Cliff Bell's

Mothers Day Dinner and a Show with Gwenyth Hayes
2025-05-11 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit)
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.
Gwenyth Hayes, a bassist, song stylist, vocalist, and recording artist hailing from Ann Arbor, captivates audiences throughout the Metro Detroit area with her distinctive performances. Gwenyth’s unique reinterpretations showcase a fusion of classic tunes and soulful covers & originals across various genres, and are centered by her sultry vocals, groove-infused bass lines, and tight instrumental arrangements.
Since 2012, Gwenyth’s ensembles have graced numerous festivals and venues across Southeastern Michigan, Chicago, and Honolulu, including: Arts, Beats, and Eats, Dally In The Alley, Harvest Festival, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Ann Arbor Jazz Festival, University of Michigan’s Gift of Arts, and the North Atlantic Blues Festival.
In 2023, Gwenyth was inducted as a fellow with the Amplify Fellowship based in Washtenaw, a recognition that granted her valuable resources to begin finalizing her forthcoming recording project set for release in 2024. Alongside this, Gwenyth is an active member of Detroit Bass Players and has been prominently featured in various publications, including Buddy Guy’s Legends Magazine, University of Michigan’s Newsletter, Ann Arbor News, and Big City Rhythm and Blues Magazine.

Throughout her musical journey, she has served as a professional bassist, lending support to fellow artists in the realms of blues, pop, and soul. Notable milestones in her career include opening for B.B. King alongside Murali Coryell, the son of the late Larry Coryell, and subsequently embarking on a tour with Murali. Additionally, she graced the stage at The Chicago Blues Festival in both 2010 and 2013 with Quintus McCormick and Khalif “Wailin'” Walter. Her participation in the 2009 Detroit Blues Festival at Chene Park Amphitheater, now recognized as the Aretha Franklin Park, further underscores her impactful contributions.
During her residency in Chicago from 2010 to 2013, Gwenyth performed regularly as a blues bassists at renowned venues such as Buddy Guy’s Legends, Kingston Mines, and B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, with Alligator and Delmark Records recording artists Maurice John Vaughn, Quintus McCormick, & Toronzo Cannon. Later, her musical pursuits extended to touring with Detroit Music Awarding winning recording artist Laura Rain and the Caesars and performing with other notable metro detroit artists.
Gwenyth’s musical roots trace back to her upbringing in a family deeply connected to music, exposing her to a diverse range of genres, from classical and jazz to rock and R&B. With her mother and grandmother as pianists and her father, William Hayes, a renowned conductor, composer, educator, and performer, along with her brother, Matt Hayes, a celebrated drummer, music is woven into the fabric of her life.
Her modern approach to music serves as a conduit for reinventing popular soul, jazz, soft rock, and blues standards, infusing them with a sensual and contemporary vibe. Gwenyth’s sound resonates with diverse audiences, aiming to evoke nostalgia for many generations to come.

U of D - Just Jazz!
2025-05-13 18:00
There will be only one performance at 8:00pm. Dinner is available for this show. The kitchen is open until 9pm.

Zach Brock
2025-05-14 19:30 - 21:30
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.
Grammy Award-winning Violinist Zach Brock of Snarky Puppy returns to Cliff Bell’s for one night only, May 14th. Don’t miss your chance to revisit the legendary performances he and Snarky Puppy brought to our stage!
Presale Tickets Available Here
“I called the great French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and I said ‘So, who’s the new cat? Who’s got the stuff? And he said Zach Brock.” — Stanley Clarke, virtuoso bassist & jazz legend
“…not only is he my favorite violinist in the world but he’s also one of my favorite musicians, period.” — Michael League, founder/bassist of Snarky Puppy
Violinist Zach Brock is a sought-after soloist, sideman, and educator, as well as a multi Grammy Award-winning member of the contemporary jazz band Snarky Puppy. Born to a musical family in Lexington, KY, Zach began studying violin at the age of four and was performing publicly by the age of six. Zach’s improvisational skills were honed in the rich Chicago jazz scene while studying classical violin at Northwestern University. He released his debut album, Zach Brock & The Coffee Achievers, in 2003. Two years and two records later he was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall by trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas. Zach joined the band of legendary bassist Stanley Clarke in 2007 and that same year he relocated to Brooklyn. From 2010 to 2012 Zach led a chord-less trio of violin, bass and drums called The Magic Number and since 2012 he has released three albums on Criss Cross Jazz, as well as two co-led projects with renowned pianist Phil Markowitz. In 2017 Zach formed a new “chord-less” trio with Matt Ulery and Jon Deitemyer. Their collective 2019 album Wonderment garnered rave reviews and inclusion in the “Best of 2019” lists by Downbeat and Jazziz Magazines.
Zach is most widely recognized through his sixteen years of touring and recording with the genre-bending supergroup Snarky Puppy. Since his first appearance on Snarky’s 2008 on Bring Us The Bright, Zach has appeared on seven subsequent recordings including the 2017 Grammy Award-winning album Culcha Vulcha, 2019’s Immigrance, the 2021 Grammy Award-winning Live At The Royal Albert Hall, and the 2023 Grammy-award winning album Empire Central (to which he contributed his song “Honiara”). In February 2023 Zach performed with legendary guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel at the GroundUP Festival in Miami as part of Kurt’s Caipi Band. In November ‘23 GroundUP Records released Drawing Songs, the debut recording by “Brock, Lanzetti, Ogawa,” a new co-led trio with fellow Snarky Puppy members Bob Lanzetti and Keita Ogawa.
A passionate educator, Zach has coached hundreds of musicians through workshops for The 92nd Street Y and Carnegie Hall in NYC, masterclasses at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland and the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, and as a five-year “Artist In Residence” at Temple University in Philadelphia.
His eleventh solo album, the Grammy-nominated Dirty Mindz featuring Eric Harland, Mark Lettieri, Justin Stanton, and Jonathan Maron, was released in 2022 on GroundUP Records. Zach’s latest collaborative album with fellow Snarky Puppy bandmates Bob Lanzetti and Keita Ogawa, the Grammy-nominated album Drawing Songs, was released in November 2023.

Leafar Village
2025-05-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-05-16 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-05-17 19:30 - 21:30
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.
Featuring:
Thursday:
Rafael Leafar, sax
Eric Wurzelbacher, sax
Keigo Hirakawa, piano
Sam Corey, bass
Alex White, drums

Friday:
Ashley Dean, vocals
Rafael Leafar, sax
Wyatt Forhan. Keys and Trombone
Sam Corey, Bass
Alex White, Drums

Saturday:
Ashley Dean, vocals
Rafael Leafar, sax
Wyatt Forhan. Keys and Trombone
Noah Jackson, Bass
Alex White, Drums

Rafael Leafar is a rare multi-instrumentalist who can combine great passion, intellectual discipline, and a spiritual fire that is evocative of great artistic creativity.
He has established himself as a remarkable composer and musician not defined by any one particular genre or style.
Hailing from Detroit, Rafael’s connection to music was Jazz; fostered from a musical family at an early age.
His parents invested life changing moves to make certain to access of opportunity to quality schools back and forth from suburban education and playing opportunities in Detroit that would eventually prove fruitful graduating from Sterling Heights High School, DSA, Detroit Civic Jazz Orchestra, & The New School for Jazz.
Over the years since 2009 major recording & performances with; Reggie Workman, Robert Hurst, Marcus Belgrave, Luis Resto, Vincent Chandler, Jeff Tain Watts, Marion Hayden, Sterling Toles, Detroit Jazz Festival Band, Kamau Kenyatta, Video7.

The Bill Heid Organ Trio
2025-05-18 17:30 - 19:30
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.
Keyboardist/vocalist Bill Heid was born August 11, 1948, in Pittsburgh, PA. A natural and virtuosic musician who was inspired to play jazz and blues by listening to the radio, he played in both piano and organ groups. His brother is the well-respected drummer and producer George Heid. Originally influenced by Jimmy Smith and Don Patterson, Heid heard the chitlin’ circuit greats at the Hurricane Bar, including Smith and Patterson, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Down the street at the Crawford Grill were the jazz bands led by Freddie Hubbard, Max Roach, Gene Harris, Bobby Timmons, and Wynton Kelly.
On occasion he would sit in with some of these groups and pester them for information. Spending time in Chicago and later in New York, he met and hung out with his mentor, Larry Young, often visiting the family-owned Newark Club in Young’s hometown of Newark, NJ. He was also privy to playing with the best organ drummers like Joe Dukes and Billy James. And he heard the local contingent of jazz greats like Ahmad Jamal, Art Blakey, Erroll Garner, George Benson, Eddie Jefferson, Mary Lou Williams, and Stanley Turrentine.
His quest for musical knowledge found him on the road when in 1963, in search of rare 78-rpm rhythm & blues records, he began a journey/career of hitchhiking. He did this in the contiguous 48 states of the U.S.; through Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, and China; and to the Thailand/Cambodia border. His over 400,000 documented miles of thumbing a ride gained Heid a spot in The Guinness Book of World Records. Some of his journeys led him to the so-called chicken houses and organ rooms of major cities, where he interned with Jimmy Witherspoon, Jimmy Ponder, Sonny Stitt, Grant Green, David “Fathead” Newman, Ira Sullivan, and Mickey Roker, and was a pianist with Don Patterson.
A move to Chicago brought him closer to the urban blues as he worked or recorded with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and especially Son Seals, Koko Taylor, Fenton Robinson, and Roy Buchanan. He also did two LPs and played in the bands of contemporary jazz guitarist Henry Johnson. Moving to Detroit, he spent two decades there playing in his own groups; helping to revive the career of a local legend of blues guitar and vocals, Johnnie Bassett, as the music director of his Blues Insurgents; and backing the veteran singer Alberta Adams. During and since his time in Detroit, Heid could be found making music soundtracks for adult films in Los Angeles, then touring worldwide for the U.S. State Department as a jazz ambassador, particularly on tours of Japan and Vietnam. In August 2003, Heid played more of the Pacific Rim in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Upon moving back to the Eastern United States, he could be heard on organ and piano engagements at various venues in the Washington, D.C., area. Of his mindset, Heid was quoted as saying “I can’t live a day without playing 1-4-5s,” incorporating those standard blues changes with cool McCoy Tyner minor riffs, vicious funk songs in Japanese, and what he calls Talifunk. “I approach this thing like total war and have been lucky to have avoided a day job.” His hip vernacular, unique vocal language, and risqué sense of humor, melded with his passion for baseball, have made him an entertainer nonpareil.
Artist Biography by Michael G. Nastos for AllMusic.com

Kasan Belgrave Quartet and Session
2025-05-21 19:30 - 21:30
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 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.

Urban Art Orchestra Featuring: Asaka the Renegade
2025-05-22 19:30
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.
Make reservations here!
Featuring: Asaka the Renegade

Raw. Unfiltered. Real. That’s the energy that flows through the veins of Asaka The Renegade, a rising force in the hip hop scene. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Asaka The Renegade has quickly made a name for themselves with their razor-sharp lyricism, genre-bending production, and relentless grind. Combining gritty street narratives with introspective storytelling, they paint pictures that feel both personal and universal, blending vulnerability with swagger.
Born into a world of struggle and resilience, Asaka The Renegade’s music is a reflection of their journey. From early battles in the local rap scene to breaking through with “The Space Tape”, they’ve become a voice for the underdog, speaking on themes of hustle, survival, and self-empowerment. Their sound fuses the golden age of hip hop with modern trap and experimental beats, offering a fresh take on a genre that’s constantly evolving.
Asaka The Renegade’s breakthrough track, The Bag, caught the attention of fans and industry insiders alike, racking up streams and accolades. With features on *”On The Radar” and even ” Sway in The Morning”, they’ve earned respect as both a solo artist and a sought-after collaborator. Whether performing to packed crowds or speaking truth to power, they stay grounded in their mission: to inspire, uplift, and keep it real.
With a growing fanbase and a fire that won’t burn out anytime soon, Asaka The Renegade is poised to be one of the next big names in hip hop. And after recently winning 1st place in T-Pain’s March Madness and becoming and newly signed artist, the journey has just begun, and the world is watching.
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: De'Sean Jones
2025-05-23 19:30 - 21:30
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.
Featuring: De’Sean Jones on Tenor Saxophone, with a special tribute and celebration of Amp Fiddler featuring a close out set from Detroit’s rising artist 3DXT
Make reservations here!

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: Voices of the Urban Art Orchestra
2025-05-24 19:30 - 21:30
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.
With Voices of the Urban Art Orchestra:
Make reservations here!
Urban Art Voices is the latest iteration of Urban Art Orchestra with a Choir. This ensemble features special guest vocals from Kevin Stuart, Arnesia Jones, Johdi Jackson & Tyrone Foster as seen with Big Sean Live at The DIA on Amazon Music.

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
2025-05-25 18:30
There will be one seating for this performance starting at 5pm. Showtime is 6:30p for this performance.
Make Reservations Here
***be sure to select the early show option
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 Slum Village
2025-05-25 21:00
Doors Open at 9pm.
Pre Sale Tickets Available Now!
Chances are, if you are anywhere near the Detroit music scene, you have heard of the influential hip hop trio that makes up Slum Village. The group was founded in the early 90’s by 3 childhood friends: Baatin, T3, rapper and producer J Dilla, who all grew up together in the Conant Gardens neighborhood of Detroit, MI. Today, Slum Village continues their journey with invigorated energy as T3 and Grammy nominated producer Young RJ hold the legacy, with his solo project “Blaq Royalty album featuring BJ The Chicago Kid | Joyner Lucas | and Pete Rock & The Detroit Project featuring Phat Kat & Guilty Simpson.
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.

The Evolution of Slum Village
After leaving Pershing High School, the trio began to forge a path into the Detroit underground hip hop scene and quickly found themselves steadily gaining popularity, where they originally went by the name Ssenepod. In 1991 changed their name to Slum Village, recording their first album Vol. 1″ , recorded in Dillas basement and RJ Rice Studios, it was critically acclaimed in the Detroit underground scene. It later found its way into the hands of A Tribe Called Quest’s own Q-Tip, who played it for some of hip hop’s elite, such as Busta Rhymes, Questlove, and D’angelo.
Slum Village landed their first record deal in 1998 with Barak/AM records. Due to label politics, the group was forced to release their album “Best Kept Secret” under the alias J-88,. Their now classic record, “Fantastic, Vol. 2” was also in production, but was not officially released until 2000 through Barak Records, dubbed an immediate classic from fans and industry tastemakers. This album featured an A list line up including Busta Rhymes, Common, D’angelo, Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock, Kurupt, and Q-Tip who passed the torch to Slum Village on the record “Hold Tight”.
In 2001, J Dilla made the decision to leave the group to pursue his solo career, but still hung around helping Young RJ with production. Baatin and T3 started work on their next album “Trinity” through Barak/Capital Records, featuring Elzhi on 6 of the tracks. This album would feature their first commercial single “Tainted” which ft an unknown Dwele, also disco and the remix produced by Timberland.
In 2002, “Dirty District”, a compilation of songs by Detroit rappers largely produced by T3 and Young RJ, was released. 2004 album, “Detroit Deli” (A Taste of Detroit), the album included the hit single “Selfish” produced by Kanye West, featuring John Legend. 2005, the release of “Prequel To a Classic”, a mix tape with production from Young RJ and Black Milk.
In 2009, Slum started production on their next album, “Villa Manifesto” In 2010, the album “Villa Manifesto” was released under Ne’astra/Koch Records, featuring the late Baatin. By that time Elzhi had decided to move on and focus on pursuing his own solo career.
2011/2012 Slum Village new mixtape “Dirty Slums Vol. 1 & Vol. 2” presented by DJ Mick Boogie featuring artist such as Rapper Big Pooh, De La Soul, Focus, Skyzoo, Phonte, and Fife, having over 100,000 downloads. 2013/2014 “B-Sides” and Vintage albums were released. 2015/2016 “YES” was released, produced by Jay Dee a.k.a. J. Dilla and Young RJ.
2018 Slum’s new release titled “Lost Scrolls Vol. 2” is slated for release April 20, 2018 containing lost music and mixed from their critically acclaimed album “Fantastic Vol. 2”, performed by the original Trio.

Kasan Belgrave and Thy Bearings
2025-05-28 19:30 - 21:30

Michael Hudson-Casanova's Heyman
2025-05-29 19:30 - 21:30
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.
Originally from Detroit, Michael Hudson-Casanova is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, improviser, and educator quickly becoming a staple in the Chicago jazz and creative music scene. His debut album as a leader, Echoes of Thought (2021), has been praised as “…an exceptional record by a killer band,” by All About Jazz. His music blends traditional and contemporary jazz concepts, and always leaves plenty of room for dynamic improvisation with carefully chosen bandmates.
Hudson-Casanova has received awards, scholarships, and grants for his music, including individual artist grants from Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Illinois Arts Council Agency to record and produce his second album, Animus. He also received the Ramon Zupko grant in 2015 for the creation of an interdisciplinary work of original music and dance, and the Vice Provost for the Arts grant in 2018 and 2019 to record music by Crosscurrents Ensemble. In October of 2022, he was featured as a soloist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for their production of “Charlie Parker: With Strings.”
Hudson-Casanova has appeared at venues across the United States as a leader and a sideman, including Chris’ Jazz Cafe, South Jazz Kitchen, Cliff Bell’s, Silvana, The Green Mill, Cafe CODA, Elastic Arts, and more. He has appeared on his colleagues’ records as a sideman, most notably Elliot Bild’s ISMS (2020).
As an educator, Hudson-Casanova has maintained a studio of saxophone, flute, and clarinet players of all ages for over ten years. He believes music is for everyone, and works to help his students maintain a positive relationship with music. He teaches for institutions like Common Time Music School and Ravinia Sistema.

Sean Dobbins
2025-05-30 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-05-31 19:30 - 21:30
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.
Jazz 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.
Though 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.
Sean’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.

Sean Dobbins
2025-06-01 17:30 - 19:30
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.
Jazz 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.
Though 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.
Sean’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.

The Northwoods Improvisers and Session
2025-06-04 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-11 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-18 19:30 - 21:30
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.

Damon Terrell
2025-06-05 19:30 - 21:30
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.

Caleb Robinson and Reaching
2025-06-06 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-07 19:30 - 21:30
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.

Caleb Robinson and Reaching
2025-06-08 17:30 - 19:30
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.
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.

Jordan Anderson Piano Trio
2025-06-12 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-06-13 19:30 - 21:30
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.
Known for his dynamic bandstand presence and creative approach to improvisation, Jordan Anderson is a musical force of his generation. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jordan began piano lessons at the age of 7 and by his early teens he sought tutelage from some of Twin Cities’ leading voices in Black American Music, most notably Detroit’s own Solomon Parham. He took his talents to the University of Michigan, furthering his pianistic skills Benny Green and Andy Milne. After completing his Masters of Fine Arts in jazz studies at Michigan State University, Jordan moved to Detroit where he can be found performing in a variety of styles ranging from straight-ahead jazz to house and hip-hop. He is a frequent member of groups led by notable Detroit musicians such as Vincent Chandler, Allen Dennard, Russ Macklem, and Kasan Belgrave to name a few. Within these ensembles, Jordan can be found playing piano, keyboards, synth bass and organ. In October 2024, Jordan recorded his debut record – a trio project of straight-ahead and contemporary original material. The album is set for
release in spring 2025. Jordan was a winner of the Rubato International Piano Competition in August 2023. He is also a prolific educator in Michigan and had the distinct honor of holding the jazz piano chair for Interlochen’s summer jazz camp in 2022 and 2023. Most recently, Jordan has been selected as a mentor-fellow for Stanford’s summer jazz workshop 2024-2025.

Jordan Anderson Organ Trio
2025-06-14 19:30 - 21:30

Fathers Day Dinner and a Show featuring: the Jordan Anderson Organ Trio
2025-06-15 17:30 - 19:30
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.
Known for his dynamic bandstand presence and creative approach to improvisation, Jordan Anderson is a musical force of his generation. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jordan began piano lessons at the age of 7 and by his early teens he sought tutelage from some of Twin Cities’ leading voices in Black American Music, most notably Detroit’s own Solomon Parham. He took his talents to the University of Michigan, furthering his pianistic skills Benny Green and Andy Milne. After completing his Masters of Fine Arts in jazz studies at Michigan State University, Jordan moved to Detroit where he can be found performing in a variety of styles ranging from straight-ahead jazz to house and hip-hop. He is a frequent member of groups led by notable Detroit musicians such as Vincent Chandler, Allen Dennard, Russ Macklem, and Kasan Belgrave to name a few. Within these ensembles, Jordan can be found playing piano, keyboards, synth bass and organ. In October 2024, Jordan recorded his debut record – a trio project of straight-ahead and contemporary original material. The album is set for
release in spring 2025. Jordan was a winner of the Rubato International Piano Competition in August 2023. He is also a prolific educator in Michigan and had the distinct honor of holding the jazz piano chair for Interlochen’s summer jazz camp in 2022 and 2023. Most recently, Jordan has been selected as a mentor-fellow for Stanford’s summer jazz workshop 2024-2025.

Juneteenth Celebration featuring: Langston Kitchen's Mahogany Collective
2025-06-19 19:30 - 21:30
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.
Featuring:

Sidney Kitchen, trombone
William Hill III, piano
Michael J. Reed, drums

Born in Detroit, possessing familial roots in Harlem, and known for his big sound on the bass, Langston Marcelles Kitchen is the winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Essentially Ellington Regional Best Musicianship Award, and the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Combo Competition. He is a Geri Allen Fellow and jazz major at Michigan State University, under the tutelage of University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies, Rodney Whitaker.

Within a short period of time, he has begun to master his instrument and has studied under some of the most respected jazz musicians, including Robert Hurst, Xavier Davis, Sean Dobbins, and Marcus Printup and has performed with Michael Dease, Dan Wilson, Xavier Davis, Walter Blanding, and Randy Napoleon. In the words of Louis Armstrong, “To jazz, or not to jazz, there is no question!” Kitchen loves jazz and is driven by his pursuit to play with conviction, purpose, and feeling. He has performed at Smalls Jazz Club, the Detroit Jazz Festival, Jazz Festival at Caramoor, East Lansing Summer Solstice, the Roxy Bar, City Opera House, the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Cliff Bell’s, and Blue Llama Jazz Club. With the goals of becoming a touring musician and a distinguished professor, Kitchen continues to pursue his dreams and hopes to one-day help young musicians with the same spirit of reciprocity that his mentors share with him.
