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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Cliff Bell's
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TZID:America/Detroit
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DTSTART:20240310T070000
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DTSTART:20251102T060000
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DTSTART:20260308T070000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251130T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251130T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20250131T183020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250917T171351Z
UID:10007841-1764523800-1764531000@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Ambassadors Big Band under the Direction of Mike Letovsky
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 5:30p & 7:30p for this performance. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.\nSince the 1950’s the Ambassadors Big Band has been presenting the finest in Big Band Era Jazz for all of south-west Michigan.  The 17 piece Big Band formed in 1957 with the legendary Fred Bentz as the leader. At that time they were known as “The Ambassadors Of Good Will” and were regulars at local V.A. hospitals across Michigan.  After a few years it was decided to make the band a regular swing band and the name was changed.  Vocalists were later added and with the second leader\, Al Townsend\, the band received many excellent original arrangements.  His writing has given the band it’s unique sound and style.  In 1986 Mike Letovsky joined the band as a tenor sax player and a few years later he took over the lead alto sax chair.  Since 1993 Mike took over leadership of the band and continues the decades long tradition of presenting the finest in Big Band Jazz!
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/ambassadors-big-band-under-the-direction-of-mike-letovsky/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Amb-April-2010.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251203T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251203T190000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20241122T161905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251008T131628Z
UID:10008443-1764788400-1764788400@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:the Swing Syndicate Jazz Lab
DESCRIPTION:Schedule of performances\n\n7:00 – 7:45  high school jazz band performance\n8:15 – 9:15  Swing Syndicate Big Band performance\n9:30 – 10:00  Jam session hosted by the Swing Syndicate\n\nSwing Syndicate is a 16 piece Big Band formed by Travis Cook and Mike Wiese.  Both seasoned veterans of the Metro-Detroit jazz scene\, Cook and Wiese wanted to play in a band that performed with power and style to make an indelible impression on the Detroit jazz scene.  The resulting group is a hard-hitting combination of Metro-Detroit’s finest talent performing traditional Big Band Jazz at it’s finest. \nIn coordination with Cliff Bell’s commitment to Jazz mentorship the Swing Syndicate will be featuring a different High School Jazz Band to perform with them every month.  All performances will be followed by a open Jam Session. If you’re a local band director and would be interested in having your High School Band perform at Cliff Bell’s please reach out to Phil@cliffbells.com. \n \n 
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/the-swing-syndicate/2025-12-03/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/School-Nights.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251204
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251205
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251115T194754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T163701Z
UID:10008506-1764806400-1764892799@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Pre Game Hang at Cliff Bell's
DESCRIPTION:Go next door to Volmers and watch the game with the cool kids!
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/go-lions-closed-for-the-game-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Untitled-design-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251205T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251205T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20250930T154206Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T214759Z
UID:10008471-1764963000-1764970200@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Marcus Elliot Broken Seeds Vol. II
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nMarcus Elliot (Marcus Elliot Miller) is a saxophonist\, composer\, improviser\, and educator based in Detroit\, Michigan. Marcus is a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellow\, awarded by Kresge Arts in Detroit. His compositions and improvisations have been described by the New York Times as “convincing and confident\, evolved in touch and tone…”\, and the Detroit Free Press has said\, “Marcus Elliot represents next generation of jazz”. Elliot leads and co-leads many different Detroit based bands including the Marcus Elliot Quartet\, Clockwork\, Balance\, Beyond Rebellious\, and Lanula. Elliot performs in the Shigeto Live Ensemble. He is a Fellow of the Geri Allen Gathering Orchestra. He co-founded the nonprofit Polyfold Musical Arts Collective. Elliot is the director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Ensembles. Elliot received his master’s degree in improvisation from the University of Michigan.  \nElliot is a disciple of the Detroit music scene. His mentors include Rodney Whitaker\, Marcus Belgrave\, Robert Hurst\, Donald Walden\, Bennie Maupin\, Marion Hayden\, and Karriem Riggins. After graduating with a bachelors degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University\, Marcus began to curate weekly performances in Detroit\, showcasing some of Detroit’s young jazz musicians. Marcus self-released three albums with his ensemble\, the Marcus Elliot Quartet and co-released an album with his duo project with Michael Malis\, Balance. \n As a Sideman\, Marcus has performed with  Bob Hurst\, Karriem Riggins\, James Carter\, Jimmy Cobb\, Marcus Belgrave\, Johnny O’Neal\, Jimmy Heath\, Shigeto\, Thaddeus Dixon\, Ettiene Charles\, Mulgrew Miller\, Rodney Whitaker\, Talib Kweli\, and many others.  \nMarcus was a co-founder of Polyfold; a collective of musical artists who have joined together to develop\, and present creative works. Founded in Detroit\, Polyfold produces concerts and recordings\, hosts outreach events and educational workshops\, and fosters creative community in Detroit and beyond. \nMarcus has received his Masters of Music degree at the University of Michigan\, where he was awarded a graduate assistantship. He is active in the Detroit music community\, collaborating with musicians in jazz\, free-improvised music\, techno\, hip-hop\, r&b\, and classical music. \n\,
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/marcus-elliot-broken-seeds-vol-ii/2025-12-05/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/A-4420588-1479861095-4186-jg1aMe.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251206T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251206T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20250930T154206Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T214759Z
UID:10008472-1765049400-1765056600@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Marcus Elliot Broken Seeds Vol. II
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nMarcus Elliot (Marcus Elliot Miller) is a saxophonist\, composer\, improviser\, and educator based in Detroit\, Michigan. Marcus is a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellow\, awarded by Kresge Arts in Detroit. His compositions and improvisations have been described by the New York Times as “convincing and confident\, evolved in touch and tone…”\, and the Detroit Free Press has said\, “Marcus Elliot represents next generation of jazz”. Elliot leads and co-leads many different Detroit based bands including the Marcus Elliot Quartet\, Clockwork\, Balance\, Beyond Rebellious\, and Lanula. Elliot performs in the Shigeto Live Ensemble. He is a Fellow of the Geri Allen Gathering Orchestra. He co-founded the nonprofit Polyfold Musical Arts Collective. Elliot is the director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Ensembles. Elliot received his master’s degree in improvisation from the University of Michigan.  \nElliot is a disciple of the Detroit music scene. His mentors include Rodney Whitaker\, Marcus Belgrave\, Robert Hurst\, Donald Walden\, Bennie Maupin\, Marion Hayden\, and Karriem Riggins. After graduating with a bachelors degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University\, Marcus began to curate weekly performances in Detroit\, showcasing some of Detroit’s young jazz musicians. Marcus self-released three albums with his ensemble\, the Marcus Elliot Quartet and co-released an album with his duo project with Michael Malis\, Balance. \n As a Sideman\, Marcus has performed with  Bob Hurst\, Karriem Riggins\, James Carter\, Jimmy Cobb\, Marcus Belgrave\, Johnny O’Neal\, Jimmy Heath\, Shigeto\, Thaddeus Dixon\, Ettiene Charles\, Mulgrew Miller\, Rodney Whitaker\, Talib Kweli\, and many others.  \nMarcus was a co-founder of Polyfold; a collective of musical artists who have joined together to develop\, and present creative works. Founded in Detroit\, Polyfold produces concerts and recordings\, hosts outreach events and educational workshops\, and fosters creative community in Detroit and beyond. \nMarcus has received his Masters of Music degree at the University of Michigan\, where he was awarded a graduate assistantship. He is active in the Detroit music community\, collaborating with musicians in jazz\, free-improvised music\, techno\, hip-hop\, r&b\, and classical music. \n\,
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/marcus-elliot-broken-seeds-vol-ii/2025-12-06/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/A-4420588-1479861095-4186-jg1aMe.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251207T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251207T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20250930T154225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T154225Z
UID:10008470-1765128600-1765135800@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Marcus Elliot Broken Seeds Vol. II
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 5:30p & 7:30p for this performance. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.\nMarcus Elliot (Marcus Elliot Miller) is a saxophonist\, composer\, improviser\, and educator based in Detroit\, Michigan. Marcus is a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellow\, awarded by Kresge Arts in Detroit. His compositions and improvisations have been described by the New York Times as “convincing and confident\, evolved in touch and tone…”\, and the Detroit Free Press has said\, “Marcus Elliot represents next generation of jazz”. Elliot leads and co-leads many different Detroit based bands including the Marcus Elliot Quartet\, Clockwork\, Balance\, Beyond Rebellious\, and Lanula. Elliot performs in the Shigeto Live Ensemble. He is a Fellow of the Geri Allen Gathering Orchestra. He co-founded the nonprofit Polyfold Musical Arts Collective. Elliot is the director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Ensembles. Elliot received his master’s degree in improvisation from the University of Michigan.  \nElliot is a disciple of the Detroit music scene. His mentors include Rodney Whitaker\, Marcus Belgrave\, Robert Hurst\, Donald Walden\, Bennie Maupin\, Marion Hayden\, and Karriem Riggins. After graduating with a bachelors degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University\, Marcus began to curate weekly performances in Detroit\, showcasing some of Detroit’s young jazz musicians. Marcus self-released three albums with his ensemble\, the Marcus Elliot Quartet and co-released an album with his duo project with Michael Malis\, Balance. \n As a Sideman\, Marcus has performed with  Bob Hurst\, Karriem Riggins\, James Carter\, Jimmy Cobb\, Marcus Belgrave\, Johnny O’Neal\, Jimmy Heath\, Shigeto\, Thaddeus Dixon\, Ettiene Charles\, Mulgrew Miller\, Rodney Whitaker\, Talib Kweli\, and many others.  \nMarcus was a co-founder of Polyfold; a collective of musical artists who have joined together to develop\, and present creative works. Founded in Detroit\, Polyfold produces concerts and recordings\, hosts outreach events and educational workshops\, and fosters creative community in Detroit and beyond. \nMarcus has received his Masters of Music degree at the University of Michigan\, where he was awarded a graduate assistantship. He is active in the Detroit music community\, collaborating with musicians in jazz\, free-improvised music\, techno\, hip-hop\, r&b\, and classical music. \n\,
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/marcus-elliot-broken-seeds-vol-ii-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/A-4420588-1479861095-4186-jg1aMe.tmp_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251210T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251210T180000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251024T153919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251024T154208Z
UID:10008482-1765389600-1765389600@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:U of D - Just Jazz!
DESCRIPTION:There will be one performance at 8:00pm and Dinner will be available until 9pm. Our doors will be open at 5pm.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/u-of-d-just-jazz-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/UofD-Basic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251211T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251211T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20250930T155805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T185734Z
UID:10008473-1765481400-1765488600@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Soulful Holidays with the Sean Dobbins Organ Trio +
DESCRIPTION:There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm & 9:30pm for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nWith \n\nAthena Johnson\, vocals\nClif Metcalf\, Hammond B3\nIan Blunden\, Guitar\n\nJazz drummer Sean Dobbins got his start as sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age\, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean’s Career progressed\, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the “Woody Herman Jazz Award”\, an award for outstanding musicianship\, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship. Due to Sean’s great talent both as a player and an educator\, he has been the focus of countless news articles and jazz radio programs. \nThough still young by jazz standards\, Dobbins has amassed an impressive list of playing companions. He has performed/toured/recorded with Johnny Basset\, Benny Golson\, Dr. Lonnie Smith\, Frank Morgan\, Joey DeFrancesco\, George Cables\, James “Blood” Ulmer\, Marcus Belgrave\, Larry Willis\, Rodney Whittaker\, Claude Black\, Johnny O’Neal\, Paul Keller\, Tad Weed\, Kurt Krahnke\, Jon Hendricks\, David “Fathead” Newman\, Donald Walden\, Cyrus Chesnut\, Barry Harris\, David Baker\, Randy Johnston\, Marion Hayden\, Mose Allison\, and a host of other great musicians. \nSean’s sound can best be described as hard-driving\, solid rhythm with refreshing melodic sensibility. Some of Sean’s influences include Art Blakey\, Jeff Hamilton\, Jeff “Tain” Watts\, Ed Thigpen\, Sonny Payne\, and also Detroit area greats Gerald Cleaver and the one and only Elvin Jones. A product of the Ann Arbor Public Schools\, Sean has stayed devoted to education throughout his life. Early mentor Louis Smith\, an Ann Arbor Public Schools band teacher\, impressed the importance of a good education upon Sean at an early age. Sean is known in his community as a band director\, drum teacher and positive influence for many.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/sean-dobbins-organ-trio/2025-12-11/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_3160.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251212T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251212T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20250930T155805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T185734Z
UID:10008475-1765567800-1765575000@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Soulful Holidays with the Sean Dobbins Organ Trio +
DESCRIPTION:There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm & 9:30pm for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nWith \n\nAthena Johnson\, vocals\nClif Metcalf\, Hammond B3\nIan Blunden\, Guitar\n\nJazz drummer Sean Dobbins got his start as sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age\, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean’s Career progressed\, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the “Woody Herman Jazz Award”\, an award for outstanding musicianship\, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship. Due to Sean’s great talent both as a player and an educator\, he has been the focus of countless news articles and jazz radio programs. \nThough still young by jazz standards\, Dobbins has amassed an impressive list of playing companions. He has performed/toured/recorded with Johnny Basset\, Benny Golson\, Dr. Lonnie Smith\, Frank Morgan\, Joey DeFrancesco\, George Cables\, James “Blood” Ulmer\, Marcus Belgrave\, Larry Willis\, Rodney Whittaker\, Claude Black\, Johnny O’Neal\, Paul Keller\, Tad Weed\, Kurt Krahnke\, Jon Hendricks\, David “Fathead” Newman\, Donald Walden\, Cyrus Chesnut\, Barry Harris\, David Baker\, Randy Johnston\, Marion Hayden\, Mose Allison\, and a host of other great musicians. \nSean’s sound can best be described as hard-driving\, solid rhythm with refreshing melodic sensibility. Some of Sean’s influences include Art Blakey\, Jeff Hamilton\, Jeff “Tain” Watts\, Ed Thigpen\, Sonny Payne\, and also Detroit area greats Gerald Cleaver and the one and only Elvin Jones. A product of the Ann Arbor Public Schools\, Sean has stayed devoted to education throughout his life. Early mentor Louis Smith\, an Ann Arbor Public Schools band teacher\, impressed the importance of a good education upon Sean at an early age. Sean is known in his community as a band director\, drum teacher and positive influence for many.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/sean-dobbins-organ-trio/2025-12-12/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_3160.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251213T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251213T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20250930T155805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T185734Z
UID:10008476-1765654200-1765661400@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Soulful Holidays with the Sean Dobbins Organ Trio +
DESCRIPTION:There will be two separate seatings at 7:30pm & 9:30pm for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nWith \n\nAthena Johnson\, vocals\nClif Metcalf\, Hammond B3\nIan Blunden\, Guitar\n\nJazz drummer Sean Dobbins got his start as sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age\, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean’s Career progressed\, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the “Woody Herman Jazz Award”\, an award for outstanding musicianship\, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship. Due to Sean’s great talent both as a player and an educator\, he has been the focus of countless news articles and jazz radio programs. \nThough still young by jazz standards\, Dobbins has amassed an impressive list of playing companions. He has performed/toured/recorded with Johnny Basset\, Benny Golson\, Dr. Lonnie Smith\, Frank Morgan\, Joey DeFrancesco\, George Cables\, James “Blood” Ulmer\, Marcus Belgrave\, Larry Willis\, Rodney Whittaker\, Claude Black\, Johnny O’Neal\, Paul Keller\, Tad Weed\, Kurt Krahnke\, Jon Hendricks\, David “Fathead” Newman\, Donald Walden\, Cyrus Chesnut\, Barry Harris\, David Baker\, Randy Johnston\, Marion Hayden\, Mose Allison\, and a host of other great musicians. \nSean’s sound can best be described as hard-driving\, solid rhythm with refreshing melodic sensibility. Some of Sean’s influences include Art Blakey\, Jeff Hamilton\, Jeff “Tain” Watts\, Ed Thigpen\, Sonny Payne\, and also Detroit area greats Gerald Cleaver and the one and only Elvin Jones. A product of the Ann Arbor Public Schools\, Sean has stayed devoted to education throughout his life. Early mentor Louis Smith\, an Ann Arbor Public Schools band teacher\, impressed the importance of a good education upon Sean at an early age. Sean is known in his community as a band director\, drum teacher and positive influence for many.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/sean-dobbins-organ-trio/2025-12-13/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_3160.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251214T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251214T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251030T140238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251204T162206Z
UID:10008485-1765733400-1765740600@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
DESCRIPTION:SORRY BUT THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT\, LOOK FOR ITS RETURN IN 2026\nShowtimes are at 5:30p & 7:30p for this performance. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.\nCliff Bells Jazz Orchestra presents the full performance of Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite ! The Orchestra is being directed by Josh James and features a 18 member big band orchestra of our favorite Detroit jazz musicians. Come celebrate the holiday season with us for this rare performance of Duke’s classic arrangement and reconstruction of the Pyotr Tchaikovsky masterpiece! 
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/duke-ellingtons-nutcracker-suite/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/sold-out_vnutcracker.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251217T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251217T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251024T154828Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251024T154828Z
UID:10008483-1765999800-1766007000@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Jauron Perry and Session
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nJauron Perry is an upcoming Detroit trumpeter\, composer\, bandleader\, and educator in jazz studies at Michigan State University. Recognized with the Next Generation of Talent award\, Jauron has gained extensive experience working with Detroit jazz masters like Rodney Whitaker\, Regina Carter\, Wendell Harrison\, as well as sensations such as Jazzmeia Horn\, Marquis Hill\, and Wynton Marsalis\, and performing as a current Geri Allen Gathering Orchestra Fellow. He has been featured in prominent events such as the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jack Rudin Jazz Championship. Jauron recently won the 2024 Michigan Jazz Festival Rising Horn Competition\, and also toured Japan at just 19 years old. He is now a recorded artist with the new collective group Quintessential from Detroit\, MI\, on their debut album “Here We Are” and with his own band\, the Jauron Perry Quintet that won the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival Combo Competition. The quintet performed their debut set at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival\, creating Jauron’s debut album as a bandleader.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/jauron-perry-and-session-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jauron-Perry-on-DJF-Main-Stage.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251218T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251218T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251030T150249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T163734Z
UID:10008493-1766086200-1766093400@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Olivia Van Goor's Waiting for Santa
DESCRIPTION:SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\n \nDetroit jazz vocalist Olivia Van Goor has a new holiday jazz record called “Waiting For Santa”. A collection of originals and lesser-known classics\, the album is unlike any other in your collection. As Detroit bassist and educator Jeff Pedraz wrote in the liner notes\, “…together\, this ensemble creates a recording that isn’t overproduced\, but instead reflects the essence of childhood-innocent\, simple\, sweet and full of joy and playfulness.” Olivia is touring the album in Michigan in surrounding states\, with Cliff Bell’s as the premier Detroit location. Additionally\, December 18th at Cliff Bell’s is the only show in Detroit to hear the whole record top to bottom with the same rhythm section: Mike Harrison on piano\, Reuben Stump on bass\, and Dave Zwolinski on drums. “Waiting For Santa” is available everywhere you listen to music\, with CD\, Vinyl\, and merch available at the show.\nwww.oliviavangoor.com\nwww.instagram.com/oliviavangoormusic
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/olivia-van-goor-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Waiting-for-Santa-Album-Cover-3000x3000-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251219T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251219T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251030T143140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T212025Z
UID:10008488-1766172600-1766179800@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:James Carter Organ Trio Presents:  Yule Log of Soul & Swing
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\n\n\n\nProgram to include the music of Django Reinhardt\, lots of your favorite standards\, and lots of your favorite Christmas tunes. An effusive\, dynamically gifted jazz saxophonist\, James Carter caused a critical uproar when he appeared on the New York jazz scene\, having moved from his native Detroit in the early ’90s. Carter’s debut recording\, JC on the Set\, issued in Japan when he was only 23 and in the States a year later in 1993\, was universally acclaimed as the finest debut by a saxophonist in decades. He has continued to build upon these early accolades\, exploring the music of Django Reinhardt on 2000’s Chasin’ the Gypsy\, displaying his classical skills on 2011’s Caribbean Rhapsody\, and working with his soulful organ trio on 2019’s Live from Newport Jazz. \n  Born in 1969 in Detroit\, Carter began playing at age 11 and studied early on with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. A prodigy\, he progressed quickly and by 1986 at age 17 joined Wynton Marsalis on tour. Two years later\, he became a member of Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy upon relocating to New York. Carter issued no less than six recordings under his own name between 1993 and 2000\, all of them with different focuses\, from a set of standards\, Conversin’ with the Elders in 1995\, to an electric funk record\, Layin’ in the Cut\, to a simultaneously released set in tribute to Django Reinhardt\, Chasin the Gypsy. Three years later\, he honored the legendary Billie Holiday with Gardenias for Lady Day. \n  Moving from Columbia to Warner Bros.\, Carter’s Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge followed in spring 2004. Another live session\, Out of Nowhere\, was released in 2005 on the independent label Half Note. There were also sessions and live dates with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra\, Cyrus Chestnut\, Rodney Whitaker\, Frank Lowe\, the late Julius Hemphill\, pop-jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux\, Ronald Shannon Jackson\, Tough Young Tenors\, and the Charles Mingus Big Band. In 2008\, he released Present Tense on Universal Jazz. Carter followed that up a year later with the live album Heaven on Earth\, featuring a jazz supergroup including\, among others\, organist John Medeski and bassist Christian McBride. \n \n   In 2011\, Carter delivered Caribbean Rhapsody\, his collaboration with classical composer Roberto Sierra featuring the piece “Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra.” Honing his craft to a jaw-dropping technical level\, Carter is the master of a family of saxophones\, flute and clarinet. His is a powerhouse virtuosity likened by composer Roberto Sierra to the great Paganini. It was in fact this astounding instrumental flexibility\, coupled with an eclectic body of recordings that inspired the Spanish maestro to write the celebrated Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra for the 31-year-old. Written expressly for Carter and mixing Jazz\, Latin and classical elements\, the work showcases the multi-instrumentalist’s outstanding technical virtuosity whilst allowing him “the freedom to improvise.” \nThe four-movement piece sees Carter take center stage throughout\, executing swift instrument transitions between Tenor and Soprano and employing a full gamut of musical expression\, from furiously-fast Coltrane like tempo to a quiet ballad.  \nA concert album\, Live from Newport Jazz\, recorded with his organ trio at the long-running festival\, arrived in 2019\, reaching the top 10 of Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart. More eclectic projects followed\, including 2022’s D(IVO)\, the debut album from Carter’s adventurous saxophone quartet with Tim Berne\, Tony Malaby\, and Ivo Perelman. He also joined Perelman for 2022’s Reed Rapture in Brooklyn. The following year\, he showcased his outsized baritone saxophone skills on the solo recording Un (Unaccompanied Baritone Saxophone). \nEarly 2023 brought Carter to the NYC Blue Note as special guest with DJ Logic and with Galactic. His capacious ability to cross boundaries\, mesh genres\, and deliver it all with mindboggling energy\, clarity and that “special something” that brings audiences to their feet clamoring for more.  \n2023 also saw James Carter bring his Quintet to Birdland in the debut presentation of Lookin’ at Lock: The Music of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis\, featuring Satish Robertson on trumpet\, Gerard Gibbs on piano\, Hilliard Greene on bass\, and Kahlil Kwame Bell on drums. Carter brings his Quintet to the Syracuse Jazz Festival on 29 June 2024 and returns to Birdland 13-17 August 2024.  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/james-carter-organ-trio-3/2025-12-19/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_3255-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251220T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251220T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251030T143140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T212025Z
UID:10008489-1766259000-1766266200@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:James Carter Organ Trio Presents:  Yule Log of Soul & Swing
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\n\n\n\nProgram to include the music of Django Reinhardt\, lots of your favorite standards\, and lots of your favorite Christmas tunes. An effusive\, dynamically gifted jazz saxophonist\, James Carter caused a critical uproar when he appeared on the New York jazz scene\, having moved from his native Detroit in the early ’90s. Carter’s debut recording\, JC on the Set\, issued in Japan when he was only 23 and in the States a year later in 1993\, was universally acclaimed as the finest debut by a saxophonist in decades. He has continued to build upon these early accolades\, exploring the music of Django Reinhardt on 2000’s Chasin’ the Gypsy\, displaying his classical skills on 2011’s Caribbean Rhapsody\, and working with his soulful organ trio on 2019’s Live from Newport Jazz. \n  Born in 1969 in Detroit\, Carter began playing at age 11 and studied early on with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. A prodigy\, he progressed quickly and by 1986 at age 17 joined Wynton Marsalis on tour. Two years later\, he became a member of Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy upon relocating to New York. Carter issued no less than six recordings under his own name between 1993 and 2000\, all of them with different focuses\, from a set of standards\, Conversin’ with the Elders in 1995\, to an electric funk record\, Layin’ in the Cut\, to a simultaneously released set in tribute to Django Reinhardt\, Chasin the Gypsy. Three years later\, he honored the legendary Billie Holiday with Gardenias for Lady Day. \n  Moving from Columbia to Warner Bros.\, Carter’s Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge followed in spring 2004. Another live session\, Out of Nowhere\, was released in 2005 on the independent label Half Note. There were also sessions and live dates with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra\, Cyrus Chestnut\, Rodney Whitaker\, Frank Lowe\, the late Julius Hemphill\, pop-jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux\, Ronald Shannon Jackson\, Tough Young Tenors\, and the Charles Mingus Big Band. In 2008\, he released Present Tense on Universal Jazz. Carter followed that up a year later with the live album Heaven on Earth\, featuring a jazz supergroup including\, among others\, organist John Medeski and bassist Christian McBride. \n \n   In 2011\, Carter delivered Caribbean Rhapsody\, his collaboration with classical composer Roberto Sierra featuring the piece “Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra.” Honing his craft to a jaw-dropping technical level\, Carter is the master of a family of saxophones\, flute and clarinet. His is a powerhouse virtuosity likened by composer Roberto Sierra to the great Paganini. It was in fact this astounding instrumental flexibility\, coupled with an eclectic body of recordings that inspired the Spanish maestro to write the celebrated Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra for the 31-year-old. Written expressly for Carter and mixing Jazz\, Latin and classical elements\, the work showcases the multi-instrumentalist’s outstanding technical virtuosity whilst allowing him “the freedom to improvise.” \nThe four-movement piece sees Carter take center stage throughout\, executing swift instrument transitions between Tenor and Soprano and employing a full gamut of musical expression\, from furiously-fast Coltrane like tempo to a quiet ballad.  \nA concert album\, Live from Newport Jazz\, recorded with his organ trio at the long-running festival\, arrived in 2019\, reaching the top 10 of Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart. More eclectic projects followed\, including 2022’s D(IVO)\, the debut album from Carter’s adventurous saxophone quartet with Tim Berne\, Tony Malaby\, and Ivo Perelman. He also joined Perelman for 2022’s Reed Rapture in Brooklyn. The following year\, he showcased his outsized baritone saxophone skills on the solo recording Un (Unaccompanied Baritone Saxophone). \nEarly 2023 brought Carter to the NYC Blue Note as special guest with DJ Logic and with Galactic. His capacious ability to cross boundaries\, mesh genres\, and deliver it all with mindboggling energy\, clarity and that “special something” that brings audiences to their feet clamoring for more.  \n2023 also saw James Carter bring his Quintet to Birdland in the debut presentation of Lookin’ at Lock: The Music of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis\, featuring Satish Robertson on trumpet\, Gerard Gibbs on piano\, Hilliard Greene on bass\, and Kahlil Kwame Bell on drums. Carter brings his Quintet to the Syracuse Jazz Festival on 29 June 2024 and returns to Birdland 13-17 August 2024.  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/james-carter-organ-trio-3/2025-12-20/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_3255-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251221T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251221T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251030T142734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T211858Z
UID:10008486-1766338200-1766345400@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:the James Carter Organ Trio presents: Yule Log of Soul & Swing
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 5:30p & 7:30p for this performance. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.\n\nProgram to include the music of Django Reinhardt\, lots of your favorite standards\, and lots of your favorite Christmas tunesAn effusive\, dynamically gifted jazz saxophonist\, James Carter caused a critical uproar when he appeared on the New York jazz scene\, having moved from his native Detroit in the early ’90s. Carter’s debut recording\, JC on the Set\, issued in Japan when he was only 23 and in the States a year later in 1993\, was universally acclaimed as the finest debut by a saxophonist in decades. He has continued to build upon these early accolades\, exploring the music of Django Reinhardt on 2000’s Chasin’ the Gypsy\, displaying his classical skills on 2011’s Caribbean Rhapsody\, and working with his soulful organ trio on 2019’s Live from Newport Jazz.\n\n  Born in 1969 in Detroit\, Carter began playing at age 11 and studied early on with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. A prodigy\, he progressed quickly and by 1986 at age 17 joined Wynton Marsalis on tour. Two years later\, he became a member of Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy upon relocating to New York. Carter issued no less than six recordings under his own name between 1993 and 2000\, all of them with different focuses\, from a set of standards\, Conversin’ with the Elders in 1995\, to an electric funk record\, Layin’ in the Cut\, to a simultaneously released set in tribute to Django Reinhardt\, Chasin the Gypsy. Three years later\, he honored the legendary Billie Holiday with Gardenias for Lady Day. \n  Moving from Columbia to Warner Bros.\, Carter’s Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge followed in spring 2004. Another live session\, Out of Nowhere\, was released in 2005 on the independent label Half Note. There were also sessions and live dates with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra\, Cyrus Chestnut\, Rodney Whitaker\, Frank Lowe\, the late Julius Hemphill\, pop-jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux\, Ronald Shannon Jackson\, Tough Young Tenors\, and the Charles Mingus Big Band. In 2008\, he released Present Tense on Universal Jazz. Carter followed that up a year later with the live album Heaven on Earth\, featuring a jazz supergroup including\, among others\, organist John Medeski and bassist Christian McBride. \n \n   In 2011\, Carter delivered Caribbean Rhapsody\, his collaboration with classical composer Roberto Sierra featuring the piece “Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra.” Honing his craft to a jaw-dropping technical level\, Carter is the master of a family of saxophones\, flute and clarinet. His is a powerhouse virtuosity likened by composer Roberto Sierra to the great Paganini. It was in fact this astounding instrumental flexibility\, coupled with an eclectic body of recordings that inspired the Spanish maestro to write the celebrated Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra for the 31-year-old. Written expressly for Carter and mixing Jazz\, Latin and classical elements\, the work showcases the multi-instrumentalist’s outstanding technical virtuosity whilst allowing him “the freedom to improvise.” \nThe four-movement piece sees Carter take center stage throughout\, executing swift instrument transitions between Tenor and Soprano and employing a full gamut of musical expression\, from furiously-fast Coltrane like tempo to a quiet ballad.  \nA concert album\, Live from Newport Jazz\, recorded with his organ trio at the long-running festival\, arrived in 2019\, reaching the top 10 of Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart. More eclectic projects followed\, including 2022’s D(IVO)\, the debut album from Carter’s adventurous saxophone quartet with Tim Berne\, Tony Malaby\, and Ivo Perelman. He also joined Perelman for 2022’s Reed Rapture in Brooklyn. The following year\, he showcased his outsized baritone saxophone skills on the solo recording Un (Unaccompanied Baritone Saxophone). \nEarly 2023 brought Carter to the NYC Blue Note as special guest with DJ Logic and with Galactic. His capacious ability to cross boundaries\, mesh genres\, and deliver it all with mindboggling energy\, clarity and that “special something” that brings audiences to their feet clamoring for more.  \n2023 also saw James Carter bring his Quintet to Birdland in the debut presentation of Lookin’ at Lock: The Music of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis\, featuring Satish Robertson on trumpet\, Gerard Gibbs on piano\, Hilliard Greene on bass\, and Kahlil Kwame Bell on drums. Carter brings his Quintet to the Syracuse Jazz Festival on 29 June 2024 and returns to Birdland 13-17 August 2024. \n  \n\n 
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/james-carter-organ-trio/
CATEGORIES:Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_3255-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251222T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251222T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251111T164618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T163832Z
UID:10008500-1766431800-1766439000@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:William Hill III Home for the Holidays
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 6pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nWilliam Hill III is a pianist\, arranger\, composer\, and bandleader from Detroit\, Michigan. Hill is a graduate of the Detroit School of Arts\, and is currently studying at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music undergoing his baccalaureate education. In Hill’s pre-collage years\, he has been a member of the Detroit Symphony’s Civic Youth Jazz program performing in the Creative Jazz Ensemble and the Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Michigan State University Spartan Youth Jazz Program. \nHill has had the opportunity to participate in many summer extensive jazz camps such as Jazz House Kids\, Jr. Jazz Academy at Lincoln Center\, Berklee Summer Programs\, Interlochen Center for the Arts\, Motown Lyric Project\, Keeping an Eye Summer Jazz Workshop located at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam\, and many others. \nHill is honored to receive awards from programs such as the National YoungArts Foundation\, a multi-year winner in the instrumental contemporary category for the\nNAACP ACT-SO National Competition\, and the West Virginia University International Jazz Piano Competition. Musicians that Hill has worked alongside and have been mentored by include Marc Cary\, Aaron Parks\, Buster Williams\, Christian McBride\, Curtis Lundy\, Jaleel Shaw\, Jazzmeia Horn\, Joe Farnsworth\, Ari Hoenig\, Rodney Whitaker\, Wynton Marsalis\,\, and many more. \nHill has had the opportunity to perform at the Detroit International Jazz Festival\, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola\, Smalls Jazz Club\, Minton’s Playhouse\, The Django\, Esplanade-Theaters on the Bay (Singapore)\, Blue Note Tokyo\, and many others to name a few. Hill’s passion in life as a musician is to spread joy to everyone around the world with the music that he produces.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/william-hill-iii-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH3-Headshot-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251223T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251223T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251111T164832Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T163842Z
UID:10008501-1766518200-1766525400@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Joshua Watkins Holiday Celebration
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 6pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nJoin Joshua Watkins for a special show celebrating the release of his debut album\, REDEMPTION. More than just a collection of songs\, REDEMPTION is a powerful soundtrack to life—one that speaks to healing\, growth\, and the pursuit of purpose through every note. It is an honest reflection of struggle\, faith\, and triumph. Don’t miss your blessing. \nJoshua Watkins is a masterful drummer and brilliant artist who hails from the great city of Detroit\, Michigan. Being born into a vast family of musicians\, it was only natural for him to become musically inclined as well. At a young age\, his musical roots started in the church and since then he has grown to be extremely versatile\, not only as a drummer but as a composer\, producer\, and bandleader. His upbringing has allowed him to be very successful in many different musical capacities. He gives thanks to his family\, and all the glory to God for helping him along his journey. \nThe term “Ascension” embodies the journey of elevating oneself to a realm of greater significance\, status\, or achievement. Joshua Watkins and Ascension takes listeners on an evocative exploration of life’s peaks and troughs\, navigating through trials and tribulations\, experiencing the highs and lows. Throughout this captivating journey\, the only trajectory is upwards.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/joshua-watkins-holiday-spectacular/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/j_w_a-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251226T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251226T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251225T011317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251225T011317Z
UID:10008601-1766777400-1766784600@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Houston Patton Quartet presents a tribute to Karim Gideon
DESCRIPTION:SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nSaxophonist Houston Patton is a rising star in Detroit’s Jazz community. Following in the footsteps of his father\, Houston began playing the saxophone at a very young age. Under the mentorship and tutelage of saxophonists such as Harry Patton\, Daryl Beebe\, Jordan Vanhemert\, Wendell Harrison\, and Andrew Bishop\, Houston has explored many genres ranging from gospel to hard bop.  \nPatton started his professional career at the age of 20\, performing with Kevin Jones & Tenth World\, at Grand Rapids jazz club\, GRNoir. This led to many more opportunities as a sideman and bandleader in the Grand Rapids and Detroit music scenes. To this day\, Patton continues to perform with Kevin Jones & Tenth World\, and a host of  Detroit and West Michigan Groups.  \nIn 2023\, Houston spent four months in New York as a student in the “New York Arts Program.” During this time he interned as an assistant to Brandon Ross\, and as an archiver and stage manager at Roulette Intermedium. This time also allowed him to explore the jazz scene\, by playing at countless jam sessions\, which led to gigs with notable musicians such as drummer\, Winard Harper\, and pianist\, JC Hopkins. Houston leads ensembles of varying sizes\, playing at venues\, such as Cliff Bell’s\, Blue Llama\, and GRNoir. He has also performed sets at The Muskegon Shoreline Jazz Festival\, the Lansing Shoreline Jazz Festival\, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe\, Preservation Hall\, Mahogany Jazz Hall\, Minton’s Playhouse\, and a host of other notable venues.  \nIn April 2024\, Patton released his first album as a band leader\, entitled “Here We Are” featuring a quintet of young Detroit jazz musicians named\, “Quintessential”. Patton decided to officially form this group after a series of successful gigs with these specific musicians. After a very special night at Detroit’s Cliff’s Bells\, Quintessential received a standing ovation. There was a clear desire for the group to record their sound\, so in January of 2024 Quintessential decided to have their original compositions recorded by Benjamin Green. Along with Houston on saxophone\, the album features Jauron Perry on trumpet\, Dylan Sherman on bass\, William Hill III on Rhodes\, and Samuel Melkonian on drums.  \nHouston plays on SYOS mouthpieces.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/houston-patton-quartet-presents-a-tribute-to-karim-gideon/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Houston_Patton_BnW.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251227T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251227T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251106T222601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251106T222856Z
UID:10008498-1766863800-1766871000@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Roger Jones & Higher Calling
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nRoger L. Jones II is a native of Flint Mi.  Since 1989 he has worked professionally with various artists in the USA\, Japan\, and Turkey.  Roger discovered his musical abilities when he was a youngster at church.  His gospel background provided a spring board to his passion for playing jazz music.  The church Greater Holy Temple COGIC where his father is pastor\, was like a musical battle ground for young musicians.  Roger cites his non- gospel influences as Miles Davis\, John Coltrane\, Herbie Hancock\, and McCoy Tyner.  After graduating from high school\, Roger attended Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin Ohio.  While attending Oberlin\, Roger’s understanding and musicianship grew exponentially.  Many performance opportunities were afforded\, and his reputation grew.  Since this time\, Roger has performed and “sat in” with various musical icons associated with jazz and other musical styles.  Some of these individuals include Wynton Marsalis\, Joe Henderson\, Wallace Roney\, and JJ Johnson to name a few. \nRoger has developed into a cutting-edge band leader.  His band\, “Roger Jones & Higher Calling” is comprised of phenomenal musicians dedicated to inventing fresh and innovative ways to approach the execution of music.  Mixed with a soulful and modern approach\, the music of this band is innovative\, relevant to the current generation\, and swings ridiculously hard.  There is no doubt that Roger L. Jones II will be heralded as one of the most explosive and innovative pianists of his generation.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/roger-jones-higher-calling-3-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Roger-Jones12_edited.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251228T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251228T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251030T150012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T174138Z
UID:10008492-1766943000-1766950200@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Kasan Belgrave
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 5:30p & 7:30p for this performance. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.\nFeaturing: \n\nBrendon Davis\, piano\nJon Muir-Cotton\, bass\nCaleb Robinson\, drums\n\n\nSaxophonist Kasan Belgrave is a ascending talent newly emerging in the role of a compositional leader. His energetic playing style and improvisational finesse derives from influences of early bebop and jazz\, as well flares of fusion and gospel. His musical prowess has more recently been shown through new innovative compositions. \nThe record “Dual Citizen” is an introductory reflection of Kasan’s own consciousness through experience of musical nurturing & professional practice from the Detroit jazz mentorship empire\, led by his father\, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. It provides a glimpse of Kasan’s endless curiousness of sonic ingenuity. \nIn the formative years of his career\, that same mentorship was present in the musical institutions\, as he studied with Andrew Bishop\, Benny Green\, and Robert Hurst at the University of Michigan then held an assistantship under the direction of Diego Rivera and Rodney Whitaker at Michigan State University. \nKasan has toured as a multi-woodwind instrumentalist with Jazz @ Lincoln Center w/ Wynton Marsalis\, performed in multiple residencies curated by Terri Lynn Carrington\, performed with Karriem Riggins\, and Etienne Charles. The 27-year-old multi-woodwind instrumentalist has also made rounds performing in every corner of the Detroit music scene\, immersing himself in Latin\, R&B\, and techno. \nBelgrave is just one of many who was nurtured in the realm. The lineup for “Dual Citizen” might be the most outright product of that very circle of mentorship. Bassist Jonathan Muir-Cotton\, finishing his degree at MSU\, is currently rotating in Christian Sands Trio; Louis Jones aka “WavyLou”\, a gun-slinging drummer who has the likes of the Haynes’ and Roach’s\, recently hit with ELEW and Johnny O’Neal in Detroit; Brendon Davis\, a virtuosic voice on piano shortly studying with the great Chick Corea\, is established in composition and arranging of the gospel scene ; the enigmatic Allen Dennard has a trailblazing trumpet sound\, recently sharing stages with Dwele and Mike Phillips; and Michael Abbo\, the genial menace on both trombone and bass\, recently played with Johnny Oneal and Dafnis Prieto. The close fellowship of this group is a sentiment to the power of their sound as the Kasan Belgrave Sextet.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/kasan-belgrave/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/kasan2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251229T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251229T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251111T162935Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T164951Z
UID:10008499-1767036600-1767043800@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:William Hill 111
DESCRIPTION:SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 6pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nWilliam Hill III is a pianist\, arranger\, composer\, and bandleader from Detroit\, Michigan. Hill is a graduate of the Detroit School of Arts\, and is currently studying at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music undergoing his baccalaureate education. In Hill’s pre-collage years\, he has been a member of the Detroit Symphony’s Civic Youth Jazz program performing in the Creative Jazz Ensembe and the Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Michigian State Univeristy Spartan Youth Jazz Program. \nHill has had the opportunity to participate in many summer extensive jazz camps such as Jazz House Kids\, Jr. Jazz Academy at Lincoln Center\, Berklee Summer Programs\, Interlochen Center for the Arts\, Motown Lyric Project\, Keeping an Eye Summer Jazz Workshop located at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam\, and many others. \nHill is honored to receive awards from programs such as the National YoungArts Foundation\, a multi-year winner in the instrumental contemporary category for the NAACP ACT-SO National Competition\, and the West Virginia Univeristy International Jazz Piano Competition. Musicians that Hill has worked alongside and have been mentored by include Marion Hayden\, Ralphe Armstrong\, Wendell Harrison\, Joe Farnsworth\, Marc Cary\, Aaron Parks\, Ari Hoenig\, Wynton Marsalis\, Buster Williams\, Christian McBride and many more. \nHill has had the opportunity to perform at the Detroit International Jazz Festival\, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge\, Cliff Bells\, Blue Llama Jazz Club\, Montclair Jazz Festival\, Smalls Jazz Club\, The Django\, and many others to name a few. Hill’s passion in life as a musician is to spread joy to everyone around the world with the music that he produces.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/the-william-hill-111-trio-3/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH3-Headshot-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251230T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251230T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20240318T194417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T163950Z
UID:10004748-1767123000-1767130200@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Smoke Jones
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 6pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nHailing from the heart of Detroit\, Smoke Jones emerges as a luminary figure in the city’s rich musical landscape. An emotive guitarist\, award-winning band leader\, and soulful crooner\, Smoke weaves together elements of jazz\, blues\, and soul to create an enchanting musical tapestry that resonates deeply with audiences. \nIn January 2024\, Smoke marked a milestone in his musical journey with the release of his debut single\, “I’ll Be Good To You”\, a soulful collaboration co-written by the legendary Billy Davis. This track showcases Smoke’s velvety vocals and masterful guitar work of Billy Davis and Josh Ford\, setting the stage for what promises to be an illustrious career. \nSmoke’s musical prowess extends beyond the studio\, as evidenced by his notable collaborations and accolades. His soul-stirring performance on the 2022 Detroit Music Award-winning Outstanding Blues Recording\, “Sooner Come Later”\, alongside the esteemed Bobby Murray\, pays homage to the rich legacy of jazz and blues. Notably\, Smoke’s contribution to “Some Better Days”\, penned by the acclaimed Jeff Scott\, garnered a nomination for Outstanding Americana Recording at the Detroit Music Awards. \nA true virtuoso\, Smoke embodies the spirit of Nat King Cole in Sky Covington’s esteemed Take 5: All Male Jazz Revue\, captivating audiences with his evocative interpretations and magnetic stage presence. His appearances on television and radio\, including a memorable performance on the 2022 Ford Fireworks Show on WDIV alongside friend and vocalist Laura Rain\, have solidified his status as a beloved musical force. \nThe Smoke Jones Band’s distinction as the Best Jazz/Blues Band in WDIV’s “Vote 4 The Best” Contest in 2021 serves as a testament to their unparalleled artistry and enduring appeal. From prestigious venues to bustling festivals\, Smoke’s magnetic performances continue to captivate audiences across Detroit and beyond. \nAs anticipation builds for his latest EP\, “Say Less”\, Smoke prepares to unveil his latest sonic masterpiece at Cliff Bell’s in Detroit on May 4\, 2024. With each soulful melody and heartfelt lyric\, Smoke Jones reaffirms his rightful place as Detroit’s premier purveyor of soulful rhythms and timeless melodies.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/smoke-jones/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/i-D6NJKJC-X4.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251231T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260101T000000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251023T140840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T140840Z
UID:10008480-1767209400-1767225600@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:New Year's Eve Celebration featuring Drey Skonie and the kLOUDS
DESCRIPTION:Doors open at 6pm. Showtimes are at 7:30p\, 10:30p. We also will have a countdown at midnight to ring in the New Year with a 3rd set of music.\nDrey Skonie and The kLOUDs Band a.k.a. “Skonie and The kLOUDs” emphasis on the loud. Hailing from the motor city\, Detroit\, MI. Skonie and The kLOUDs are retro style band\, with a new flare. They call themselves the new\, old school. \nIn the past few years\, The kLOUDs Band has been shaking up the Detroit Music Scene making the industry take notice.  In 2023 Drey Skonie lead singer of the band won “Artist Of The Year” at Motown Museum’s Hitsville Next Amplify Sound Of Detroit singing competition. Then only a month later Skonie and The kLOUDS were also crowned winners of Masterpiece Sound Studios’ Cover Song Contest in honor of the late\, legendary Motown songwriter and producer Sylvia Moy with their captivating rendition of Moy’s classic Stevie Wonder Motown hit\, “I Was Made To Love Her”. During the competition\, Drey met Jackie Wilson’s daughter Brenda Wilson\, who was a judge for the competition. Brenda then knew from Drey’s showmanship\, that she wanted Drey to play her Dad. Fast forward Drey now plays Jackie Wilson in a TV series entitled “Higher And Higher” coming soon. \nThe latest album “Rolling Skone” is available on iTunes\, Spotify\, Amazon\, and more.  They have appeared on stages from The D to Los Angeles rocking crowds with a multifaceted soul\, funk\, RnB\, and techno sound. \nCurrently “Skonie and The kLOUDs” are recording live in the studio. You can also hear new material and watch performances of the band on YouTube\, as well as Instagram @dreyskonie and @thekloudsband.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/new-years-eve-celebration-featuring-drey-skonie-and-the-klouds/
CATEGORIES:Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CAM25923.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260102T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260102T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251106T154839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T183123Z
UID:10007246-1767382200-1767389400@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Trunino Lowe Quintet featuring Rodney Whitaker
DESCRIPTION:SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nFeaturing:\n\nTrunino Lowe – Trumpet/ Band Leader \nRodney Whitaker – Bass \nIan Finklestein – Piano \nLouis Jones III – Drums \nJeffrey Trent – Saxophone \n\n\n\n\n\nTrunino has performed with some of the finest musicians the world has to offer. He’s played with the likes of Marion Hayden\, Wendell Harrison\, Marcus Elliot\, Rodney Whitaker\, Ralphe Armstrong\, Pamela Wise\, Kris Johnson\, Dee Dee Bridgewater\, Terri Lynn Carrington\, Jazzmeia Horn ( playing on her upcoming release )\, Karriem Riggins\, Endea Owens\, Russell Hall\, Sean Jones\, Stefon Harris\, Carl Allen\, Charles Tolliver\, Willerm Delisfort\, & others. A JAS Academy student in 2021\, A member of the Paradise Big Band led by Kris Johnson and He’s performed on some very prestigious stages such as\, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (NYC)\, Jazz Showcase (CHI)\, Detroit Jazz Festival\, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (DET). He’s Also performed internationally in France\, Germany\, and Denmark. Trunino believes that music has the ability to enhance our lives and guide us to different levels of consciousness\, ultimately improving human interactions on personal\, social\, and cultural levels globally. \n\n\n\n \n\nInternationally renowned bassist and Origin Records recording artist\, Rodney Whitaker\, currently holds the titles of Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree programs and performing faculty in the world. He is considered one of the leading performers and teachers of the jazz double bass in the United States. He is also the Artistic Director of the Michigan State University Professors of Jazz\, former Artistic Advisor of Jazz @ Wharton Center\, Director of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra and a former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whitaker received his first national recognition performing with the Harrison/Blanchard Quintet. \nRodney is one of the hardest working and swinging bass players on the scene and has recorded with great musicians such as Roy Hargrove\, Pat Metheny and Wynton Marsalis. Featured on more than 100+ recordings — from film to compact discs — Whitaker’s film scores\, China\, directed by Jeff Wray\, was released on PBS Fall 2002 and Malaria and Malawi\, released on PBS Fall 2010. Also\, Whitaker has a DVD release featuring Michigan State University’s Jazz Department entitled\, “Inside Jazz”. In 2011\, he was nominated for an EMMY for the ‘Original Music’ category\, “Malawi and Malaria: Fighting to Save the Children” produced by Robert Gould and Sue Carter. \nA proven and committed jazz educator\, Whitaker has presented numerous master classes across the nation at locations such as Duke University\, Howard University\, University of Iowa\, University of Michigan\, Barbican in London\, the New School (NY)\, Lincoln Center\, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival. In addition\, he is a consultant with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the development of the jazz education department\, and has served on the faculties of University of Michigan and Julliard Institute of Jazz.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/trunino-lowe-quintet-featuring-marion-hayden-2/2026-01-02/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nino-rod.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260103T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260103T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251106T154839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T183123Z
UID:10008495-1767468600-1767475800@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Trunino Lowe Quintet featuring Rodney Whitaker
DESCRIPTION:SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nFeaturing:\n\nTrunino Lowe – Trumpet/ Band Leader \nRodney Whitaker – Bass \nIan Finklestein – Piano \nLouis Jones III – Drums \nJeffrey Trent – Saxophone \n\n\n\n\n\nTrunino has performed with some of the finest musicians the world has to offer. He’s played with the likes of Marion Hayden\, Wendell Harrison\, Marcus Elliot\, Rodney Whitaker\, Ralphe Armstrong\, Pamela Wise\, Kris Johnson\, Dee Dee Bridgewater\, Terri Lynn Carrington\, Jazzmeia Horn ( playing on her upcoming release )\, Karriem Riggins\, Endea Owens\, Russell Hall\, Sean Jones\, Stefon Harris\, Carl Allen\, Charles Tolliver\, Willerm Delisfort\, & others. A JAS Academy student in 2021\, A member of the Paradise Big Band led by Kris Johnson and He’s performed on some very prestigious stages such as\, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (NYC)\, Jazz Showcase (CHI)\, Detroit Jazz Festival\, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (DET). He’s Also performed internationally in France\, Germany\, and Denmark. Trunino believes that music has the ability to enhance our lives and guide us to different levels of consciousness\, ultimately improving human interactions on personal\, social\, and cultural levels globally. \n\n\n\n \n\nInternationally renowned bassist and Origin Records recording artist\, Rodney Whitaker\, currently holds the titles of Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree programs and performing faculty in the world. He is considered one of the leading performers and teachers of the jazz double bass in the United States. He is also the Artistic Director of the Michigan State University Professors of Jazz\, former Artistic Advisor of Jazz @ Wharton Center\, Director of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra and a former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whitaker received his first national recognition performing with the Harrison/Blanchard Quintet. \nRodney is one of the hardest working and swinging bass players on the scene and has recorded with great musicians such as Roy Hargrove\, Pat Metheny and Wynton Marsalis. Featured on more than 100+ recordings — from film to compact discs — Whitaker’s film scores\, China\, directed by Jeff Wray\, was released on PBS Fall 2002 and Malaria and Malawi\, released on PBS Fall 2010. Also\, Whitaker has a DVD release featuring Michigan State University’s Jazz Department entitled\, “Inside Jazz”. In 2011\, he was nominated for an EMMY for the ‘Original Music’ category\, “Malawi and Malaria: Fighting to Save the Children” produced by Robert Gould and Sue Carter. \nA proven and committed jazz educator\, Whitaker has presented numerous master classes across the nation at locations such as Duke University\, Howard University\, University of Iowa\, University of Michigan\, Barbican in London\, the New School (NY)\, Lincoln Center\, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival. In addition\, he is a consultant with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the development of the jazz education department\, and has served on the faculties of University of Michigan and Julliard Institute of Jazz.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/trunino-lowe-quintet-featuring-marion-hayden-2/2026-01-03/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nino-rod.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260104T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260104T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20251106T154731Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T183046Z
UID:10008494-1767547800-1767555000@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Trunino Lowe Quintet featuring Rodney Whitaker
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 5:30p & 7:30p for this performance. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm\nFeaturing:\n\nTrunino Lowe – Trumpet/ Band Leader \nRodney Whitaker – Bass \nIan Finklestein – Piano \nLouis Jones III – Drums \nJeffrey Trent – Saxophone \n\n\n\n\n\nTrunino has performed with some of the finest musicians the world has to offer. He’s played with the likes of Marion Hayden\, Wendell Harrison\, Marcus Elliot\, Rodney Whitaker\, Ralphe Armstrong\, Pamela Wise\, Kris Johnson\, Dee Dee Bridgewater\, Terri Lynn Carrington\, Jazzmeia Horn ( playing on her upcoming release )\, Karriem Riggins\, Endea Owens\, Russell Hall\, Sean Jones\, Stefon Harris\, Carl Allen\, Charles Tolliver\, Willerm Delisfort\, & others. A JAS Academy student in 2021\, A member of the Paradise Big Band led by Kris Johnson and He’s performed on some very prestigious stages such as\, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (NYC)\, Jazz Showcase (CHI)\, Detroit Jazz Festival\, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (DET). He’s Also performed internationally in France\, Germany\, and Denmark. Trunino believes that music has the ability to enhance our lives and guide us to different levels of consciousness\, ultimately improving human interactions on personal\, social\, and cultural levels globally. \n\n\n\n \n\nInternationally renowned bassist and Origin Records recording artist\, Rodney Whitaker\, currently holds the titles of Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree programs and performing faculty in the world. He is considered one of the leading performers and teachers of the jazz double bass in the United States. He is also the Artistic Director of the Michigan State University Professors of Jazz\, former Artistic Advisor of Jazz @ Wharton Center\, Director of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra and a former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whitaker received his first national recognition performing with the Harrison/Blanchard Quintet. \nRodney is one of the hardest working and swinging bass players on the scene and has recorded with great musicians such as Roy Hargrove\, Pat Metheny and Wynton Marsalis. Featured on more than 100+ recordings — from film to compact discs — Whitaker’s film scores\, China\, directed by Jeff Wray\, was released on PBS Fall 2002 and Malaria and Malawi\, released on PBS Fall 2010. Also\, Whitaker has a DVD release featuring Michigan State University’s Jazz Department entitled\, “Inside Jazz”. In 2011\, he was nominated for an EMMY for the ‘Original Music’ category\, “Malawi and Malaria: Fighting to Save the Children” produced by Robert Gould and Sue Carter. \nA proven and committed jazz educator\, Whitaker has presented numerous master classes across the nation at locations such as Duke University\, Howard University\, University of Iowa\, University of Michigan\, Barbican in London\, the New School (NY)\, Lincoln Center\, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival. In addition\, he is a consultant with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the development of the jazz education department\, and has served on the faculties of University of Michigan and Julliard Institute of Jazz.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/trunino-lowe-quintet-featuring-marion-hayden/
CATEGORIES:Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/nino-rod.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260107T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260107T190000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042006
CREATED:20241122T161905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251008T131628Z
UID:10008462-1767812400-1767812400@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:the Swing Syndicate Jazz Lab
DESCRIPTION:Schedule of performances\n\n7:00 – 7:45  high school jazz band performance\n8:15 – 9:15  Swing Syndicate Big Band performance\n9:30 – 10:00  Jam session hosted by the Swing Syndicate\n\nSwing Syndicate is a 16 piece Big Band formed by Travis Cook and Mike Wiese.  Both seasoned veterans of the Metro-Detroit jazz scene\, Cook and Wiese wanted to play in a band that performed with power and style to make an indelible impression on the Detroit jazz scene.  The resulting group is a hard-hitting combination of Metro-Detroit’s finest talent performing traditional Big Band Jazz at it’s finest. \nIn coordination with Cliff Bell’s commitment to Jazz mentorship the Swing Syndicate will be featuring a different High School Jazz Band to perform with them every month.  All performances will be followed by a open Jam Session. If you’re a local band director and would be interested in having your High School Band perform at Cliff Bell’s please reach out to Phil@cliffbells.com. \n \n 
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/the-swing-syndicate/2026-01-07/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/School-Nights.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260108T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260108T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042007
CREATED:20160915T223118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251122T151648Z
UID:10000268-1767900600-1767907800@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:Alise King
DESCRIPTION:SHOWTIMES ARE AT 7:30PM & 9:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\n\n\nAlise King is a multi award winning R&B Soul Artist who has opened for the likes of Chaka Khan\, Aretha Franklin\, George Clinton\, Monica\, Kelly Price\, Musiq Soulchild\, Bobby Brown\, Dej Loaf\, Rickey Smiley\, Cece Peniston\, Todrick Hall\, DruHill\, 702\, NEXT\, Brownstone\, Cynthia Erivo\, Shanice\, Christopher Williams\, Adina Howard\, Michel le\, Glen Jones\, Chant’e Moore & Tinashe just to name a few. Alise has traveled touring & performing around the world… She has graced stages in North Carolina\, Washington\, D.C.\, Oregon\, Minnesota\, Indiana\, Tennessee\, New York\, California\, Boston\, Atlanta\, Ohio\, Pennsylvania\, Maryland and more! Ms. King is more than just a powerhouse vocalist with empeccable stage presence! She is a creative with a purpose and a passion for people!  She is the true the embodiment of SOUL! Alise continues to use her gift of song to bring the ultimate entertainment experience\, spread love\, positivity and peace to people across the world! Alise King is the definition of a D.I.V.A … a Divine Instrument Vocalizing her Ability! Alise was awarded The Spirit of Detroit Award by The Entire Detroit City Council for being a trailblazer and leaving such a stellar imprint for others to follow by using her musical talents to give back to her hometown!\n 
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/alise-king/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/unnamed-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260109T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260109T213000
DTSTAMP:20260404T042007
CREATED:20251112T154708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T163957Z
UID:10008502-1767987000-1767994200@cliffbells.com
SUMMARY:The Detroit Jazz Project
DESCRIPTION:Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.\nThe Detroit Jazz Project is the creation of Mark Hershberger who began studying Jazz and playing in the  University AFRAM Big learning from greats including Marcus Belgrave\, Sam Sanders\, Jimmy Allen\, Doc Holiday\, and Ed Pickens.  The big band hosted special guest legends such as the Jones brothers. He later studied Jazz and Classical Music and played in the Jazz and Concert Bands at Eastern Michigan University. During and after attending The University of Michigan\,   Mark led and played in multiple Jazz groups in Ann Arbor and Detroit.  Mark began playing professionally as a solo artist and in small latin jazz groups and then formed a music publishing company in 1980.  He performed in Motown with STAX greats such as “Sam and Dave” and Cecil Womack. \nIn his early twenties he began in Ann Arbor playing Jazz clubs such as Del Rio\, Jazz West\, Delta Lady\, The Ark\, and The Ann Arbor Art Fair. Through the years of performing and recording he expanded his \nreach and performed at historic Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit and The Flint Jazz Festival as well as the legendary Bert’s Place and The Detroit International Jazz Festival.  He also performed venues in Ann Arbor and in London. Mark has worked with artists such as Gayleynn McKinny\, Ibrahim Jones\, Jerry LeDuff\, Badal Roy\, Martha Reeves\, George Clinton\, Marion Hayden\, Michael Colone and Muruga Booker.to name a few.  He has earned a Detroit Music Award for “Outstanding World Recording Group” with artist Muruga Booker as well as “Outstanding Modern Jazz Group” with The Detroit Jazz Project.
URL:https://cliffbells.com/event/the-detroit-jazz-project-2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cliffbells.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/R6__1741-S.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR