Skip to content

Category: Concert Previews

Dan Weiss’ Trio Even Odds Is A Sure-Thing Bet

Miguel Zenon, Matt Mitchell, Dan Weiss photo by Stephanie Ahn-Weiss

Rock, paper, scissors is perhaps the most elementary game ever devised. Yet within its narrow structure it offers endless strategic possibilities. Little wonder that the three hand gestures form the cover image of Even Odds, Dan Weiss’ terrific new release on Cygnus Records. Put it on your Bandcamp Friday wishlist and listen to the music at Even Odds’ two shows at BOP STOP Saturday night.

Comments closed

Countdown: Where To Go & What To Hear In NEO April 30 – May 8

Keigo Hirakawa

Friendly experiencers,

What’s this, a Countdown on Tuesday? Where’s the featured preview? To answer the second question first, a preview is coming, but the featured artist, Dan Weiss, wasn’t available to talk until Wednesday. So I’m flipping the script–or the cadence in this case–and giving you two extra days of events here. Good thing, too, because the week is loaded. As always, many thanks to Jim Szabo for publishing the Northeast Ohio Jazz Calendar, essentially the source document for this department. While I’m thinking of Jim, it seems his Down by the Cuyahoga radio program is now available as a stream that you can access here. This is great news for those of us olds in the In Bed By Nine club. That said, charter members should make an exception when it comes to live music. Why not start with one of the events below?

Comments closed

Collective Action: The Third Law Collective Records Saturday

Third Law Collective

The last year or so has seen an explosion of recordings by Cleveland improvising artists such as Kent Engelhardt and Stephen Enos, Kevin Martinez’s Reclamation Band, Alla Boara, Bobby Selvaggio, TRIAD, a new project by Dominick Farinacci (more about that one soon) and a forthcoming Cleveland Jazz Orchestra anniversary release.

Into this hive of activity by established artists comes an ambitious live recording date Saturday night by a band that is scarcely more than a year old. Youthful overreach? Not when the band is the Third Law, the composers collective that is a veritable all-ages writers room for some of the most interesting large ensemble jazz being made around here.

Comments closed

Countdown: Where To Go & What To Hear In NEO April 18-25

Friendly experiencers,

A reaction to a COVID booster swamped my Tuesday preview (staying healthy is making me sick!) and a badly timed security certificate expiration wiped out my Wednesday. So to make up, it’s time for an expanded Thursday Countdown–not that I needed an excuse because the coming week is high-key loaded with notable jazz events. Touring artists and local luminaries alike await your appreciative ears and enthusiastic applause. So take a portion of that tax refund check (you DID get those done, right?) and head out to a club or concert hall near you and make the momentum happen.

Comments closed

Countdown: Where To Go & What To Hear In NEO April 11-17

The Jazz-Bins, (from left) Joe Dyson, Marc Ribot, Greg Lewis

Friendly experiencers,

Monday’s Great Celestial Gig In The Sky is going to be hard to top. On the other hand, NEO jazz fans don’t have to wait 200 years for next big show to arrive, April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and there’s much to appreciate in the area’s clubs, concert halls and other venues. Here are four such shows, all filled with blindingly original and exciting players. File your taxes, mow the lawn and reward yourself with the best music Northeast Ohio has to offer.

Comments closed