Skip to content

John Chacona writes Posts

Craft And Art: Christopher Hoffman’s ‘REX’ At The Treelawn

Published 30 June, 2026 By John Chacona
photocredit: Kenneth Jimenez

When the book is closed on the year’s most satisfying recordings, don’t be surprised to find among the big-budget productions, glossy all-star tributes and high-profile collabs, an intimately scaled solo cello recording on the tiny Out Of Your Head Records label. It’s called REX and its creator Christopher Hoffman will bring the music he wrote for it to a solo concert at The Treelawn Social Club Wednesday evening.

Read moreCraft And Art: Christopher Hoffman’s ‘REX’ At The Treelawn
Leave a Comment

At JazzFest No. 47, Tri-C Tries Something A Little Different

Published 23 June, 2026 By John Chacona
photocredit: Sam Hooper

It’s so high, you can’t get over it, so low you can’t get under it. It’s the Tri-C JazzFest, the biggest weekend on the Cleveland jazz calendar that begins Thursday, June 25 when Sheila E. takes the stage at the State Theatre.

This might be the one time all year that traditional media pay attention to jazz in Cleveland. That’s a good thing, so there’s no point in me yelling “Go Team!” from my little corner of the internet.

Still, this one feels a little different, and that’s worth noting.

Read moreAt JazzFest No. 47, Tri-C Tries Something A Little Different
Leave a Comment

Garrett Folger’s Week Of Music ‘In Summer’s Arms’

Published 9 June, 2026 By John Chacona
Garrett Folger at Visible Voice Books

I write about Garrett Folger a lot here, and there’s a reason for that. No matter where I go to hear music, Folger is there. As a leader, sideman, composer, organizer or supporter of the scene, the Buffalonian seems to make most every interesting gig around here. I swear there must be five of him.

Folger’s gig book must be quite a sight. Yet even by his own standards of ubiquity, this week needs a big red circle around it for the two gigs in a three-day span that say a lot about his restless curiosity.

Read moreGarrett Folger’s Week Of Music ‘In Summer’s Arms’
Leave a Comment

One Night In The Midwest: Stein/Smith/Shead Meet The Moment

Published 26 May, 2026 By John Chacona

The improvising trio of bass clarinetist Jason Stein, double bassist Damon Smith and drummer Adam Shead released a three-CD set last Friday of recordings from a December tour recorded at venues in Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Indiana, St. Louis and Bloomington, Illinois entitled Five Nights in the Midwest (Irritable Mystic Records). Sharp-eyed readers might notice the absence of a Midwestern city close to our hearts. But fear not. The trio rolls into Waterloo Arts Sunday for a New Ghosts concert that comes at the two-third point of an 18-concert tour.

Read moreOne Night In The Midwest: Stein/Smith/Shead Meet The Moment
Leave a Comment