Akron's new premier destination for live jazz, fine food & spirits.
Operating as usual
5x Grammy® nominated multi-instrumentalist Joey DeFrancesco is NO. 1 on the JazzWeek charts again this week with his latest release, "More Music" on Mack Avenue Records!
DON'T MISS your chance to catch Joey LIVE in concert in his highly-anticipated return to the Rubber City on FRIDAY (11/19) as we relaunch BLU Jazz+ with one of our absolute fan-favorite artists!
GET TICKETS:
https://blujazzakron.ticketleap.com/joey-defrancesco-11-19-2021/dates
“Tell everybody—how many bodies? EVERYBODY.” Hands up if you were at our show back in Summer 2015 when we featured Grammy Award winning organist/keyboardist Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles? Oh what a night! (📸: Cindy Nichols) #blujazzakron #morethanacolor #attitudeofgratitude #coryhenry
“Tell everybody—how many bodies? EVERYBODY.” Hands up if you were at our show back in Summer 2015 when we featured Grammy Award winning organist/keyboardist Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles? Oh what a night! (📸: Cindy Nichols) #blujazzakron #morethanacolor #attitudeofgratitude #coryhenry
We see at *least* 4 reasons to tune into this Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland livestream in two days! 🎶 👀
Just 2 days away! Watch JazzFest alums Dominick Farinacci, Dan Wilson, Jerome Jennings and Christian McBride live right here this Friday at noon for the July edition of Applause Performances. Mark your calendar to tune in! https://fb.me/e/2dD32LpG6
Who was in the audience as the BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation & Steinway Piano Gallery Cleveland presented world-renowned Grammy® award-winning jazz pianist & recording artist, Bill Charlap? Bill brought his all-star trio to Akron in 2016 for a wonderful evening in the BLU Zone featuring Peter Washington (bass) & Kenny Washington (drums).
Hope to have this group back once we’re up & swinging again! (📸: Cindy Nichols Photography) #akronjazz #blujazzakron #morethanacolor #attitudeofgratitude #bluarchive
“Walls of legends, halls of legends.” 🎶
Our three-day long celebration of Frank Sinatra’s centennial year in 2015 featured some major performances, including the debut of legendary tenor saxophonist, Houston Person! Featuring Joe Hunter, Peter Dominguez, and Glenn Davis, this was another beautiful evening co-presented with our friends at Steinway Piano Gallery Cleveland!
(📸: Cindy Nichols Photography) #akronjazz #morethanacolor #attitudeofgratitude #bluarchive
TONIGHT (7/1) - We don’t have any BLU news to share just yet, but we are thrilled to have guitarist Lucas Kadish and his jazz quartet (featuring Chris Coles, Zaire Darden, and Kip Reed) performing inside, on the Musica stage right next door TONIGHT! The first set starts at 8:00, followed by another at 9:30. Tickets can be purchased at the door. We hope to see you there! #akronjazz #attitudeofgratitude #blujazzakron
TONIGHT (7/1) - We don’t have any BLU news to share just yet, but we are thrilled to have guitarist Lucas Kadish and his jazz quartet (featuring Chris Coles, Zaire Darden, and Kip Reed) performing inside, on the Musica stage right next door TONIGHT! The first set starts at 8:00, followed by another at 9:30. Tickets can be purchased at the door. We hope to see you there! #akronjazz #attitudeofgratitude #blujazzakron
Nothing but smiles as we reminisce about NYC vocalist & pianist sensation Champian Fulton’s BLU Jazz+ debut in 2016! 🎙
We teamed up with our friends at Steinway Piano Gallery Cleveland to put on a very special evening of music—can’t wait to have Champian back once we’re up & swinging again! (📸: Cindy Nichols Photography) #akronjazz #morethanacolor #attitudeofgratitude
A mainstay on the vibrant New York City jazz scene, captivating vocalist & pianist sensation, Champian Fulton, brought her all-new album, “After Dark,” to BLU Jazz+ in a swingin’ celebration featuring the music of Dinah Washington!
Co-presented by Steinway Piano Gallery Cleveland. Featuring Stephen Fulton, Adi Meyerson, Ben Zweig.
(photos by Cindy Nichols Photography)
Hearing the sounds of summer once again has us thinking back on this incredible show from almost 6 years ago (!) with renowned New Orleans trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and his all-star band–Roderick Paulin, Richard Johnson, Jeff Pedraz & Winard Harper! 🎶
We're working on some special things in the BLU Zone and plan to make some big announcements this summer. THANK YOU for waiting it out with us–we promise it will be worth it! #akronjazz #jazzisback #morethanacolor #attitudeofgratitude (📸:: Cindy Nichols Photography)
Renowned trombonist, composer, producer and member of the legendary Marsalis family (father Ellis and brothers Branford, Wynton, and Jason), Delfeayo Marsalis, brought the swingin' sounds of New Orleans to BLU this summer with an all-star band featuring Roderick Paulin, Richard Johnson, Jeff Pedraz, & Winard Harper.
Known for his “technical excellence, inventive mind and frequent touches of humor…” (Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times), he is “…one of the best, most imaginative and musical of the trombonists of his generation.” (Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner) In January 2011, Delfeayo and the Marsalis family (father Ellis and brothers Branford, Wynton and Jason) earned the nation’s highest jazz honor – a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award.
Delfeayo & his swingin’ band had the whole room along for the ride – we hope to have this world-class artist back to BLU Jazz+ in the near future!
(photos by Cindy Nichols Photography)
We are looking forward to outdoor events later this summer on our new Maiden Lane Live stage! No big announcements yet – stay tuned and keep an ear out for more info! Thank you again for your support during these past 15 months. We cannot wait to enjoy the music together again!
💙, Team Blu
We are looking forward to outdoor events later this summer on our new Maiden Lane Live stage! No big announcements yet – stay tuned and keep an ear out for more info! Thank you again for your support during these past 15 months. We cannot wait to enjoy the music together again!
💙, Team Blu
Let’s give Nellie McKay a big welcome to the Historic Arts District on our ALL NEW outdoor event stage! Blu and Musica along with the help of a few friends will be bringing the best of all worlds in programming to the new Maiden Lane Live stage! Stay tuned for more details ...😉😎
*tickets available through the link on flyer, not available through Blu or Musica.
Repost from @historicartsdistrict
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Saturday, May 29th!
Nellie McKay will be bringing her sweet music to our ALL NEW outdoor stage!
Nellie McKay has won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera, performed onscreen in the films PS I Love You and Downtown Express, and her music was used in Rumor Has It, Monster-in-Law, PS I Love You, Gasland, Last Holiday and Private Life.
McKay co-created and starred in the award-winning off-Broadway hit Old Hats and has written three acclaimed musical biographies.
Nellie’s music has been heard on Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Nurse Jackie, and SMILF, and she has appeared on TV shows including The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Ferguson, and The View. Nellie has made numerous radio appearances on NPR’s Mountain Stage, A Prairie Home Companion, eTown, and Marion McPartland’s Piano Jazz.
A recipient of PETA’s Humanitarian Award and the Humane Society’s Doris Day Music Award in recognition of her dedication to animal rights, Nellie is an annoyingly vocal advocate for feminism, civil rights and other deeply felt progressive ideals. She is currently part of the campaign to get horse-drawn carriages off the streets of New York City. She would like to be friends with Russia, the country with the most nuclear weapons in the world. We must all be very kind to one another.
Let’s give Nellie McKay a big welcome to the Historic Arts District on our ALL NEW outdoor event stage! Blu and Musica along with the help of a few friends will be bringing the best of all worlds in programming to the new Maiden Lane Live stage! Stay tuned for more details ...😉😎
*tickets available through the link on flyer, not available through Blu or Musica.
Repost from @historicartsdistrict
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Saturday, May 29th!
Nellie McKay will be bringing her sweet music to our ALL NEW outdoor stage!
Nellie McKay has won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera, performed onscreen in the films PS I Love You and Downtown Express, and her music was used in Rumor Has It, Monster-in-Law, PS I Love You, Gasland, Last Holiday and Private Life.
McKay co-created and starred in the award-winning off-Broadway hit Old Hats and has written three acclaimed musical biographies.
Nellie’s music has been heard on Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Nurse Jackie, and SMILF, and she has appeared on TV shows including The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Ferguson, and The View. Nellie has made numerous radio appearances on NPR’s Mountain Stage, A Prairie Home Companion, eTown, and Marion McPartland’s Piano Jazz.
A recipient of PETA’s Humanitarian Award and the Humane Society’s Doris Day Music Award in recognition of her dedication to animal rights, Nellie is an annoyingly vocal advocate for feminism, civil rights and other deeply felt progressive ideals. She is currently part of the campaign to get horse-drawn carriages off the streets of New York City. She would like to be friends with Russia, the country with the most nuclear weapons in the world. We must all be very kind to one another.
We want to know! Share who’ve you been listening to with us below! 🎵⬇️
We want to know! Share who’ve you been listening to with us below! 🎵⬇️
Hello!
We have been working quietly behind the scenes imagining what our future looks like and bringing it to life. Thank you to each and every one of you who has reached out asking how you can support us. While we aren’t ready to open up inside yet— there is a light at the end of this long tunnel. We hope to see you this summer at our outdoor stage! 🎉
We will share details soon, including how to get in touch for booking.
Thank you for your support. We miss you.
💙, Team Blu
Hello!
We have been working quietly behind the scenes imagining what our future looks like and bringing it to life. Thank you to each and every one of you who has reached out asking how you can support us. While we aren’t ready to open up inside yet— there is a light at the end of this long tunnel. We hope to see you this summer at our outdoor stage! 🎉
We will share details soon, including how to get in touch for booking.
Thank you for your support. We miss you.
💙, Team Blu
Live From Emmet's Place Vol. 54 - Cyrille Aimée & Dan Wilson
WOW do we miss hearing NYC pianist Emmet Cohen perform here at BLU! Have you been checking out his livestream series, “Live from Emmet’s Place?” Now’s the time! 🎶
Live From Emmet's Place Vol. 45 - Frank Lacy & Stacy Dillard
@historicartsdistrict is a proud sponsor of the Midwinter Blues & Other Tunes series at @akronartmuseum. Tune in tonight via the museum’s Facebook / Ig / YouTube for the first night of music and you just might catch a video glimpse of the all new Lofts Akron, now leasing above Blu. We may be closed but our community and the @historicartsdistrict is growing. We can’t wait to celebrate with you soon. ♥️
Repost from @akronartmuseum
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Midwinter Blues & Other Tunes presents Ben Gage & Theron Brown Trio⠀
Video premiere tonight at 7 pm⠀
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Tune in for an hour of music tonight with Ben Gage and Theron Brown Trio! Both performances are recorded in the Museum’s Haslinger Galleries by Akron Recording Company. ⠀
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Ben Gage grew up in the rust belt of Northeast Ohio with his roots running deep alongside the hard-working blue collars. That tenacity, love of family, and respect for a long day can be seen in his music.⠀
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The Theron Brown Trio (Theron Brown, Zaire Darden, Jordan McBride) is in the business of making you feel good and digs into the roots of jazz, gospel, and fusion. The trio has a sound that is recognized in Northeast Ohio as something to be excited about!
@historicartsdistrict is a proud sponsor of the Midwinter Blues & Other Tunes series at @akronartmuseum. Tune in tonight via the museum’s Facebook / Ig / YouTube for the first night of music and you just might catch a video glimpse of the all new Lofts Akron, now leasing above Blu. We may be closed but our community and the @historicartsdistrict is growing. We can’t wait to celebrate with you soon. ♥️
Repost from @akronartmuseum
•
Midwinter Blues & Other Tunes presents Ben Gage & Theron Brown Trio⠀
Video premiere tonight at 7 pm⠀
⠀
Tune in for an hour of music tonight with Ben Gage and Theron Brown Trio! Both performances are recorded in the Museum’s Haslinger Galleries by Akron Recording Company. ⠀
_______________________________________⠀
Ben Gage grew up in the rust belt of Northeast Ohio with his roots running deep alongside the hard-working blue collars. That tenacity, love of family, and respect for a long day can be seen in his music.⠀
⠀
The Theron Brown Trio (Theron Brown, Zaire Darden, Jordan McBride) is in the business of making you feel good and digs into the roots of jazz, gospel, and fusion. The trio has a sound that is recognized in Northeast Ohio as something to be excited about!
Did you catch @nickcaveart HEARD last year? Tune in tonight to @pbswesternreserve for a look. A few of our favorites provided the music for the live programming and it was spectacular.
Repost from @pbswesternreserve
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In honor of Black History Month, PBS Western Reserve is airing a new local program, NICK CAVE, SUMMIT LAKE: HEARD. Discover how Cave's performance coincided with redevelopment efforts in the community orchestrated by the residents themselves.
Tune in on Friday, February 5 at 9 PM.
What are your plans this Saturday night? Here’s ours! 🖤
Roots of American Music and The Akron Heritage Project presents: The Tommy Lehman Quintet one hour live stream concert on Saturday, January 30th. The event will be streamed from Akron’s very own Akron Recording Company 7pm on FB. We will also have a special interview with two legendary musicians: guitarist Joe Mosbrook and pianist Theron Brown earlier in the day by Clinton J Holley. Don’t miss out on show this Saturday at 7pm.
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#akronrecordingcompany #akron #garfoundation #jazzcats #knightfoundation #livestream #livemusic #recordingstudio #theronbrown #interviews #tommylehman #jazz
Hi All!
I wanted to reach out on behalf of Team Blu and let you know that our hearts are with our friends through this time. We are nearing one year of being closed. Saying we miss gathering together every weekend and experiencing live jazz together would be an understatement. We would give anything to snap our fingers and make it happen again! Our number one concern is the safety of everyone who enters the club. We don't have a definitive timeline to announce yet, but rest assured- we will be back! We're down but not out! Blu will keep sharing new music and live-streams for you to enjoy until then.
Wishing you warmth and good health,
Jenn and Team Blu
We can’t wait for nights like this again, how about you?
Chris Coles is one of Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People for 2021 with good reason! We can’t wait for you to bless our stage again @cozycoles._23! 🔥
Link in bio to read more about what he’s been up to!
Chris Coles is one of Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People for 2021 with good reason! We can’t wait for you to bless our stage again @cozycoles._23! 🔥
Link in bio to read more about what he’s been up to!
What are You Doing New Year's Eve? On behalf of Team Blu, we would love to be spending the evening together! Now we can with our friend Dominick Farinacci and this all-star lineup for a live performance from Nighttown! Tickets are available at www.songbookwatchparty.com , hope to see you there;)
Bringing Nighttown to your living room, join internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter Dominick Farinacci and his band for a special New Year's Eve Livestream performance, "Resolutions." Click our profile link for tickets.
"Resolutions" features Evelyn Wright (vocal), Joe Hunter (piano), Peter Dominguez (bass), Jim Rupp (drums), Thomas Shinabeck (alto saxophone), with special guest Cleveland legend Ernie Krivda. The concert celebrates the power that resolutions have to propel us into the upcoming year with a renewed sense of hope. “Rather than looking backward with the typical year-end review, I wanted to find a way to acknowledge this precarious moment in our lives and create a musical experience that looks forward,” Farinacci notes. In March 2020, Farinacci adapted to online streaming of music and video as a way to keep musicians around the world engaged with their audiences during the shutdown. “I am proud to be live-streaming this fun and interactive New Year’s Eve concert from my hometown favorite jazz club, Nighttown. I want to present an event that brings the Nighttown bandstand directly into your living room for the night.”
Viewers can choose from a variety of different streaming passes, including individual, family, VIP Full Party Pass, and a special Virtual Host Sponsorship. Resolutions also offers interactive elements to the concert experience, including the option to request songs, VIP party gifts to enjoy during the performance, and behind the scenes programming. All audience members will also have the opportunity to share their resolutions with Dominick prior to the concert to be woven into the evening’s pattern and song choices.
47 E Market St
Akron, OH
44308
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Repost from @danwilsonguitar • Miss playing with these guys @blujazzakron. Balancing Act is available at Danwilsonguitar.com . . . . . . . . . #jazzguitarlesson #jazzmusic #jazz #balancingact #danwilsonguitar #towhomitmayconcern #jazzguitarlesson #jazzguitarplayer #jazzguitarchords #jazzguitarlicks #jazzguitaristsofinstagram #georgebenson #joeydefrancesco #projectfreedom #vanmorrison #jazzguitar #guitarist #blues #bebop #guitarlicks #gospelchops #music #grammys #grammynominee#supportblackmusic#blackart#blackamericanmusic
💙💙💙 Repost from @funkyardx • #PressPlay We miss these nights @blujazzakron 🙌 Stay tune for info on our live concert coming SOON!! #funkyardx #jazz #jazzfusion #funk #livemusic #flashbackfriday
Second set of the BLU Jazz Jam w/ Theron Brown Trio! 🎶
“And the band played on!” While our beloved Theron Brown trio swings on with our BLU Jazz jam session, we wanted to remind you that we are taking COVID-19 very seriously. The health and safety of our community is a top priority. We are remaining open for shows, however we are taking precautions to ensure everyone’s comfort. Our staff is fully trained on CDC guidelines and recommendations. Check the comments section to learn about the extra steps BLU is taking during these times, which include lowering our capacity to 75, an increased disinfectant protocol, and a touchless box office ticketing process. We are grateful for your continued support and will keep you posted of any changes that may arise. All of the BLU Crew wish you safety and health during these times. 💙
A little sneak peek of what you’re in for when you join us for the second set with the beautifully talented Badi Assad!
Tony Monaco is back for the late set! 🔥
Tony Monaco Trio takes the stage in his highly-anticipated return to BLU! 🎶
Guitarist Nick Paparone swingin’ us into our weekend in the BLU Zone — come down and join us! 🔥
Theron Brown Music & his incredible trio take the stage for our BLU Jazz Jam, happening every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, NO COVER! 🎶
T O N I G H T Doors at 7, music at 8 @tommylehhman featuring an #allstar lineup for his live album recording! Here’s his new single Masks featuring Peachcurls 💙 @theronbrown @zigg007 @danwilsonguitar @kipreedbass @sam_blakeslee @peachcurls @nathanpaulmusic
Our BLU New Year’s Eve Gala is in FULL SWING with Dan Wilson & his all-star band! 🥂
TICKETS ARE MOVING FAST for New Year’s Eve — make your plans and get yours now! 🍯 Here’s a little taste of what’s buzzing into the BLU Zone!👇 #soul #music #coleminerecords #marvingaye #teddypendergrass #newyearseve2019 #newyearseve2020 #clevelandgram #instamood
Barbados native contemporary jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman blazing back through for the second set! 🎷
We’ve got an attitude of gratitude as nationally acclaimed saxophonist Elan Trotman returns to the BLU Jazz+ stage!
The Artists and Studios of Summit Artspace
140 East Market StreetZeber-Martell Studio and Gallery
43 Furnace St