Bass, Madison George – drum set
– Seth M Ebersole is the Jazz Artist in Residence at Saginaw Valley State University as well as the Jazz Woodwind Faculty at the Kalamazoo Jazz & Creative Institute. The quartet is venturing into new territory with a suite of original music that celebrates the various colors of life.
– The program features music derived from the colors of life. In writing this music, I strove to use the good times and the bad to present my truths about human interaction and change. Some works are hopeful, some are bleak, but I desperately hope they all convey truth to you, the listener.
– Photo Credit: Jessica Cowles

The Frost Middle School Jazz Band
2019-06-09 16:00 - 18:00
From Livonia, MI, The Frost Middle School Jazz Band is under the direction of Michael Rais. The jazz band is made up of 22 members that auditioned for this group. The Jazz Band is one of the highest ensembles at Frost M.S. The Jazz band will be performing all styles including jazz, swing, funk, and more. Make sure you come out and support these fine young musicians.

Samuel Chase Harris Trio
2019-06-08 18:00 - 20:30
Sam is a strong young acoustic bass player and he will lead the dinner time band on this evening.

The Jeff Shoup Quartet
2019-06-07 21:00
A lifelong Michigan resident, drummer Jeff Shoup has performed all over the state of Michigan in a wide variety of styles and settings over the last twenty five years. The list of musicians with whom Jeff has performed continues to grow, and includes Fareed Haque, Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon, Michael Dease, Betty Joplin, Tony Monaco, organissimo, Rick Roe, Dmitri Matheny, Ramona Collins, Rob Smith, Chris Codish, Keith Kaminski, Tad Weed, Ron Brooks, Brian Charette, Gary Schunk, Sunny Wilkinson, Cindy Scott, Brian Seeger, Smokin’ Joe Kubek, and many others. He is probably most well-known as the host for the popular Jazz Tuesdays at Moriarty’s Pub music series, based in Lansing. Jeff holds a graduate degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University and has been on faculty at Hope College Department of Music in Holland, Michigan, since 2017. He endorses Vic Firth drum sticks and brushes, and Zildjian cymbals.
Jeff launched his own band in 2019, which leans heavily on the sound of the classic “soul jazz” era, but incorporates unexpected repertoire such as choice pop tunes and even a fusionistic surprise or two. For this performance Jeff will be joined by Hammond organ phenom Corey Kendrick, along with saxophonist Trent Harris and Detroit guitarist Cory Allen.

Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra
2019-06-06 19:00 - 22:30
The Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra is the multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed 16 piece group based out of Detroit, MI. The ensemble plays the compositions and arrangements of its leader, and features the best professional musicians that the region offers.
A student band opens things up at 7 pm with Scott excellent groups taking the stage at 8 pm.

The James O'Donnell Trio
2019-06-02 19:00
Trumpeter/vocalist James O’Donnell has been entertaining Detroit audiences for years. He has toured around the globe and lived in Mexico City. He brings plenty of swing and humor to whatever he does!
James grew up listening to Detroit trumpet great Johnny Trudell. His teachers and mentors included Carlos B. Rivera, who taught Curtis Fuller, as well as Russell Green, Marcus, Herbie, Charlie Hooks and Felton Jones, playing with these men of the horn was very inspiring and helped in developing my own sound!! James & Rayse Biggs recorded a tribute to Russell to Green. James is known for his adaptation of trumpet mutes, ..ie the plunger, the bucket, the cup, the old traditional growling.
James will bring the veteran pianist Charles Green and top flight bassist Jeff Pedraz.

The Theron Brown Trio
2019-06-01 21:30
Born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio, Theron currently resides in Akron, Ohio, where he is an adjunct professor of Jazz Piano at Kent State University, and he is immensely involved in promoting jazz and classical music.
Theron is also the co-founder and director of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival which takes place annually in Akron, Ohio’s downtown historic district. You can see him regularly performing at many jazz clubs and theaters in northeast Ohio.
Theron’s musical studies include the University of Akron, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz studies, and finishing his Master’s Degree in Classical Performance.
Theron received an amazing opportunity as he auditioned for and was cast as young Herbie Hancock in the 2016 released film about Miles Davis, Miles Ahead, directed by and starring Don Cheadle.
Theron is currently working on his debut album titled “Spirit Fruit” which reflects on essential and fundamental characteristics that bring positive vibes to peoples lives. This was inspired by Galatians 5:22-23. Approximate Release Date: Summer 2019

Evan Mercer Trio
2019-06-01 18:00 - 20:30

The Corey Kendrick Trio
2019-05-30 20:00
Corey Kendrick is a pianist, composer, recording artist, and educator currently living in Detroit, MI. Praised by Downbeat Magazine’s John Ephland as a “very accomplished, highly gifted jazz pianist” with “a patient, maturing voice,” Kendrick has a skillful touch that is both immediately recognizable and deeply expressive. Kendrick released his debut album, Rootless, in June of 2016, which JazzTimes.com’s Travis Roger, Jr. called “a debut album that stands among the finest albums of the year.” Rated 5 stars by Bebop Spoken Here’s Lance Liddle, Rootless quickly climbed the jazz radio charts, reaching #4, #5, and #35 on the CMJ, RMR, and JazzWeek charts respectively and was featured on PRI’s syndicated program “Jazz After Hours.” The Corey Kendrick Trio recently completed their Midwestern tour in support of the release, playing well attended shows in IA, IL, IN, MI, OH, and Ontario, CA.
Kendrick has toured internationally with Etienne Charles’ Creole Soul, regionally with the Rodney Whitaker Quintet, and throughout the Midwest as a leader. Kendrick has performed alongside Jimmy Cobb, Antonio Hart, Peter Bernstein, Marquis Hill, Christian McBride, Robin Eubanks, Jon Faddis, Jeff Hamilton, Tim Warfield, Wycliffe Gordon, Regina Carter, Conrad Herwig, Randy Gelispie, Diego Rivera, Michael Dease, Ben Williams, Mark Whitfield Jr, Obed Calvaire, Alex Wintz, Brian Hogans, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Tom Kennedy and Sachal Vasandani among others.
As a Quad City Arts 2018 visiting artist, Kendrick performed educational outreach concerts for over 1,500 K-12 students over a 5 day guest artist residency.
Kendrick received his Master’s in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University in 2015 and holds a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Kendrick has studied with Xavier Davis, Reggie Thomas, and Willie Pickens.
As an educator, Kendrick taught Improvisation, Jazz Piano Lab, and Applied Jazz Piano lessons as a Graduate Assistant at Michigan State University from 2013-2015. He has served on faculty at the 2014 MSU Big Band Symposium and the 2013 Black Hawk College Summer Jazz Camp. Kendrick was an adjunct instructor at Black Hawk College from 2012-2013, where he taught Applied Jazz Piano, Jazz Combo, and coordinated the 21st annual BHC Jazz Festival in 2013. He also has extensive experience teaching private lessons in jazz piano, theory, and improvisation.
His trio will include Michael Palazzolo and David Alvarez and they will explore the “Detroit songbook” featuring the compositions of legendary Detroit composers such as Barry Harris, Curtis Fuller, Marcus Belgrave, Yusef Lateef, Kenny Cox, Paul Chambers, Donald Byrd, Thad & Hank Jones, etc.

The Corey Kendrick Trio
2019-05-30 20:00
Corey Kendrick is a pianist, composer, recording artist, and educator living in Detroit. Praised by Downbeat Magazine as a “very accomplished, highly gifted jazz pianist” with “a patient, maturing voice,” Kendrick has a skillful touch that is both immediately recognizable and deeply expressive.
Kendrick has toured internationally with Etienne Charles’ Creole Soul, regionally with the Rodney Whitaker Quintet, and throughout the Midwest as a leader.

The Trunino Lowe Quartet
2019-05-29 20:00
A rising star on the scene Trunino is a trumpeter to watch out for!

The Ethan Iverson Trio
2019-05-28 20:00
Ethan will perform with bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Nate Winn.
Pianist, composer, and writer Ethan Iverson was a founding member of The Bad Plus, a game-changing collective with Reid Anderson and David King. The New York Times called TBP “…Better than anyone at melding the sensibilities of post-60’s jazz and indie rock.” During his 17-year tenure TBP performed in venues as diverse as the Village Vanguard, Carnegie Hall, and Bonnaroo; collaborated with Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, and the Mark Morris Dance Group; and created a faithful arrangement of Igor Stravinky’s The Rite of Spring and a radical reinvention of Ornette Coleman’s Science Fiction.
Iverson also has been in the critically-acclaimed Billy Hart quartet for well over a decade and occasionally performs with an elder statesman like Albert “Tootie” Heath or Ron Carter. For over 15 years Iverson’s website Do the Math has been a repository of musician-to-musician interviews and analysis, surely one reason Time Out New York selected Iverson as one of 25 essential New York jazz icons: “Perhaps NYC’s most thoughtful and passionate student of jazz tradition—the most admirable sort of artist-scholar.”

Jonathan Taylor Quartet
2019-05-26 19:00
Jonathan Taylor is a Detroit-based drummer, improviser, composer, and educator. A tireless collaborator, he co-leads a number of original projects including the electro acoustic duo Says Things, sound and movement ensemble Legs, art rock quartet saajtak, and Teiku, which reframes his family’s ancestral Jewish melodies in a creative music context. He has performed with luminaries of creative music as Wadada Leo Smith, Dave Liebman, Michael Formanek, Tomeka Reid, Jaribu Shahid, and John Lindberg. His compositions have been described as “A balance between form and freedom” and “Music for the head and heart” (All About Jazz). He received his BFA in 2013 from the University of Michigan where he studied with Geri Allen, Andrew Bishop, Mark Kirschenmann, Sean Dobbins, and Evan Chambers. This new quartet project, featuring all-original music and fearless collaborators Tim Haldeman, Peter Formanek, and Ben Willis, balances deep groove with subtle textural interplay for a sound simultaneously grounded and boundless.

Closed for PRIVATE EVENT
2019-05-25 00:00 - 23:59, 2019-05-02 00:00 - 23:59

Ben Sharkey
2019-05-23 20:30
One of Detroit’s premiere live entertainer over the past ten years plus, Ben Sharkey infuses his live performances with a hip and sultry fire, bringing his artful swagger to the stage with a colorful fusion of old school cool, contemporary jazz, soul and pop. Since the charismatic vocalist posted his first raw home videos of himself singing Michael Buble and Frank Sinatra classics to YouTube in 2007, he has amassed over 5 million views worldwide for over 70 clips. By increasingly popular demand, the Michigan native has amassed hundreds of performances at jazz hotspots like Cliff Bell’s and a five year and counting residency at the Axis Lounge at the MGM Grand Detroit. He’s been compared to everyone from Frank and Buble to Dean Martin, Mel Torme and Harry Connick, Jr. – yet he’s evolved from being a stellar vocal interpreter to master storyteller and songwriter. Collaborating with his pianist Chris Codish, Ben has written clever, crafty tunes expressing every aspect of love, deep heartfelt connections and the sheer joy of living life to the fullest in the sexiest, naughtiest, most sensual and playful way possible. Stylistically, he lets his muse lead the way to booming percussion driven landscapes infused with jazz, pop, swing, R&B, Latin and crisp, edgy house-dance beats that make him the ultimate contemporary hipster as well as a masterful throwback artist.

St. Clair High School Band
2019-05-20 19:00 - 21:00
St. Clair High School Band will perform a showcase set and will also feature a trio of professional musicians that include:
Andy Lloyd, bass
Sven Anderson, piano
Dennis Suozzi, drums

Speakeasy Sunday- May Spectacular!
2019-05-19 20:30
Speakeasy Sundays – May Spectacular!
May 19 / Doors 7:30 & Show 8:30
Featuring performances by:
Roxi D’Lite
Tila Von Twirl
Miss Holly Hock
Kitty Hawkk & Eris
Ellie Camino
Hannah the Hatchet
Emcee: Lilith Von Tal
Tickets $20-35: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speakeasy-sundays-may-spectacular-tickets-60373707384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/280463449520343

Brian Charette
2019-05-18 21:30
New York City organist/pianist, Brian Charette, has established himself as a leading voice in modern jazz. Charette is a Hammond-endorsed, Steeplechase and Positone recording artist who was the winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics’ Poll Rising Star: Organ award and has climbed to 5th place in The 2018 Critic’s Poll main organ category. In 2015 Brian also won Hot House Magazine’s Fan’s Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist in New York. His last Positone recording, Once and Future, reached #17 on the Jazz Week chart and was also on the Itunes new music Top 20. This fall, Brian released his new circuit bent organ trio recording, Kürrent, featuring Ben Monder and has a brand new traditional jazz organ trio release on Steeplechase Records featuring NEA Master, George Coleman called Groovin with Big G.
Charette was born in Meriden, Connecticut in 1972, and was introduced to music by his mother, Catherine. By the age of 17, he was playing with jazz luminaries such as Lou Donaldson and Houston Person. Since graduating on the Dean’s List from UConn in 1994 with a BA in Music, Charette has been performing extensively in Europe and the USA with his home base being the East Village, NYC. Brian is a staple of the downtown NYC scene working with virtually everyone who plays with an organist.
Besides being a critically acclaimed composer and bandleader, Brian has performed with many notable artists such as Joni Mitchell, Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, Cyndi Lauper, and many more. Charette is also an active author and educator, writing for Keyboard Magazine, The New York City Jazz Record, DownBeat, and the Czech magazine, Muzikus. Brian teaches masterclasses all over the world and is on the faculty of the Czech Summer Jazz Workshop at Jesek Conservatory in Prague. His first book, 101 Hammond B3 Tips, released through publisher Hal Leonard, has become very popular, as well as his videos on the website mymusicmasterclass.com.
On drums here will bring Jordan Young and on guitar will be Detroiter Oliver Nevels.

Meri Slaven & Marvin Jones
2019-05-11 21:30
Two great vocalists in one great show! You’ll hear fabulously arranged duets, in addition to their individual repertoire. Backed by a killer trio Featuring Pianist Scott Gwinnell, Rocco Popielarski on Bass, and Bang Glen on Drums
Meri Slaven is a jazz vocalist presently performing in and around the Detroit Area. She grew up in the area in a very musical family and played clarinet, piano and accordion throughout her childhood and adolescence. She was a classical voice major at Florida Atlantic University, and studied privately with renowned dramatic tenor Eddy Ruhl before crossing over to jazz. After which she could be seen performing in Miami and around southern Florida. Then she relocated to NYC where she performed for a few years before moving back to the Detroit area where she keeps quite busy.

Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra
2019-05-09 19:00 - 22:30
The Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra was founded in April 1999 and has released three CDs, the most recent of which is “Mulgrew-ology” on the Detroit Music Factory label. The Stoney Creek High School student jazz band starts at 7 pm with Scott’s fine band starting at 8 pm.
https://www.wscottjazz.com/orchestra-groups/

Airey B & her Blues Boys
2019-05-05 19:30 - 22:30
Twenty-one-year old Airey is bold, impressive, and bodacious. A singer/songwriter as well as guitar player and pianist. Her voice is captivating, expressive and emotional. She invokes the spirit of the first ladies of the blues like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith & Lizzie Miles. A breath of fresh air, she helps to revive the true spirit of the blues for generations to come. Now backed by a group of excellent-musicians that include veteran Detroit trumpeter and singer James O’Donnell, and the strong young rhythm section of bassist Jeff Cuny and drummer Jake Matthews.

The Southeastern Music Academy
2019-05-05 17:00 - 19:00
The Southeastern Music Academy has an outstanding music faculty – successful performers with strong academic credentials that perform regularly with professional groups. This is a student jam session.
http://southeasternmusicacademy.org/sma-performance-opportunities-cliff-bells/

SYJ final concert
2019-05-01 18:00 - 22:00
MSU Community Music School-Detroit: Spartan Youth Jazz Programs
Spartan Youth Jazz is an after-school program for middle and high school students. It provides high-quality music education from professional Detroit musicians, educators, and entrepreneurs. Classes and rehearsals focus on jazz improvisation, music history, music composition and transcription, combo playing, and big band playing.
-Spartan Youth Jazz Orchestra (a combo of 7)
-Trombone Ensemble (7 trombones, piano, bass, drums)
-Combo I (a combo of 7)
-Big Band (17 total students)

The Rochester Adams High School Jazz Band
2019-04-29 19:00 - 21:00
The Rochester Adams High School Jazz Band performs a variety of musical styles including rock, swing, and Latin. Comprised of students in grades 9-12, it utilizes standard Big Band instrumentation in addition to flute, clarinet, and tuba.
Ruether Middle School will preform for 15 minutes. The remaining time will be split between Rochester High School followed by Adams.
