The Northwoods Improvisers and Session
2025-06-25 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Detroit)
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.

William Hill III
2025-06-26 19:30 - 21:30
Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 6pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 9pm.
William Hill III is a pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader from Detroit, Michigan. Hill is a graduate of the Detroit School of Arts, and is currently studying at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music undergoing his baccalaureate education. In Hill’s pre-collage years, he has been a member of the Detroit Symphony’s Civic Youth Jazz program performing in the Creative Jazz Ensemble and the Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Michigan State University Spartan Youth Jazz Program.
Hill has had the opportunity to participate in many summer extensive jazz camps such as Jazz House Kids, Jr. Jazz Academy at Lincoln Center, Berklee Summer Programs, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Motown Lyric Project, Keeping an Eye Summer Jazz Workshop located at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and many others.
Hill is honored to receive awards from programs such as the National YoungArts Foundation, a multi-year winner in the instrumental contemporary category for the
NAACP ACT-SO National Competition, and the West Virginia University International Jazz Piano Competition. Musicians that Hill has worked alongside and have been mentored by include Marc Cary, Aaron Parks, Buster Williams, Christian McBride, Curtis Lundy, Jaleel Shaw, Jazzmeia Horn, Joe Farnsworth, Ari Hoenig, Rodney Whitaker, Wynton Marsalis,, and many more.
Hill has had the opportunity to perform at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Smalls Jazz Club, Minton’s Playhouse, The Django, Esplanade-Theaters on the Bay (Singapore), Blue Note Tokyo, and many others to name a few. Hill’s passion in life as a musician is to spread joy to everyone around the world with the music that he produces.

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression
2025-06-27 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.
“A refreshing take on the neo-soul / funk sound, unbound by modern cliches.”
– Glide Magazine
WSG Drey Skonie and the kLOUDS
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression are bona fide, and they want the world to know it.

A rising force out of Lexington, Kentucky, the band led by Joslyn Hampton come out swinging on their sophomore album, ready to uplift and inspire through their singular and stirring soul-funk sound. 2019’s critically acclaimed debut album made them a favorite headliner at regional clubs and music festivals. After a grueling and relentless tour schedule – one that saw them supporting Tower of Power at New York’s Sony Hall and Tyler Childers at Colorado’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre – the band are back with Bona Fide, a sonically and emotionally charged record that captures their breathtaking live energy as well as their humanity.
Released August 25, 2023, Bona Fide is a resounding testament to Joslyn & The Sweet Compression’s unparalleled talents, as well as an homage to the band’s co-founder (and Joslyn Hampton’s step-father), Marty Charters, who passed away in 2022.
Musically, Bona Fide blends soulful and smoldering neo-funk with elements of ‘70s and ‘80s R&B. Hampton pulls from her inspirations – Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey – as well as from the opera singers she studied in college. “I find myself applying all of the things I’ve learned to my passion now, and placing it in my music,” she shares.
The result is a unique, hooky style that helps Joslyn & The Sweet Compression stand apart from their contemporaries. To Hampton, Bona Fide is a record about a ride she calls “the human rollercoaster.”
“You have falling in love, getting cheated on, celebrating this life – you only get one,” she says. “We go through so many human emotions on this album, and that’s what I want to bring to life: The ride of being a human! I want to take you to the moment you found the love of your life when you looked across the room. This album is literally meant to take you to every human emotion you have.”

Drey Skonie and The kLOUDs Band
2025-06-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-18 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.
Drey Skonie and The kLOUDs Band a.k.a. “Skonie and The kLOUDs” emphasis on the loud. Hailing from the motor city, Detroit, MI. Skonie and The kLOUDs are retro style band, with a new flare. They call themselves the new, old school.
In the past few years, The kLOUDs Band has been shaking up the Detroit Music Scene making the industry take notice. In 2023 Drey Skonie lead singer of the band won “Artist Of The Year” at Motown Museum’s Hitsville Next Amplify Sound Of Detroit singing competition. Then only a month later Skonie and The kLOUDS were also crowned winners of Masterpiece Sound Studios’ Cover Song Contest in honor of the late, legendary Motown songwriter and producer Sylvia Moy with their captivating rendition of Moy’s classic Stevie Wonder Motown hit, “I Was Made To Love Her”. During the competition, Drey met Jackie Wilson’s daughter Brenda Wilson, who was a judge for the competition. Brenda then knew from Drey’s showmanship, that she wanted Drey to play her Dad. Fast forward Drey now plays Jackie Wilson in a TV series entitled “Higher And Higher” coming soon.
The latest album “Rolling Skone” is available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and more. They have appeared on stages from The D to Los Angeles rocking crowds with a multifaceted soul, funk, RnB, and techno sound.
Currently “Skonie and The kLOUDs” are recording live in the studio. You can also hear new material and watch performances of the band on YouTube, as well as Instagram @dreyskonie and @thekloudsband.

Ember
2025-06-29 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.
Featuring:

Caleb Wheeler Curtis – stritch, trumpet, sopranino saxophone
Noah Garabedian – bass, synth
Vinnie Sperrazza – drums

The Brooklyn, NY based collaborative trio Ember (previously Curtis+Garabedian+Sperrazza) finds itself at the crossroads of musical and personal exploration resulting in true band-hood and non-hierarchical playing. Each of the members – Caleb Wheeler Curtis (stritch, trumpet), Noah Garabedian (bass), and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums) – are integral parts of the NY creative music community as leaders, collaborators and instigators. The music in this trio is organized but open and expressive. Their music opens up the true freedom of improvisation, exploration, and creativity.
Their latest release, “August in March” is available everywhere via Imani Records.

Ragtime Banjo Revival Trio and Session
2025-07-02 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-09 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-16 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-30 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.
Open Trad Jazz Jam at 9:30pm!
Ragtime Banjo Revival (RBR) is a bold cultural outreach project that aims to grow and strengthen community through live and recorded experiences of historical popular music. RBR revives the joy of ragtime banjo music by illuminating its presence in our shared musical past — and by answering the question most people, in and outside of music circles, haven’t lately thought to ask: Why ragtime, and why now?
The answer lies in the very sounds and stories of this project. Despite its trajectory from the most popular music in the English-speaking world to near-fatal obscurity, this music, its creators, and its history live on today in our relationships with music, popular culture, identity, and history. While audiences tap and hum along with the project’s inspired arrangements, they’ll learn enough to change the way they listen to music and the way they engage with the development of culture. With a curious and optimistic spirit, RBR educates and inspires, welcoming the newcomer and cultivating respect across areas of difference.

Hidden Nomination
2025-07-03 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.
Hidden Nomination is a genre-defying ensemble that emerged from the lustrous Blue Llama Jazz Club after a particularly electrifying set. The band has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the Midwest music scene. Comprising Houston Patton on saxophone, Andre Crawford on piano, Dylan Sherman on bass, and Brian Allen on drums, Hidden Nomination brings together four exceptionally talented musicians with a shared passion for exploration and innovation.
Their sound is a thrilling fusion of jazz, funk, R&B, gospel, and neo-soul, creating a sonic tapestry that is as soulful as it is dynamic. With high-energy performances and delicate, melodic interplay, Hidden Nomination captivates audiences, taking them on a journey that transcends traditional genre boundaries. The band’s philosophy is rooted in the pursuit of the unseen and the unheard—always searching for what lies hidden beneath the surface of music and emotion.
Recently completing a celebrated residency at Cliff Bell’s, one of Detroit’s most iconic jazz clubs, Hidden Nomination has solidified its reputation as a must-see live act. Their ability to blend technical mastery with raw, heartfelt expression has earned them a dedicated following and critical acclaim. As they prepare to record their debut album in summer of 2025, the band is poised to share their unique sound with an even wider audience.

Closed.
2025-07-04
Join us Tomorrow or Yesterday!

Jason Janas
2025-07-05 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.
Jason Janas is originally from New Jersey. He began his tap dance instruction under Ms. Deborah Mitchell and was the first charter member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble. He then found a love for the dance and continued to learn and study the art form. He also trained and was a member of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble under the direction of Gene Medler.
Jason’s first professional company after high school was Tapestry Dance Company in Austin TX, under the direction of Acia Gray. He was a principal dancer there for 5 years. His hard work ethic began to take notice and Derick Grant invited Jason to be in his show Imagine Tap! which ran for 6 weeks in Chicago, and changed his life. His other show credits include Souls of our Feet with Tapestry Dance Company, Wonderland with Sara Savelli and Ayodele Casel, and most recently co-choreographed and was featured in Tap Stars with Rasta Thomas. He currently teaches for Wild Dance Convention and West Coast Dance Explosion, and has taught at tap festivals in New Jersey, Chicago, New York, L.A., Charlotte, Austin, San Antonio, Vancouver, Zürich, Curitiba (Brazil), Moscow, and Barcelona!

Philip Buchman Quartet
2025-07-06 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.
Originally from Wisconsin, Philip recently earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. Since then, he has begun working with some of Detroit’s finest musicians, such as John Douglas, Scott Gwinell, Jacob Hart, etc. In addition to being a working musician, Philip teaches at McCourt’s Music Group, and released his first album in 2024: Francesca. As of late, Philip has begun touring with the Mercer Patterson Quintet. They have played around the West Coast, and the South and Midwest during 2024 and 2025.

RSVP AllStars
2025-07-10 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.

Detroit RSVP AllStars’ sonic tapestry has it’s roots deep in the blues as its blends in rock and funk to create a distinctive sound all their own. The emotive playing of lead guitarist Michael Hicks contributes perfectly to the sonic signature of any given performance. Award (Detroit Black Music) winning lead vocalist, CJ Williams charisma and soulfulness effortlessly spans all realms of the Blues creating a magnetic and commanding presence for the band. As they deliver a musical experience that resonates with audiences and leaves an indelible mark on the collective soul of Detroit’s vibrant music culture the RSVP All-stars are not-to-be-missed!

Featuring:

Lead guitar – Mike Hicks
Lead vocals – CJ Williams
Drums – Chris Thomas
Keyboards – Jeff Campbell
Keyboards -Wayne White
Bass Guitar – Rock Mickens
Percussion – Jared K Berry

Jauron Perry Quintet
2025-07-11 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.
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.

Jauron Perry Quintet
2025-07-13 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.
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.

Zoe Ny & Cole Ritter
2025-07-17 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.
Described as “a quiet yet depthless power, and a timeless kind soul,” the Michigan born, Nashville based vocalist Zoe Ny returns to Cliff Bells. The recent Berklee College of Music graduate is an Americana songwriter who seamlessly incorporates her influences in soul, jazz, and folk music. Zoe has performed everywhere from Broadway, to Carnegie Hall, to countless East Nashville dives. Though her versatility as a vocalist has brought Zoe to unique places, she always finds her way back to the classics. Her most recent single, “What it’s All About,” produced by Micah Tawlks-is out on all platforms now.

Born and Raised in Nashville, TN, 23 year old Cole Ritter has been playing music for as long as he can remember. Hearing the sounds of Country, Bluegrass and Early Rock and Roll, Cole was inspired to pick up the violin at the young age of 3. He has since been honing his craft into a diverse but cohesive sound that combines elements of Gritty Country and Rock with the Dreamy Reverb-Drenched sounds of Surf and Western Music. Cole was Featured on Season 20 of American Idol, and has shared stages with many rising stars; most recently Sierra Ferrell at her sold out Ryman Auditorium Show.

Tiki Fest with: Roland Remington featuring Chris Codish
2025-07-19 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.
Join us for two days of relaxed Island vibes! Wear your Hawaiian tee-shirts, kakis, sun dress and soak up the chill atmosphere that comes along with life in the Pacific right here in the center of Detroit! On Saturday it’s Roland Remington and Sunday features Neon Jungle!
Roland Remington plays mid-century exotica (tiki music) on vintage melody percussion instruments.

Tiki Fest with: Neon Jungle
2025-07-20 17:30 - 19:30
SHOWTIMES ARE AT 5:30PM & 7:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.

Modern popular music with a martini twist!

Join us for two days of relaxed Island vibes! Wear your Hawaiian tee-shirts, kakis, sun dress and soak up the chill atmosphere that comes along with life in the Pacific right here in the center of Detroit! On Saturday it’s Roland Remington and Sunday features Neon Jungle! The days when music oozed kitsch, drama, sci-fi, sexiness, the absurd and the exotic have returned…it’s Neon Jungle, your mid-century modern ambassadors.

Neon Jungle is the brainchild of pianist/singer Jarrod Champion. They focus on taking modern pop music of the last few decades and marrying it with the kooky sounds of the Mid Century Modern movement. Concentrating on the lounge-y sounds of the era, they tap such sub genres as exotica, surf/spy, go-go, spaghetti western, space age pop and more, as they filter your favorite tunes through this window into the past, while including some music from the era itself.

Jarrod Champion is a pianist, singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and audio engineer. He was born and raised in the Detroit area and has been a part of Detroit’s rich music scene since he was a teen, almost three decades ago. Jarrod has worked as a side-man, session musician and bandleader in just about every musical genre imaginable. He has written and recorded vast amounts of music under various names, has provided music for stage plays, film and video productions and has performed all over the world in some of the most iconic music venues around.

Featuring:

Drums/percussion – Brandon Reeves
Upright bass – Sam Copperman
Guitar/pedal steel – Erik Alderink
Keys/vocals – Jarrod Champion
Saxophone – Joshua James
Lead vocals – Vanessa Cuccia

Wayne State Faculty Concert & Session
2025-07-23 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.
Musicians pay no cover when they bring their instrument.
In its 16th 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

Susan Tobocman
2025-07-24 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.
“Touch & Go is a superb record from a singer, composer, lyricist, and arranger who deserves a wider audience. Tobocman’s originals are especially notable.”
—Mark Stryker (Jazz From Detroit)
With her warm and flexible voice, combined with impressive arranging and composing skills, Susan Tobocman has been making a name for herself on the NYC jazz scene among audiences and musicians alike for over 20 years—performing, recording, and collaborating with some of the top players anywhere. She has toured extensively throughout Europe and the US, and has also released numerous recordings, including four as a leader on Japan’s eponymous Disk Union label.
Born in Detroit, at 16 Tobocman won the National Scholastic Writing Award for Poetry, then at 17 attended Columbia University to study the craft. Fast forward 15 years to when she decided to make the leap into the unknown (being a full-time musician),and the transition from poet to lyricist was a smooth one. While her first gig was touring with the renowned Tom Tom Club (Talking Heads sans David Byrne), she soon decided to take on jazz—a lifelong endeavor. Susan’s instincts were spot-on. She started writing tunes immediately, connecting the dots between her gift for poetry, early piano lessons, and a childhood filled with music and art. Tobocman is now known for putting her own stamp on strikingly diverse material. Her newest release, Touch & Go, is most definitely not your typical jazz vocalist’s record. She wrote five of the 13 tracks, in addition to all of the arrangements. Something else that sets Susan apart from other vocalists who compose is that she also writes instrumental music. As the late great Mark Murphy said about Tobocman, “Susan sings and writes with a warm, smooth delivery, and a genuine feeling for the music.

Closed for a Private Event.
2025-07-25
Contact us to inquire about yours!

KonGruENT
2025-07-26 19:30 - 21:30
Showtimes are at 7:30p & 9:30p for this performance.
Doors open at 5pm for dinner/Seating begins at 6:15p for the first show & 9:00p for the second show
Dr. Kenneth Gill is a gifted trombonist, composer, educator, clinician, and advocate for the arts. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Kenneth began his musical journey by playing trombone at Ruddiman Middle School and the Detroit School of Arts (part of the Detroit Public Schools). He later earned a Bachelor of Music in Education from Howard University, a Master of Music from Kent State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation from the University of Michigan.
Kenneth continues to forge his own musical path. In 2019, he released an LP titled “The Good News.” As an in-demand trombonist, he has recorded and performed with a variety of artists and ensembles. Some of the notable musicians he has shared the stage with include Marcus Belgrave, Gerald Wilson, Grady Tate, Donald Byrd, Clark Terry, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Gladys Knight, El DeBarge, Boyz II Men, Tori Kelly, Martha Reeves, Ray Chew, Les Nubians, Jennifer Holliday, Mutiny, Mike Phillips, Darius Rucker, Kurt Elling, Terence Blanchard, and many more.
Leslie Hoggatt Gill is a gifted vocalist, arranger, and songwriter. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Leslie sang before she could speak; her parents recognized and nurtured her passion
for music from an early age. She sang her first concert solo at the age of three and began classical piano training at four. Leslie’s vocal talent has enabled her to travel and perform at various public and private events across the United States and abroad. She has also been featured on several studio recordings and has graced the stages of iconic venues such as Detroit’s
legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge and the famous Cliff Bell’s jazz club.
Kenneth and Leslie were married in 2020, becoming the Gill Duet in more ways than one. Their deep love for jazz, music history, and each other enriches their creative partnership, which
naturally led to them performing together. Kongruent embodies the essence of its name. This collective of outstanding and accomplished musicians are aligned and united by a common goal: to express freedom through straight-ahead and progressive jazz compositions and arrangements that showcase the bold, powerful sound of horns.
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Mediterranean Medley
2025-07-27 17:30 - 19:30
SHOWTIMES ARE AT 5:30PM & 7:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.
Featuring:

Tano Brock, clarinet
Mavrothi Kontanis, oud
Felicia Goldberg, trombone

Tano Brock, a native of San Francisco, California, was introduced to the world of music at an early age. Growing up, he attended various music camps and festivals throughout California with his family, where he was exposed to diverse global sounds. It was Turkish and Middle Eastern music that particularly captivated him, especially the percussion, which inspired him to begin studying the darbuka.
As a teenager, Tano expanded his musical repertoire to include woodwinds, piano, and guitar, ultimately honing in on the saxophone and clarinet as his primary instruments. His passion for folk music from the Balkans, Turkey, and Greece led him to travel extensively to deepen his understanding of the region’s rich musical traditions. During his travels, he studied under renowned masters like Bekos Beko (Kočani Orkestar) in Macedonia, Zhani Struga in Albania, and Burakcan Güneren in Turkey.
While studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Tano founded Sarma Brass Band, which he continues to lead. It was at Berklee where he also had the privilege of collaborating with an array of international musicians, including Panos Aivas (Greece), Tamara Jokić (Serbia), and Han Beyli (Azerbaijan). Over the years, Tano has shared the stage with legendary clarinetists such as Hüsnü Şenlendirici, Ismail Lumanovski, and Sal Mamudoski.
Now based in Los Angeles, Tano works as a music producer and mix engineer, while regularly performing with several groups, including Inspector Gagje brass band. His unique blend of global influences and knowledge of diverse instruments continues to shape his ever-evolving musical journey.
Mavrothi Kontanis is an eternal student of music on a range of instruments and voice, focused especially on the older music of Greece and the Near East. Based in the US but with roots in Halkidiki, Greece, he is known better as a singer in some circles or a teacher in others, but feels most at home crafting a melody with an oud in his hands.
Detroit native, Felicia Goldberg has spent her life studying all genres of music, specifically traditional music from the Balkans from a young age. She grew up playing violin and percussion, then landed on trombone as her primary instrument. She studied trombone at Wayne State University, but her love of Balkan music brought her to study in Macedonia and Serbia in 2019. Her original project, known as “falooshh”, draws influence from many genres, but she is excited to bring it back to her musical roots with this incredibly talented trio!

CANJA de BOA
2025-07-31 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.

CANJA de BOA is a collective of musicians from Flint and Metro Detroit, Michigan. Like the ingredients of any “good soup” (the literal translation of “canja de boa”), each member contributes their own musical flavor to produce CANJA de BOA’s unique sonic concoction, blending styles that range from samba to bossa nova to jazz, R&B, and pop.
The band is led by classical guitarist Kyle Canjar who studied in Minas Gerais, Brazil and specializes in Brazilian music. Inspired by his love for the music and culture of Brazil, he formed CANJA de BOA. Alongside Kyle, CANJA de BOA features Pia Broden Williams (vocals), Michelle Ureña (sax and flute), and Gordon Krupsky (percussion).
Since 2019, the group has been actively performing throughout southeast Michigan. Their laid-back, fun, and summery vibe hits a high note for audiences of all ages and at various venues, be it the Flint Institute of Arts’ Palette Café Patio, the Detroit Club, or Cliff Bell’s. From October 2021 to October 2024, CANJA de BOA was the weekly house band at Fogo de Chão in Troy, MI.

Urban Tropical
2025-08-01 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.
Alina Morr/Urban Tropical is the hottest new group to come out of Southwest Detroit’s lively music scene . The brain-child of Alina Morr, Pianist/Arranger for the legendary Grammy Nominated jazz group Straight Ahead, the band features the city’s hottest Latin and Jazz Players….a powerful mix
Alina Morr cut her musical teeth playing in Detroit’s blues scene, gaining valuable experience in playing Roots Music, then ventured into the jazz scene. She spent several years living in the Spanish Caribbean: living and performing music in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic; making 3 trips to Cuba, and performing with a Latin Music Group, Los Hidalgos, on various cruise ships throughout the Caribbean. She then spent a year in Boston, studying at the Berklee College of Music, before returning to Detroit, where she was invited to join the groundbreaking jazz group, Straight Ahead, along with band members Marion Hayden, Gayelynn McKinney and Regina Carter.
Her unique blend of musical influences, as well as her skill and imagination in writing and arranging music have resulted in the creation of a powerful and authentic take on modern Latin Music.
Urban Tropical’s musical crew are: John Douglas, Trumpet; Eddie Caraballo, Bass and Vocals; Armando Vega, Lead Vocals and Congas; Christopher Kaercher, Tenor Saxophone and Flute; Djallo Djakate, Drum Set; and Alina Morr, Pianist/Arranger/Director.

Chris Plum
2025-08-02 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.
A lifelong fan of mid-century nightclub jazz combos and crooners, Detroit native Chris Plum is a genre-flexing jazz singer, songwriter, performer, and “blue balladeer.” Raised immersed in the big band and jazz vocal sounds of the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s on his parent’s Victrola, he has crafted a sound that is both indebted to the jazz vocal greats, while showcasing his ability to craft and innovate original, authentic compositions. Plum has performed around the world at iconic venues including Ronnie Scott’s and Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as international festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Reading and Leeds in the U.K., South by Southwest, and Denmark’s Roskilde Festival. Plum has had music featured in indie films, commercials and has performed on late night television. He has recently assembled a band of Detroit jazz musicians to record and release a new album of original compositions titled, “The Small Hours.” Pressed at Third Man Pressing in Detroit’s Cass Corridor, the record has been well received, recently being nominated for Outstanding Jazz Recording at the Detroit Music Awards. For more information about Chris Plum, visit www.chrisplum.com

Follow on:
Instagram- @chrisplum.music
Facebook- chrisplum.music

Janée Angelíque
2025-08-03 17:30 - 19:30
SHOWTIMES ARE AT 5:30PM & 7:30PM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. Doors open at 4pm for dinner. Seating begins at 5pm for “Dinner & a Show”. The second show starts seating at 7pm.

“Music has always been a major part of my life. It’s my community, and my first love, outside of God and family.”
A seasoned songstress emerges in the heart of Detroit as vocalist Janée Angelíque makes her debut at Cliff Bell’s. Born and raised in Detroit and beginning with piano lessons at 9yrs old, Janée formed and sealed her dedication as a singer and songwriter from early on. Whether crooning the silky tones of jazz or infusing the rhythmic beats of R&B, Janeé creates an engaging experience which lingers in the air long after the final note, captivating and arresting the attention of her audience. She wrote and co-produced her first album entitled “Se’lah and has been an opening act for well known local, and internationally acclaimed talent, such as Kevin Hart, Horace HB Sanders, Tony Roberts, Mike Bonner, Silk, Chico Debarge, and Case. Her musical collaborations with other artists extend well beyond her native city, however, most recently she has shared the stage with Kasan Belgrave, Thy Bearings, Micheal Malis, Marcus Elliot, Smoke Jones, Houston Patton, and more of Detroit’s finest jazz bands as she has become imbedded in the city’s bourgeoning Jazz community.

Instagram and Facebook @Janee Angelique

William Hill III and Session
2025-08-06 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
William Hill III is a pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader from Detroit, Michigan. Hill is a graduate of the Detroit School of Arts, and is currently studying at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music undergoing his baccalaureate education.
Hill has had the opportunity to participate in many summer extensive jazz camps such as Jazz House Kids, Jr. Jazz Academy at Lincoln Center, Berklee Summer Programs, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Motown Lyric Project, Keeping an Eye Summer Jazz Workshop located at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Betty Carer’s Jazz Ahead, and many others.
Hill is honored to receive awards from programs such as the National YoungArts Foundation, a multi-year winner in the instrumental contemporary category for the NAACP ACT-SO National Competition, and the West Virginia Univeristy International Jazz Piano Competition. Musicians that Hill has worked alongside and have been mentored by include Marc Cary, Aaron Parks, Buster Williams, Christian McBride, Curtis Lundy, Jaleel Shaw, Jazzmeia Horn, Joe Farnsworth, Ari Hoenig, Rodney Whitaker, Wynton Marsalis,, and many more.
Hill has had the opportunity to perform at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club, Smalls Jazz Club, Minton’s Playhouse, The Django, The Kennedy Center, Esplanade-Theaters on the Bay (Singapore), Blue Note Tokyo, and many others to name a few. Hill has recently released his debut album, “Three’s Company” summer of 2024. Hill’s passion in life as a musician is to spread joy to everyone around the world with the music that he produces.
