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Sheila E.

Thursday, June 25, 2026
8 p.m. | Key Bank State Theatre

Sheila E., widely known as the “Queen of Percussion,” has built a trailblazing career on one simple principle: follow the beat. Music and rhythm were constants from an early age. She grew up surrounded by musical legends, and Bay Area sounds shaped her distinctive approach to percussion, rhythm and performance. 

By the late 1970s, Sheila E. had begun amassing an impressive body of work, performing with music heavyweights. Her solo career launched in 1984 after joining Prince during the Purple Rain era. Her debut album, The Glamorous Life, spun off Grammy-nominated hits, followed by albums Romance 1600 — which featured the iconic “A Love Bizarre” — and the self-titled Sheila E. 

Sheila E.’s virtuosity extends beyond the stage as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, actress, mentor and philanthropist. She received Emmy nominations in 2010 and 2020 for Outstanding Music Direction, and her autobiography, The Beat of My Own Drum, chronicles both her artistic journey and personal resilience. 

Her work with the E-Train, founded in the early 1990s, showcases the jazz-infused side of her artistry, while her new album, Hella Fonk E, continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Sheila E. performs solo and with ensembles, blending jazz, R&B, pop and Latin influences with her signature rhythmic precision. She has also paid forward her influence through mentorship, speaking at schools, colleges, shelters and clinics to share music’s transformative power. 

Philanthropy and activism have long been central to Sheila E.’s life. She founded Elevate Hope and staged the first Elevate Oakland benefit concert in 2014 to support student achievement through music and arts programming.  

Today, Sheila E. continues to record, perform and innovate. With decades of experience, she has mastered the balance of honoring her roots, expanding her artistry, and giving back to the community that shaped her. Her drive remains the same: music from the heart, performed for the world. 

Dominick Farinacci & Jon Thomas

Friday, June 26, 2026
6 p.m. | Hanna Theatre

Dominick Farinacci

Dominick Farinacci is one of the most acclaimed trumpeters and educators of his generation. Born and raised in Cleveland, Farinacci was just 17 when mentor Wynton Marsalis invited him to perform. While still a Juilliard student, Farinacci began recording and leading bands, first in Japan — where he released eight albums in rapid succession — and then internationally. 

At Marsalis’s request, Farinacci directed a branch of Jazz at Lincoln Center in Doha, Qatar, from 2012 to 2016. His 2016 album Short Stories, produced with industry legend Tommy LiPuma, showcased his lyrical phrasing and sophisticated sound. In 2022, his hometown recognized his contributions with the Cleveland Arts Prize, the city’s most prestigious honor. 

For Farinacci, however, accolades are secondary to the human impact of music. In 2011, after his mother’s cancer diagnosis, he composed “A Prayer for You,” a serene, heartfelt melody that later inspired his TED Talk at the Kennedy Center in 2014. A decade later, he recorded the piece with his group TRIAD. 

Farinacci is also the co-creator of Modern Warrior, alongside combat veteran Jaymes Poling, blending music, storytelling and theater to explore personal narratives of service, loss and resilience. Their critically acclaimed flagship show, Modern Warrior LIVE, has toured nationally with more than 150 performances. The company’s latest work, Behind the Lines: a 9/11 Story, brings together Poling and firefighter Bill Spade, the sole survivor of FDNY Rescue Company 5, reflecting on the enduring weight of service. 

Farinacci also dedicates himself to education as director of the at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ JazzFest Academy in Cleveland. He mentors young artists to pursue both artistic excellence and personal well-being. 

Farinacci has established himself as a musician, educator and storyteller whose influence extends far beyond the trumpet. Whether through global performances, transformative educational programs or deeply personal compositions, he continues to inspire audiences and emerging artists alike. 

Jon Thomas

Deemed “stunningly good” by The New York Times, pianist Jon Thomas has emerged as one of the most ardent and gifted rising voices in jazz. A graduate of The Juilliard School’s jazz program (Master of Music, 2019), led by Wynton Marsalis, he has performed with Jason Marsalis, Samara Joy, Curtis Lundy, Marquis Hill, Melanie Charles, Dominick Farinacci, Benny Benack III, Walter Blanding, Jazzmeia Horn and Robin McKelle, among other leading artists. 

Thomas appears regularly at top New York jazz venues, including the Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club, Smalls Jazz Club and Minton’s Playhouse, and he is also a frequent presence at international jazz festivals. He studied with renowned pianists Benny Green, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s Dan Nimmer, Aaron Parks and Taylor Eigsti. Thomas is also a graduate of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music (Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2017) and is based in New York City. 

Spyro Gyra

Friday, June 26, 2026
7:15 p.m. | Mimi Ohio Theatre

Margot Copeland Smooth Jazz Night

Spyro Gyra is one of contemporary jazz’s most enduring and dynamic ensembles, known for nearly five decades of relentless touring, infectious energy and unmatched musicianship. Since forming in Buffalo, New York, in 1974, the band has performed over 10,000 shows across six continents and released 35 albums, earning both platinum and gold records along the way.  

Bandleader Jay Beckenstein began playing saxophone at age 7. After studying classical and avant-garde music, Beckenstein reunited with high school friend and keyboardist Jeremy Wall to perform summer gigs on Long Island, evolving into the band’s first incarnation. Young keyboardist Tom Schuman joined at age 16 and stayed with the band for nearly 50 years. 

The band’s early sound drew inspiration from Weather Report and Return to Forever. Initially, Spyro Gyra’s recordings combined live performance with the contributions of top New York session players. By 1983, Beckenstein focused on creating albums that reflected the musicians performing on stage night after night, occasionally inviting guests to join. 

Over the years, the group has solidified a core lineup. Julio Fernandez joined on guitar in 1984, Scott Ambush on bass in 1991 and Lionel Cordew on drums in 2015. Schuman passed the torch in 2023 to Chris Fischer, who now rounds out the ensemble. Together, they combine decades of experience with a collaborative approach that balances improvisational freedom with precision and polish.  
 
Their self-released debut in 1977 foreshadowed the DIY ethos, while subsequent releases by Infinity Records, MCA, GRP, Windham Hill Jazz and Heads Up International reflected both commercial success and creative independence. Albums such as Morning Dance cemented their reputation, while The Rhinebeck Sessions (2013) and Vinyl Tap (2019) demonstrate their continuing commitment to innovation, blending original compositions with adventurous interpretations of classic material. 

For Beckenstein and the band, the goal has always been connection. Their performances invite listeners to experience sound as emotion, memory and movement. 

Spyro Gyra continues to embody the spirit of joy, collaboration and musical exploration — always moving, always evolving, and always inviting audiences to share in the ride. 

Durand Bernarr

Friday, June 26, 2026
8 p.m. | Key Bank State Theatre

Known for genre-bending brilliance and theatrical command, Durand Bernarr blends classic soul tradition with forward-looking artistry, drawing comparisons to Luther Vandross, Little Richard and Rahsaan Patterson. His rise has also been recognized by Rolling Stone, who coined him an “Artist You Need To Know.” 

Bernarr is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and creative visionary, earning his first Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album for Bloom during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 1. His chart-topping album also received three Grammy nominations, including Best Progressive R&B Album, Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Here We Are” and Best R&B Song for “Overqualified,” establishing Bloom as one of the most critically celebrated R&B projects of the year. The New York Times called Bernarr’s win “one of the most joyous moments of the Grammy pre-show,” spotlighting a career milestone shaped by a 20-year independent journey and a fearless commitment to authenticity. 

Following the award win, Bloom delivered immediate impact, surging on Spotify and earning widespread acclaim. Billboard praised Bloom as “a towering achievement,” noting that it “consciously expands the scope of Bernarr’s already wide-ranging sound,” further cementing his position as a leading voice in contemporary R&B.  

Bernarr is also a GLAAD Media Award winner for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist and a 2026 nominee for Outstanding Music Artist for Bloom. Plus, his catalog includes the Grammy-nominated visual EP En Route. 

Bernarr’s live presence has been showcased on the Tamron Hall Show, COLORSxSTUDIOS and a viral Tiny Desk Concert, hailed as a master class in live performance, while the You Gon' Grow, Too! Tour attracted star-filled audiences worldwide. 

Hubb’s Groove presents: Long Live Levert

Friday, June 26, 2026
Opening for Durand Bernarr | Key Bank State Theatre

Robert Hubbard is the drumming sensation and driving force behind Hubb’s Groove. Known for blending soul, jazz, R&B and touches of gospel, he has cultivated a musical experience that is both smooth and high-energy, delivering performances that connect deeply. For Hubbard, music played from the heart is music that reaches the heart. 

Hubb’s Groove began in 1996 in Cleveland, originally performing under the name Moments Notice. In 2006, Hubbard rebranded the ensemble as Hubb’s Groove. They have shared stages and collaborated with an array of renowned artists, showcasing a versatility that has become a hallmark of their performances and cementing their status as one of the region’s most sought-after ensembles. 

Hubb’s Groove won the Cleveland Best Band Award in 2019 and was named Best Jazz Band at the Cleveland Music Awards for three consecutive years (2022, 2023 and 2024). Hubbard himself was recognized as a 2024 JazzFest Legend at at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, further honoring his impact on the local and national music scene. 

The current lineup of Hubb’s Groove includes James Blaque on bass, Matthew Horwich and Roger Maple on saxophone, George Granville and Gerrond Masson on keyboards, Hubbard on drums, and vocalists Adrianna Miller and Mazhorell Johnson. Together, they weave a rich tapestry of sound that captivates audiences. 

Hubbard and Hubb’s Groove continue to raise the bar for live performance, bringing heart, precision and joy to every stage. Their music celebrates both the traditions of jazz and soul and the possibilities of contemporary ensemble performances. Through their artistry, they have proven that a commitment to musical excellence and genuine connection can create experiences that linger long after the final note. 

Wildflowers: Kurt Elling & Fred Hersch

Friday, June 26, 2026
9 p.m. | Hanna Theatre

Kurt Elling

Kurt Elling is a two-time Grammy Award winner who is renowned for a signature, rich sound and an inventive and individualized body of work. With a one-of-a-kind brand of contemporary beat lyricism and vocalese-writing ingenuity, the Chicago-based musician has extended the parameters of vocal jazz and enlarged its vocabulary. The New York Times called Elling “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time.” The Guardian (UK) pronounced him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers.” Over his more than 30 years of touring and recording, Elling has won three Prix du Jazz Vocal (France), two German Echo Awards and two Dutch Edison Awards. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award 17 times and won twice. He has had a 14-year run atop the DownBeat Critics and Readers polls and has won 12 Jazz Journalists Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year. Elling recently made his Broadway debut as Hermes in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown.  

Elling’s work with other leading figures in the jazz world has included important collaborations with Branford Marsalis, Danilo Perez, Fred Hersch, Charlie Hunter and Stefon Harris. He has also performed as a featured soloist with many of the world’s leading large ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the BBC Concert Symphony, the Count Basie Orchestra, the WDR Big Band and Orchestra, the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. 

Fred Hersch 

Widely regarded as a member of jazz’s piano pantheon, Fred Hersch has been an influential force as an improviser, composer, educator, bandleader, collaborator and recording artist. Vanity Fair has called him “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade,” and The New Yorker has described him as “a living legend.” A 17‑time Grammy nominee, Hersch has received many of the field’s highest honors, including a Doris Duke Artist Award in 2016, Jazz Pianist of the Year from the Jazz Journalists Association in 2011, 2016 and 2018 and International Artist of the Year from Jazz Magazine (France) in 2021. 

An acclaimed solo pianist, Hersch has released 12 solo recordings, including the 2024 album Silent, Listening, a collaboration with legendary producer Manfred Eicher for ECM Records. The New York Times has praised him as “a master who plays it his way.” 

Through more than a dozen albums, the Fred Hersch Trio has remained at the forefront of modern jazz, celebrated for its thrilling interplay and dynamic spontaneity. Voted the No. 1 Jazz Group in the 2019 DownBeat Critics Poll, the trio continues to earn international acclaim. The Wall Street Journal calls the ensemble “one of the major ensembles of our time,” and The New Yorker has praised its blend of “high lyricism and high danger.” The trio’s latest album, The Surrounding Green, was released on ECM Records in June 2025. 

Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet

Saturday, June 27, 2026
4 p.m. | Hanna Theatre

One of the most original, prolific and influential bassists in jazz, Ron Carter holds a Guinness World Record for the most recording credits by a jazz bassist, appearing on over 2,200 sessions. From 1963 to 1968, Carter contributed to iconic jazz recordings such as Speak No Evil, Maiden Voyage, Speak Like a Child and Red Clay.  

In addition to serving as a key member of the acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet, he has recorded with Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Gil Scott-Heron, A Tribe Called Quest, Billy Joel, Bette Midler, Paul Simon and countless others. He has also composed and recorded for string quartets and crafted arrangements of Bach chorales for multiple basses. 

As a bandleader, Carter tours and records extensively with a variety of his ensembles. 

His autobiography, Finding the Right Notes, and his innovative transcription system, Chartography, highlight his commitment to documenting not just the bass line but also how the entire band interacts and evolves during a performance.  

He served as artistic director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Studies while the program was located in Boston, spent 18 years on the faculty of the City College of New York’s Music Department, and has taught at both Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music. He is now the distinguished professor emeritus, leaving a legacy of mentorship. 

His achievements include three Grammy Awards, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from Japan and the title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters from France. Carter has also received numerous MVP and Outstanding Bassist awards from the music press, along with seven honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions.

Chris Dave & The Drumhedz ft. Stokley

Saturday, June 27, 2026
5 p.m. | Mimi Ohio Theatre

The music of Chris Dave and the Drumhedz blends funk, soul, gospel, hip-hop and jazz into a seamless groove. Dave’s compositions, like his drumming, are precise and syncopated, allowing multiple ideas to merge naturally. The Drumhedz roster is vast, from core members like Pino Palladino (bass), Isaiah Sharkey (guitar), Cleo “Pookie” Sample (keys), Sir Darryl Farris (vocals) and Keyon Harrold (horn) to collaborators such as James Poyser, Stokley Williams, Shafiq Husayn, Anderson .Paak, Bilal, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Phonte Coleman. 

Dave’s journey began at age 3, trying to drum in his brothers’ funk group. When denied, he found percussion at church. By middle school, he was drumming for Houston choirs and earning a place at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. An exchange program exposed him to non-4/4 rhythms from Japan and India, broadening his perspective. A full scholarship to Howard University followed, though he left after a semester to tour with Mint Condition, opening for Janet Jackson and igniting a career that would include work with Lionel Richie, Maxwell and countless others. 

From 2009 to 2012, Dave contributed to multiple Grammy-nominated and -winning albums across genres. These collaborations became the foundation of the Drumhedz. Initially performing as Chris Dave and Friends, the group tested its chemistry on stage before releasing the 2013 album Chris Dave and the Drumhedz Mixtape, a 23-track free collection blending old recordings and new grooves. 

By late 2015, Dave gathered the Drumhedz to record their debut LP, released in 2018. The LP brings together a family of musicians whose credits span the pillars of modern music, creating a space where they can push boundaries in ways no one else could. Songs mix otherworldly textures with human emotion — flirtation, struggle and connection — proving that the Drumhedz’ extraordinary skill matches their ability to bring people together. Now, having created their world, they invite you to step in.  

Stokley

Stokley is a Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, widely respected as one of music’s best-kept secrets. He has collaborated with icons like Prince, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson. Best known as the lead singer and drummer of the legendary R&B group Mint Condition, Stokley launched his solo career in 2017 with Introducing Stokley, producing two No. 1 hits, “Organic” and “Levels.” He continues that journey through a partnership with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis’ Perspective Records, with new music including his latest single, “She.” 

Laurin Talese

Saturday, June 27, 2026
7 p.m. | Hanna Theatre

Laurin Talese is one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz. A 2018 winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, she has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and at prestigious venues worldwide. Critics, including the Chicago Tribune, have praised her for delivering “some of the most luxuriant, sumptuously phrased jazz vocals you could hope to hear.” 

Talese’s work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling, lineage and the lived human experience. Her three-movement composition, Museum of Living Stories, draws on narratives that are told, witnessed or owned, creating space in jazz for lives that are complex, messy and fully human.  

Her debut album, Gorgeous Chaos (2016), was recognized as a Top 10 Jazz Album by the Chicago Tribune and charted on Billboard. Beyond recording, her theatrical talents came to the fore when she portrayed Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, earning widespread critical acclaim. 

Talese’s influence extends globally through her work as a U.S. State Department Arts Envoy, engaging with audiences across multiple countries. These experiences inform her approach to music, emphasizing connection, cultural exchange and empathy through sound. She also serves as vice chair of Jazz Philadelphia and was previously vice president of the Recording Academy's Philadelphia Chapter. 

Talese’s repertoire spans original compositions, jazz standards and music drawn from multiple languages and traditions. Her performances are notable not only for technical mastery and elegance but also for her constant inquiry into the stories jazz can hold. Talese’s work is driven by a profound understanding of jazz as both a living tradition and a vehicle for human expression. 

Talese balances a respect for jazz history with a fearless embrace of new ideas. Her artistry embodies a rare combination of skill, intelligence and empathy, ensuring that each note she sings leaves a lasting impression. 

Nicholas Payton Trio ft. John Patitucci & Brian Blade

Saturday, June 27, 2026
8:15 p.m. | Mimi Ohio Theatre

Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, producer, arranger, essayist, and social activist. A native of New Orleans, Payton has dedicated his career to both honoring the rich traditions of his city and pushing the limits of what he terms "postmodern New Orleans music" while advocating for the broader continuum of Black American Music.

Nicholas was a prodigy from the start. By age four, he was already playing the trumpet, and before turning ten, he had begun performing professionally. By the age of twenty, Payton was in demand across the jazz and popular music spectrum.

Payton released his debut album, From This Moment, in 1995 on the Verve label. His 1997 album, Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton, garnered him his first Grammy nomination and a win for Best Instrumental Solo. Over the years, Payton has released more than twenty recordings as a leader. Known for his ambidextrous ability to play trumpet and keyboard simultaneously, he has collaborated with a remarkable range of artists.

He wrote The Black American Symphony, commissioned and performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and has led orchestral performances of Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain with the Basel Symphony Orchestra. His writings and speeches have challenged conventional definitions of jazz, advocating for the term #BAM - Black American Music - to describe the full spectrum of improvisational music created by Black artists in the U.S. This philosophy earned him recognition in The New York Times' "The Decade in Jazz: 10 Definitive Moments" in 2019.

For Payton, music is inseparable from life and culture. "Everything I write is about life experiences. The music means nothing without life. It's vibrations and energy," he explains.

Today, Nicholas Payton remains a defining voice in contemporary music, championing Black American Music with both reverence and innovation.

John Patitucci began playing electric bass at age 10, started performing and composing by 12, added acoustic bass at 15 and piano at 16, and quickly expanded from soul and rock into blues, jazz and classical music—an eclectic path that has shaped his wideranging work as both player and composer. As a studio musician, he has appeared on countless albums with artists including B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, George Benson, Dizzy Gillespie, Was Not Was, Dave Grusin, Natalie Cole, Bon Jovi, Sting, Queen Latifah and Carly Simon. In 1986, his peers in the studios voted him the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences MVP on acoustic bass. 

Brian Blade established himself as a versatile, accomplished drummer early in his career, appearing on albums by the likes of Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, and Bob Dylan. Blade released his first album, Brian Blade Fellowship, at the age of 27 in 1998 and followed two years later with Perceptual, both on Blue Note. Always an in-demand sideman and collaborator, Blade continued to find work with a varied bevy of artists, including Joni Mitchell, Bill Frisell, and Wayne Shorter. 

Ohio Players

Saturday, June 27, 2026
9:30 p.m. | Key Bank State Theatre

Over the course of their career, the Ohio Players released more than a dozen albums and earned 14 gold and platinum certifications.  

The band’s catalog has been widely sampled and reinterpreted by artists across genres, including Snoop Dogg, Puff Daddy, Salt-N-Pepa, Too Short, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul Jackson Jr. and Alex Bugnon. Their grooves helped shape hip-hop, rock and modern R&B, proving that true funk never fades — it evolves. 

The Ohio Players rose to prominence as trailblazers of street funk and underground R&B. After signing with Mercury Records in 1974, the band launched a remarkable run between 1974 and 1977, releasing three consecutive platinum albums. 

They’ve had two No. 1 singles on the Billboard Pop charts — “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” — along with five No. 1 R&B hits: “Fire,” “Sweet Sticky Thing,” “Love Rollercoaster,” “Who’d She Coo” and “Funky Worm,” which charted in 1973 when they were with Westbound Records.  

Their fusion of deep grooves, bold horn lines and undeniable funk energy propelled them to international stages and solidified their place in music history. 

Today, the Ohio Players continue to perform with a 10-piece band that includes original members James “Diamond” Williams (drums) and Billy Beck (keyboards). They are among the few bands of their era who still perform without computers or samplers — just musicianship, precision and raw energy. 

Their live shows continue to draw enthusiastic crowds around the world.  

Their legacy is not just one of platinum records and chart-topping singles — it’s one of endurance, authenticity and a sound that continues to move generations to their feet.