There are people who love jazz, and then there’s everyone else. To many music historians, jazz is American classical music, and with the lineups that appear year after year at Tri-C’s JazzFest, it’s easy to see why.
The 46th Annual Tri-C JazzFest runs June 26-28 in the historic theaters of Playhouse Square and Cleveland Public Auditorium with free performances outside on U.S. Bank Plaza, under the world’s largest permanent crystal chandelier, over the weekend.
For over four decades, JazzFest has admirably carried out their mission to foster the history and nurture the future of jazz, provide educational opportunities for students of all ages and in all walks of life, and bring world-class jazz to Cleveland.
Single tickets are on sale now.
Indoor Lineup
The artists on the 46th Lineup are prize-winning creatives, pushing the boundaries, advocating for social change, exploring the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood. But it’s when they hit the stage and play live, that the MAGIC begins.
Special tributes include a swinging centennial nod to Oscar Peterson, featuring the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Benny Green, and an homage to the enduring duo of Chick Corea and Gary Burton with Taylor Eigsti and Christian Tamburr. The festival shows its abiding respect for the wide spectrum of jazz traditions with the Sun Ra Arkestra — a pioneer of Afrofuturism — combining swing, free jazz, bebop, chanting and dancing.
Global musicians include Pedrito Martinez, a leading percussionist in Cuban rumba; the quintessential singer of our time, Dianne Reeves, in a rare duo with Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo; and South African vocalist Jonathan Butler, with stirring messages of freedom and unity. Add to it the mastery of Kirk Whalum, Dominick Farinacci, Stanley Clarke and the highly energetic New Orleans funk master himself, Trombone Shorty, and you have a journey full of interesting stops and a lot of great music.
Outdoor Lineup
You want free Jazz open to all ages? How about shopping, food and beverage vendors, street performers and even more festival entertainment? That's what you'll get at Tri-C JazzFest's Outdoor Festival happening right underneath the GE Chandelier at U.S. Bank Plaza.
The SeibertKeck Stage features local and regional talent selected by a jury of music industry experts that includes jazz, gospel, funk and rock that will keep the dance floor full all festival long. Meanwhile, the William M. Weiss Foundation Next Gen Stage will showcase Tri-C JazzFest Academy camp students, the Spirit of the Groove ensemble and former students who have passed through the program throughout the years.
Kids will love the U.S. Bank Kids Club tent at Huron and Euclid, which will be chock full of musical arts and crafts, drum lessons, face painting and fun for the whole family. The Jazz Kitchen will feature cooking demos and tips from the Tri-C Hospitality Management Center and interviews with featured artists. All this combined with the Ohio Lottery Beer Tent, Art Acts Giant Puppets, Food Trucks and more vendors, performers and games that will entertain and delight between sets.
Get down to Tri-C JazzFest and, well, get DOWN.
Need a nearby hotel?
Make it a full multi-day getaway to The Land. Book an overnight stay Downtown at one of the properties here.