Wayne State Faculty Concert & Session
2026-07-29 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Detroit)
Make a Reservation
Performances are at 7:30p & 9:30p. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6p for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9p.
Musicians pay no cover when they bring their instrument.
In its 17th year, J.C. Heard JazzWeek@Wayne will once again give high school students a unique, intensive and rewarding jazz education experience through its one-week workshop at Wayne State University. Through the support of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation, Wayne State University Department of Music and the J.C. Heard legacy, approximately 40 high school students selected from competitive auditions will participate in the tuition-free program. New Orleans luminary, Shannon Powell, will serve as a guest Educator-in-Residence, teaching students traditional New Orleans jazz and second-line styles, repertoire and history.
Wayne State University Jazz Faculty: Detroit Jazz Profs featuring Chris Collins (Woodwinds), Vincent Chandler (Trombone), Russ Miller (Woodwinds), Chuck Newsome (Guitar), Paul Keller (Bass) and David Taylor (Drums). The feature set kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Cover charge is $25. Reservations recommended.
Open Jam Session: Kicks off at 9:30 p.m. Students and musicians pay no cover when they bring their instruments.
Special LIVE Community JazzWeek Events at Cliff Bell’s Jazz Club

Olivia Van Goor
2026-07-30 19:30 - 21:30
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Performances are at 7:30p & 9:30p. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6p for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9p.
Olivia Van Goor’s love of jazz music led her to Southeast Michigan where she blossomed into a one-of-a kind performer. Her voice is clearly influenced by the greats like Sarah Vaughan, Anita O’Day, and Mel Tormé. She walks a fine line between preserving the essence of jazz and infusing it with her personal artistry. Olivia takes command of every stage because of the trusting relationships she has built with instrumentalists far and wide. Her long list of collaborators include accomplished musicians such as pianist Scott Gwinnell, bassist Paul Keller, and guitarist Randy Napoleon. She has independently produced many recordings including an arrangement of Burt Bacharach’s “Close To You” that has recently reached 20K views on Youtube.

Allen Theory
2026-07-31 19:30 - 21:30
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Performances are at 7:30p & 9:30p. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6p for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9p.
AllenTheory is the musical partnership of husband and wife duo Brian and Shamara Allen — a sound rooted in faith, love, and divine timing, born from a shared calling that began long before they officially met.
Since forming, AllenTheory has brought their music to stages across Michigan, including Dabney & Co. (Kalamazoo), Dreamstone Studios (Grand Rapids), and Cliff Bell’s (Detroit). Their debut single, “I Love You,” released June 21st, previews their upcoming album dropping this September, featuring fan favorites like “Be Mine,” “Phases,” and “Forever.” Through every song, AllenTheory invites listeners into a story of purpose, partnership, and praise — where love and faith are not only expressed, but heard.

Ambassadors Big Band under the Direction of Mike Letovsky
2026-08-01 19:30 - 21:30
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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.
Since 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!

Re'Monda
2026-08-02 17:30 - 19:30
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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.
Elegant, smooth, rich and soulful are words often used to describe renowned vocalist Re’Monda. At a young age, the native Detroiter began her musical journey under the tutelage of Motown’s legend; Earl Van Dyke. Re’Monda is a product of rich musical heritage gained by studying and sharing the stage with some of the best musical talents both in the US and abroad including Randy Scott, John E. Lawerence, Ralph Armstrong, Alexander Zonjic and Rayse Biggs.
Influenced by vibrant female musical legends such as Aretha Franklin, Phyllis Hyman, Anita Baker, Gladys Knight, Sarah Vaughn, and Nancy Wilson; her seemingly effortless and sultry sound, embodies the combined musical genres of jazz, Neo soul, blues and gospel. As a featured soloist, Re’Monda has traveled the country winning numerous awards and garnering a loyal fanbase; often dominating the stage with renditions of “Ain’t No Way,” “Glad There Is You,” “Been So Long,” “The Nearness Of You” and “Neither One of Us.”
Born to perform and known for her characteristically warm and sensual vocals, Re’Monda has proven herself to be a consummate entertainer and crowd pleaser. Her most recent headlining performances include The FAR Therapeutic Arts and Recreation Sing Out for Kids Fundraiser, An Evening of Conversation, Friendship, and Song Benefit Concert, The University of Michigan’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration Symposium and The West Bloomfield’s Library Summer Concert Series.
With recent SOLDOUT performances in Ann Arbor’s Blue Llama Jazz Club, Re’Monda has become a French favorite, playing to well received and SOLDOUT audiences in Paris France at the Aux Troi’s Mailletz, and the Le Chat Noir. Having captivated audiences in Paris, Re’Monda has found an even more appreciative fan base in London England with upcoming 2025 Spring, Summer and Fall shows. Known for her characteristically rich and dynamic vocal abilities, Re’Monda consistently delivers show stopping performances once led by talented songstress of today and the days of yesteryears.

Hayden Cusmano Trio and Session
2026-08-05 19:30 - 21:30
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Performances are at 7:30 pm& 9:30 pm. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
Hayden Cusmano is a Detroit based jazz guitarist, bandleader, and composer. An active presence in the Metro Detroit music scene, Cusmano has performed at notable venues including Dirty Dog Jazz Café, Cliff Bell’s, Aretha’s Jazz Café, and the Detroit Jazz Festival. Whether leading or accompanying, he brings a dynamic and responsive energy to every performance. He studied at Wayne State University under guitarist Chuck Newsome, where he had the opportunity to learn from respected Detroit artists such as Paul Keller, Vincent Chandler, and Scott Gwinnell, as well as internationally acclaimed musicians including Brian Blade, Karriem Riggins, and Jason Moran. These experiences helped shape his musical voice and broaden his artistic perspective. Deeply influenced by the jazz guitar tradition, Cusmano draws inspiration from legends such as Wes Montgomery, John Scofield, and George Benson. Their impact can be heard in his phrasing, harmonic approach, and stylistic versatility. His musicianship has been recognized at the national level, earning Outstanding Soloist honors at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s Essentially Ellington Festival (2017), the Savannah Jazz Festival (2019), and Middle Tennessee State University’s Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival (2024). Cusmano leads his own trio, as well as a jazz fusion quartet named DICHI along with saxophonist Colin McCahill. He holds a weekly residency at The Ebenezer in Downtown Plymouth, where he continues to develop his sound and connect with audiences in an intimate setting.

Erinn Alexis' Huron Collective
2026-08-06 19:30 - 21:30
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Performances are at 7:30 pm& 9:30 pm. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
The Huron Collective Personnel:

Caleb Robinson – Drums
Ingrid Racine – Trumpet
Michael Abbo – Bass
Barry Chambliss II – Piano
Erinn Alexis – Saxophones

Erinn Alexis is a saxophonist, composer, educator, and bandleader hailing from Detroit, MI. A graduate of Wayne State University with a degree in Jazz Performance, Erinn’s musical background is heavily steeped in the traditions of Detroit music. She grew up honing her skills by playing saxophone in church and continued to grow throughout her journey under such mentors as Wendell Harisson, Marcus Belgrave, and Ralphe Armstrong.
Erinn Alexis brings a soulful musicality to every performance, drawing from the traditions of gospel and jazz while infusing her own modern voice. Erinn performs regularly with her quartet, delivering engaging sets that resonate with the audiences at local venues such as The Congregation Detroit, Moondog Cafe, and Miss Eva’s. Erinn is an in-demand performer, sharing the stage at numerous high-profile venues, including The Blue Llama, the historic Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, the Carr Center, Arts Beats And Eats Festival, Aretha’s Jazz Cafe in the Music Hall and Orchestra Hall, to name just a few. She is a member of several ensembles including the Dr. Prof. Leonard King Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater Big Band, Jessica Care Moore’s Black Women Rock and the Ferndale Community Concert Band. Beyond the stage, Erinn is committed to music education and community engagement. She teaches private lessons and conducts masterclasses and clinics for middle and high school students throughout the Detroit area, fostering the next generation of musicians and helping young players develop their skills, confidence, and creativity.
Erinn continues to grow her artistic reach through performance, collaboration, and mentorship—dedicated to both preserving and evolving the jazz tradition.

Chris Codish Trio
2026-08-07 19:30 - 21:30
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Performances are at 7:30 pm& 9:30 pm. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
Chris Codish is one of the most sought-after musicians working in Metro Detroit today, playing piano, organ, keyboards, and synth.
His exciting mix of jazz, funk, and blues, layered with his unique voice captivates any crowd. It’s his unique ability entertain his audience while maintaining his artistic point of view that sets Chris apart.
He has been playing professionally for over 30 years, and has won over 40 Detroit Music Awards in the process. Chris honed his skills by touring internationally with some of the world’s top jazz and blues artists, including Hiram Bullock, Alexander Zonjic, Harvey Mason, Roy Ayers, The Blues Brothers, Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Bassett, Larry McCray among countless others.
Chris is an in-demand session musician as well, having recorded over 80 commercial releases, and dozens of independent albums as well. He produced the “Gentleman of the Blues” Johnnie Bassett’s final two albums for Mack Ave. Records/Sly Dog Records: The Gentleman is Back, and I Can Make That Happen. Chris has also provided keyboard for some of Detroit best artists including Carl Craig, Don Was, Sponge, Alexander Zonjic, Ben Sharkey, Laith Al-Saddi, Thornetta Davis, Johnnie Bassett, Larry McCray, and many many others as well as providing entertainment for corporate clients like Mercedes Benz, AISIN, Henry Ford House, The Detroit Medical Center, and the DAC.
He performs solo and with his eponymously named trio at and weekly house gigs at two of Metro Detroit’s finest restaurants; the famed London Chop House downtown, and Eddie V’s in Troy. He has also played Hammond organ every Sunday at Godland Unity Church in Detroit since 1997.

Tariq Gardner's Evening Star
2026-08-08 19:30 - 21:30
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Performances are at 7:30 pm& 9:30 pm. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
Evening Star is a Space Odyssey led by Detroit Drummer and 2018 U of M SMTD graduate Tariq Gardner. The group has its roots in Detroit’s expansive musical tradition blending the city’s rich Jazz legacy. With its history of musicians being largely malleable to fit into a wide array of musical styles traveling to the different galaxies of music of the African Diaspora (jazz, neo-soul, Afro-Cuban, Traditional American Gospel, hip-hop etc.). Evening Star brings listeners light years into the cosmos while staying true to the roots of the Motherland.

the Hughes/Smith Quintet
2026-08-09 17:30 - 19:30
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Showtimes are at 5:30p & 7:30p. Doors open at 4:30pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.
“…inspired by the grand Motor City jazz scene of the 1950s and early ’60s, these players update and extend that tradition with excellent writing, arranging, and playing for the 21st century.”
–Thom Jurek, allmusic.com
The Hughes/Smith Quintet is a powerhouse modern jazz ensemble that bridges the legendary hard-bop legacy of Detroit with a sharp, contemporary edge. Co-led by two of the Motor City’s most versatile musicians—saxophonist James Hughes and trumpeter/arranger Jimmy Smith—the band has been a defining fixture of the Midwestern jazz landscape since forming in 2012.
Acclaimed Sounds & Evolution Rooted in the driving rhythms and deep grooves of the 1970s Blue Note era, the quintet’s catalog maps over a decade of compositional evolution.
The quintet’s front line is backed by a rhythm section composed of longtime Detroit anchors:
• James Hughes (Saxophones): One of Detroit’s most original voices, Hughes is a first-call freelance saxophonist and a founding member of The Woodward Horns. He holds a Masters of Music from Wayne State University and has worked with notable artists such as Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, and jazz legends like Jimmy Heath and Arturo Sandoval.
• Jimmy Smith (Trumpet): Among the most sought-after musicians in the Midwest, Smith is an original voice rooted in the hard-bop tradition and a founding member of The Woodward Horns. He holds a Masters degree in jazz performance from The Aaron Copland School of Music and is a first- call freelancer who has shared the stage with artists ranging from The Temptations to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
• Phil Kelly (Piano/Fender Rhodes): A soulful mainstay and longtime Detroit staple who layers the band’s tracks with vintage textures.
• Takashi Iio (Bass): Provides the warm, driving foundation; a Detroit Music Award nominee for Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist.
• Nate Winn (Drums): Drives the ensemble with an “eternal groove” and explosive, interactive rhythm work.
Acclaimed Sounds & Evolution
Rooted in the driving rhythms and deep grooves of the 1970s Blue Note era, the quintet’s catalog maps over a decade of compositional evolution. Their studio releases have consistently earned national attention:
• From Here On Out (2013): The band’s debut studio album, establishing their signature blend of straight-ahead swing and tight horn
arrangements.
• Ever Up & Onward (2015): A breakthrough sophomore effort chosen as one of AllMusic’s “Favorite Jazz Albums” of 2015. The record yielded Detroit Music Award nominations for Outstanding Jazz Recording and Outstanding Traditional Jazz Artist/Group.
• Motion (2018): A fiery collection of all-original tunes that reached #1 on the Roots Music Report’s weekly Top 50 Jazz Album Chart. All About Jazz praised the record as a “prodigious composition” delivered with “verve by an outstanding group of musicians”.
• The Gates (2019): Recorded under the collaborative banner of the Yao/Smith/Hughes Sextet, this project blends modern concepts with classic Detroit grit. In a glowing review for JazzTimes, critic Dan Bilawsky celebrated the release as “a well-wrought affair” and “a thing of beauty”.
Performance & Community Residency
The quintet has maintained a prominent presence on both local and international stages. A cornerstone of their legacy was a four-year residency hosting the “Lotus Jam” at the Black Lotus in Clawson, which served as a vital hub for the Detroit jazz scene. The ensemble’s reach extends through regional and international performances, including featured spots at the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Michigan Jazz Festival. Additionally, they can be found swinging regularly at legendary jazz clubs like Cliff Bell’s, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, and Motor City Wine.

Houston Patton Quartet and Session
2026-08-12 19:30 - 21:30
Make a Reservation
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.
Musicians pay no cover when they bring their instrument.
Saxophonist 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.
Patton 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.
In 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.
In 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.
Houston plays on SYOS mouthpieces.

Michael Malis Quintet
2026-08-13 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-08-14 19:30 - 21:30
Make a Reservation
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.
Michael Malis is a composer, pianist, and music educator based in Detroit MI. A multi-faceted musical artist, he performs as a jazz musician, composes for the concert stage, and contributes to multidisciplinary collaborations.
2020 saw a proliferation of Malis’ work as a solo artist. In July of 2020, Malis released Dualisms, a multimedia project containing recordings, videos, and an accompanying 16 page zine of writings, artwork, and ephemera. Consisting of brand new original compositions, Dualisms features performances by Malis in duet with saxophonist Kaleigh Wilder, percussionist Thom Monks, and vocalist Denzel Donald, and features artwork by Zara Teicher. Each of the works presented in Dualisms were premiered at New Music Detroit’s 12th annual Strange Beautiful Music Festival in September 2019. All About Jazz praised Dualisms as “an extraordinary multimedia project which illustrates some of the remarkable ways artists in the age of COVID-19 found new approaches to displaying their craft and connecting with their audience.”
His March 2020 release, Three Pieces for Piano, was praised by the Southeast Michigan Jazz Association as “thrilling music, with shifting harmonic and rhythmic qualities that require prodigious precise technique and the kind of generic versatility that few pianists achieve.”
As a composer, Malis has been commissioned by Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Chamber Music Society of Detroit, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Detroit Composers’ Project, Virago, Hole in the Floor, and others. His piece Five Stations, premiered in May 2019, featured Malis and saxophonist Marcus Elliot alongside a string quartet of musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His string quartet, Emerge, was premiered at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 2018. His piece for piano and cello, Coda, was premiered by Detroit Symphony Orchestra principle cellist Wei Yu in 2018.
In April 2019, Malis and Elliot, who join forces under the duo known as “Balance,” undertook a collaborative performance piece with former Detroit poet laureate Bill Harris. The piece, which featured drummer Gerald Cleaver, set Harris’ collection of short stories I Got to Keep Moving. According to AllAboutJazz.com, “what was most striking about the synergy between Harris and the band was the sheer beauty of the music: the stark contrast between the grim realities of Harris’s story and the band’s melodic core, located in Elliot’s exultant phrases and Malis’s evocative runs, was stirring. And much of the music’s strength was found in the spirit of resilience and defiance that permeates Harris’s text.” The duo’s 2017 eponymous album was praised by the Detroit Metro Times as “contemporary jazz of the highest order, a benchmark for where the genre can go.”
In July of 2015, Malis’ self-released debut album as a leader, Lifted from the No of All Nothing, was called by The Detroit Free Press “an uncommonly mature and distinctive debut.” It was described by Hot House Jazz Guide (NYC) as “cover[ing] a broad range of free expression. [Malis] bridges the gap between original composed, complex material and the spontaneity of improvisation.” In September 2016, his trio made their debut at the Detroit International Jazz Festival.
As a pianist, he has shared the stage with a diverse array of musicians, including notables such as Marcus Belgrave, Gerald Cleaver, Jaribu Shahid, John Lindberg, William Hooker, A. Spencer Barefield, Tyshawn Sorey, Ken Filiano, J.D. Allen, Andrew Bishop, Dennis Coffey, and Marion Hayden. He has performed at the Yokohama Jazz Promenade (Yokohama, Japan), the Kennedy Center, Birdland (NYC), and The Stone (NYC).

U of D Happy Hour
2026-08-14 17:00
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This performance will run from 5pm to 6pm with reservations beginning at 4pm.
The renown UDJO—University of Detroit Jesuit Jazz Orchestra—opens for the U of D Jesuit Jazz Faculty at a special happy hour performance. Come experience the next generation of jazz musicians as they perform for and with some of Detroit’s leading jazz musicians and mentors. Your patronage contributes to the University of Detroit Jesuit Jazz Program.

The Northwoods Improvisers
2026-08-15 19:30 - 21:30
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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.

The Northwoods Improvisers first came together in 1976. Early versions of the band played collective electro-acoustic improvised music. In 1980 the band switched to an all acoustic instrumentation which has remained to this day. Mike Gilmore and Mike Johnston were founding members of the ensemble. Nick Ashton joined in 1986. The Northwoods Improvisers Sextet consists of Mike Johnston on bass, Nick Ashton on drums, Donovan Boxey on saxophones, Dominic Bieringa on saxophones, Jack O’Brien on cello and Mike Khoury on violin.

The Northwoods Improvisers have performed with several key musicians in their field, including Bill Smith, Eugene Chadbourne, Danny Spencer, Eddie Gale and most notably, working with the late Detroit composer Faruq Z. Bey formerly of Griot Galaxy. The group has released several CDs on the UK’s ARC label as well as on Entropy Stereo and Sagittarius A Star records based in Italy.

This most recent version of the sextet included the long standing rhythm section of bassist and drummer Mike Johnston and Nick Ashton, both very accomplished musicians with decades of collective history between them. Donovan Boxey and Dominic Bierenga bring a double saxophone attack with the two switching to different wind instruments between them. Together, they exceed the sum of their parts. Mike Khoury and Jack O’Brien along with Mike Johnston comprise a string section and bring the lushness of arco strings to the mix along with Eastern sensibilities.

The Northwoods Improvisers Sextet bring together through composed pieces with collective improvisation, eastern modes, and Native American elements to create music with references to indigenous sounds and the music of those who have been historically underrepresented in history. The Northwoods Improvisers Sextet has recently completed work on a new album which will be issued in September of 2023.

Cliff Bell's Big Band Performs the music of Radiohead
2026-08-16 17:30 - 19:30
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Performances are at 5:30pm & 7:30pm. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.
Lead by acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and arranger JOSHUA JAMES, the CBBB is the house big band for Detroit’s historic Cliff Bells jazz club. Compiled from a rotating roster of professionals and professors from across the state, this ensemble boasts some of the hottest musicians active on both the local and national jazz, hip-hop,
Latin, world, rock, electronic, and avant garde music scenes.
The Cliff Bells Big Band seeks to highlight the dynamic relationship between the improvisational performer (soloist) and the composer, presenting historic and contemporary compositions steeped in a rich tradition of thoughtfully crafted music for swingin’—and burnin’!— musicians. Past programs include the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s Nutcracker Suite, along with an in depth retrospective on the music of Sun Ra. For this program the CBBB will tackle the music of the Radiohead as viewed through the lens of the Radiohead Jazz Project, a series of arrangements commissioned and coordinated by noted arrangers BOB CURNOW and FRED STURM. Each arrangement draws from the rich breadth of Radiohead’s oeuvre, from OK Computer to Kid A to In Rainbows and beyond. Each arrangement stays true to the art-rock aesthetic of the band while expanding the sonic palette into the world of the jazz big band. Like the compositions and arrangements from such masters of large-ensemble writing like Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Charles Mingus, Oliver Nelson, Stan Kenton, these works will push the boundaries—and audience expectations—of how a jazz big band can sound.

Jauron Perry and Session
2026-08-19 19:30 - 21:30
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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.
Jauron 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.

Damon Terrell: Purple Jazz Tribute
2026-08-20 19:30 - 21:30
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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.
Multi-instrumentalist Damon Terrell is an inspirational songwriter music producer, born in Detroit MI raised in Highland Park MI by his grandmother.
Damon’s grandmother bought him his first guitar at the age of 17 and he began teaching himself to play guitar. His early influences are Prince, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, and later Yanni and many other smooth jazz artists.

Damon Terrell began to create and develop a unique style of his own, adding a blend of funk jazz hint of rock, blues and Latin.
He composed his first album “In my life” incorporated with a variety of styles which received a stellar award nomination for “Best inspirational jazz album” plus, radio airplay across the United States and international album sales in France, Germany and Guam. The album also received a “great sound” review in the New York times. His second album “Transformation” is a twist that showcase urban 70’s millennium style and is doing exceptionally well across the U.S.
When performing on stage Damon Terrell is known for high energy intense guitar playing back bending shows with a smooth elegant style that inspire the audience to feel and enjoy the same passion and excitement he feels.

Falooshh
2026-08-21 19:30 - 21:30
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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.
​falooshh is an up and coming artist from Detroit. Her eclectic style of genre blending leaves the listener in the warmth of brassy tones while juxtaposed by serene vocal melodies. She is a multi-instrumentalist and writes and records all of her songs. Her energy is infectious live and her band is radiating with talented musicians, featuring a full horn section and backup vocals.

Ian Fink
2026-08-22 19:30 - 21:30
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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.
Ian Finkelstein, who performs under the name Ian Fink, is a pianist, producer, composer and bandleader based in Detroit.
Globally renowned for his lyricism, versatility, and musical fluency, Ian is a transcendent performer, sought after for his skills as a collaborator and session musician.
Ian was taken under the wing of some of Detroit’s greatest educators and musicians, such as Marcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker, as a young teenager. He began to gig professionally at the age of 14, going on to study at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theater and Dance, where he was a student of the great Geri Allen. He received two BFAs in Jazz Piano Performance and Performing Arts Technology, graduating in 2013.
With a firm foundation in the jazz piano tradition of Detroit, Ian was equally influenced by the city’s house and techno scene. He began to self-release music and press up vinyl in 2017, forming a record label entitled Freak Press, which contains a discography that is extensive and musically diverse, including but not limited to jazz, house, and ambient music.
His recorded contributions can be heard on albums such as SICK! by Earl Sweatshirt (“Fire In The Hole”), ANIMALS by Kassa Overall (“Still Ain’t Find Me”) as well as on records by Black Milk, Shigeto, Robert Hurst, The Undisputed Truth, Scott Grooves, and more. He has performed with Marcus Belgrave, Benny Golson, Esperanza Spalding, Teri Lyne Carrington, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Common, Karriem Riggins, Savion Glover, Reggie Workman, Lenny White, Louis Hayes, Curtis Fuller and many others.
He toured internationally with the Shigeto Live Ensemble in 2018 and 2019. Ian went on to become a member of Kassa Overall’s band from 2021 through 2024, including a February 2023 performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. He is a regular member of Detroit bassist Robert Hurst’s band.
In 2020, he was honored with a Gilda Award by Kresge Arts in Detroit, and in 2024 was awarded a Kresge Artist Fellowship. He was honored by the City of Detroit with a Spirit of Detroit Award and Testimonial Resolution in 2024.

The Eat It Up Trio / Boblo Islanders
2026-08-23 17:30 - 19:30
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DOUBLE FEATURE!!! Pay for One show and stay for both!!!
Showtimes are at 5:30p featuring the Boblo Islanders & 7:30p for the Eat it Up Trio. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.
Boblo Islanders: 5:30pm
The Boblo Islanders play music from the 1920s to 1940s featuring Hawaiian guitar, fiddle and vocal harmonies. Finding gems from the swing era, early country and Tin Pan Alley and making them their own is their specialty. Music from 75-100 years ago was the heyday of Hawaiian guitar in popular music and the band originally formed over love for music featuring this unique instrument. The band has been playing in Detroit and SW Michigan for about 5 years. Featuring Lindsay McCaw, Joel Jackson, Grace van’t Hof and Walter Prettyman, they live mostly on the East Side of Detroit. The lineup features Hawaiian guitar, Spanish guitar, violin, ukulele. Lindsay, Joel, Grace and Walter’s other projects include The Velvet Boys (Honky Tonk), Roochie Toochie and the Ragtime Shepherd Kings, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, Corn Potato String Band, and Walter can be seen some Sundays at Cafe Sous Terre with Eric McIntyre.

Eat it up Trio: 7:30pm

Detroit-based and undeniably swinging, the Eat It Up Trio is Michigan’s premier professional purveyor of possibly the most pleasurable music three humans can safely perform within the parameters of the law. Comprised of drummer Sean Perlmutter, bassist Trevor Lamb, and pianist/vocalist Mike Harrison, the Eat It Up trio delivers original songs and arrangements with a versatile repertoire spanning from traditional jazz to modern R&B, funk to folk country, classic rock to bebop, and all the cracks and crevices in between. Dedicated to putting on an entertaining and accessible show, the Eat It Up Trio is guaranteed to deliver a good time!

Kasan Belgrave and Session
2026-08-26 19:30 - 21:30
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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
Saxophonist 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.
The 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.
In 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.
Kasan 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.
Belgrave 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.

Caleb Robinson and Reaching
2026-08-27 19:30 - 21:30
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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.
Caleb Robinson and Reaching have fused the art of Jazz and R&B with their love for storytelling, creating music that embodies the unpredictable rhythms of life. Their passion and subtlety are seamlessly woven into their sound samples and visual samples. With a mission to break down barriers, Caleb Robinson and Reaching deliver a musical experience that reflects the ebbs and flows of life.

Randy Napoleon Organ Trio featuring Ben Paterson
2026-08-28 19:30 - 21:30
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Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Randy Napoleon began his journey in jazz immediately after finishing his studies at the University of Michigan. Jeff Hamilton of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra invited the young Napoleon to do a series of performances with them at the Hollywood Bowl. From there, Napoleon’s career took off, first touring with pianist Benny Green nationally and internationally for a year, and then full time with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. A three-year stint with crooner Michael Buble followed; Napoleon is featured on Buble’s Grammy-nominated CD “Caught in the Act.”
Guitarist George Benson calls Napoleon “sensational.” Detroit Free Press critic Mark Stryker says Napoleon “plays with a gentle, purring tone that makes you lean in close to hear its range of color and articulation.” Washington Post critic Mike Joyce praises his “exceptionally nimble finger-style technique.” Comparing him to Wes Montgomery, music critic Michael G. Nastos says, “he displays an even balance of swing, soul, and single-line or chord elements that mark an emerging voice dedicated to tradition and universally accessible jazz values.”
Napoleon currently tours with the legendary singer/pianist, Freddy Cole, and is featured on Cole’s 2009 album, “Live at Dizzy’s Club: The Dreamer in Me.“ He is the main arranger and the guitarist on “Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B,” a 2010 Grammy-nominated release from High Note that features songs from the Billy Eckstine song book, as well as on “Talk to Me,” Cole’s 2011 album, and Cole’s most recent album “This and That.”
Today, Napoleon is one of the most sought-after guitarists in New York, where he is known as a forward-thinking musician with a passion for the jazz guitar tradition. In addition to backing the best, he leads his own bands, an organ trio, a trombone trio, a quartet with piano, and a three-horn sextet that includes organ, drums, trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone.
Featuring Organist Ben Paterson

“As soulful a pianist / organist as exists anywhere.” – Downbeat Magazine

Combining a joyful swing feel with an impeccable touch, Steinway Artist Ben Paterson has established himself as one of the most exciting pianists on the Jazz scene today, garnering international acclaim for his superb musicianship and engaging performances. Whether playing lush ballads on the piano, digging into some hard-driving blues-tinged organ jazz on the Hammond B3, or singing classic tunes by the likes of Ray Charles and Nat King Cole, Ben combines effortless technique with soulful honesty, drawing in both aficionados and Jazz neophytes alike.
Originally from Philadelphia, Ben studied both classical and Jazz music before moving to the great city of Chicago, absorbing the unique blend of Jazz and Blues that can only be found in the Windy City. Now based in New York, Ben is poised to bring his unique talents and style to a wider audience, performing regularly at top notch venues around town, and at clubs and festivals around the world.

Russ Macklem's Detroit Quintet
2026-08-29 19:30 - 21:30
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Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p. Doors open at 5pm for dinner/Seating begins at 6:15p for the first show & 9:00p for the second show

Following up on his Juno Nominated debut album The South Detroit Connection Russ Macklem returns with a sophomore release that is sure to turn heads. Introducing: the Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet brings together a group of some of the best musicians Detroit has to offer: Kasan Belgrave, Alto Saxophone/ Jordan Anderson, Piano/ Noah Jackson, Bass/ Louis Jones III, Drums with Windsor/Detroit Trumpeter Russ Macklem leading the band on this set of original compositions.

This live-off-the-floor studio album is a triumph that harkens back to the music of the early 1960s. Three tunes in particular are sure to excite listeners: I Will Persevere finds the group on solid ground driving home a melody that only Macklem could compose. While Nostalgia: For A Past Life is as beautiful a ballad as anything that has been recorded in the past 50 years. And Mr. Anderson, a nod to the group’s pianist, is a frantic number that feels like it was written many decades ago.
For his debut album, The South Detroit Connection, Macklem chose to record live in a club packed with music fans but don’t be fooled by Introducing: the Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet being a studio recording. This album feels as live as live music can. Recorded in a single session in a converted church in Willis, Michigan also known as Willis Sound the band was set up tight together, looking each other in the eye. Capturing the magic of this magical group in single takes was the engineering team of Ron Skinner and Ben Lorenz. Like Macklem’s debut the album was produced by Russ Macklem and Ron Skinner and is released on TQM Recording Co.

Russ Macklem's Detroit Quintet
2026-08-30 17:30 - 19:30
Make a Reservation
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.

Following up on his Juno Nominated debut album The South Detroit Connection Russ Macklem returns with a sophomore release that is sure to turn heads. Introducing: the Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet brings together a group of some of the best musicians Detroit has to offer: Kasan Belgrave, Alto Saxophone/ Jordan Anderson, Piano/ Noah Jackson, Bass/ Louis Jones III, Drums with Windsor/Detroit Trumpeter Russ Macklem leading the band on this set of original compositions.

This live-off-the-floor studio album is a triumph that harkens back to the music of the early 1960s. Three tunes in particular are sure to excite listeners: I Will Persevere finds the group on solid ground driving home a melody that only Macklem could compose. While Nostalgia: For A Past Life is as beautiful a ballad as anything that has been recorded in the past 50 years. And Mr. Anderson, a nod to the group’s pianist, is a frantic number that feels like it was written many decades ago.
For his debut album, The South Detroit Connection, Macklem chose to record live in a club packed with music fans but don’t be fooled by Introducing: the Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet being a studio recording. This album feels as live as live music can. Recorded in a single session in a converted church in Willis, Michigan also known as Willis Sound the band was set up tight together, looking each other in the eye. Capturing the magic of this magical group in single takes was the engineering team of Ron Skinner and Ben Lorenz. Like Macklem’s debut the album was produced by Russ Macklem and Ron Skinner and is released on TQM Recording Co.

J. Clyde Neal Group and Session
2026-09-02 19:30 - 21:30
Make a Reservation
Performances are at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
Musicians pay no cover when they bring their instrument.
The J. Clyde Neal Group is rooted in the spiritual and communal traditions of Black American music. Led by trumpeter Jonathon C. Neal, the ensemble creates space through devotional melody, collective improvisation, and music offered as a gift of love. Every performance is a transfer of energy from musician to listener, making the listener the final member of the group.

J. Clyde Neal is the performing name of trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Jonathon C. Neal, based in southeast Michigan. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where his work centers Black American Music as a sacred tradition. He brings a body-centered approach to the trumpet, grounded in breath and listening, and carries that same philosophy into his teaching, both privately and within the university.
Featuring:
Jonathon C. Neal – Trumpet (@jclydenealmusic)
Houston Patton – Tenor Sax (@houston.patton.official)
Jonathan Barahal Taylor – Drums (@jonathanbarahaltaylor)
Kenji Lee – Bass
Jacob Hart – Piano (@jhartpiano1 )

Urban Art Orchestra
2026-09-03 19:30 - 21:30
Performances are at 7:30 pm& 9:30 pm. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.

Urban Art Orchestra is a 20+ member celebration of music from the colorful mind of composer De’Sean Jones, a world renowned Billboard Charting recording artist, 2x Grammy nominated and 3x Stellar Award winning arranger. Over the course of Jones’ 20+ year career, he has been afforded opportunities to write, produce, and tour the world extensively, collaborating with numerous music icons across a wide variety of genres. A protégé of techno pioneer, “Mad” Mike Banks (Underground Resistance), and the late great trumpet legend, Marcus Belgrave, De’Sean Jones aspires to continue to uphold the legacy of progressing music forward while being an ambassador for the rich musical history of Detroit. The UAO’s debut release “Live in Detroit Vol. 1” was recorded at Cliff Bell’s and features live strings, harp, horns, a full rhythm section, percussion, vocals, DJ’s and De’Sean himself on Tenor Saxophone.

Urban Art Orchestra Featuring Ahya Simone
2026-09-04 19:30 - 21:30
Performances are at 7:30 pm& 9:30 pm. Doors open at 5pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
Featuring Ahya Simone
Ahya Simone is an eclectically elusive siren and multidisciplinary artist from Detroit. As a harpist, composer, and filmmaker, she traverses through the world of sound, moving image, and performance. Drawing inspiration from ideas on time and all things liminal, she began to mix R&B/soul, jazz, and electronic and experimental elements into her works and performances.

Urban Art Orchestra is a 20+ member celebration of music from the colorful mind of composer De’Sean Jones, a world renowned Billboard Charting recording artist, 2x Grammy nominated and 3x Stellar Award winning arranger. Over the course of Jones’ 20+ year career, he has been afforded opportunities to write, produce, and tour the world extensively, collaborating with numerous music icons across a wide variety of genres. A protégé of techno pioneer, “Mad” Mike Banks (Underground Resistance), and the late great trumpet legend, Marcus Belgrave, De’Sean Jones aspires to continue to uphold the legacy of progressing music forward while being an ambassador for the rich musical history of Detroit. The UAO’s debut release “Live in Detroit Vol. 1” was recorded at Cliff Bell’s and features live strings, harp, horns, a full rhythm section, percussion, vocals, DJ’s and De’Sean himself on Tenor Saxophone.

Detroit Jazz Fest Jamm Sessions w/ Vermilion Field
2026-09-04 23:30
No cover for Jazz Festival Musician or VIP Wrist Bands
Formed in 2005, Vermilion Field incorporates jazz with funk, Latin, gospel, progressive rock, African and other music styles as experienced by members during their studies at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. The quintet performs original compositions contributed by each highly skilled musician to create a fusion of modern jazz sounds under the banner of “burning saudade.” The band’s performances stir the heart and evoke vivid imagery and are perfect for a festival atmosphere. After releasing six studio albums, including “Feira” from the Victor label, the band recently released its first live album containing its most popular compositions performed at its 20th anniversary concert. In addition to being regular performers at Takatsuki Jazz Street and Sumida Street Jazz Festival in Tokyo, the band has also performed at in Malaysia. Selected from a field of seven strong candidates, the band represents Takatsuki Jazz Street as this year’s exchange band with the Detroit Jazz Festival.
