Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland Returns June 25 – 27 With a World-Class Lineup

First-year director Orlando Watson curates a diverse artist roster for 10 indoor performances at Playhouse Square

CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C ^®) announced the lineup for the 47 ^th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank, from June 25 – 27 at Playhouse Square. One of the most respected jazz festivals nationally, Tri-C JazzFest celebrates more than four decades of artistry, education and community engagement, featuring a mix of musicians on both indoor and outdoor stages.

This year's festival features 10 indoor concerts, including Grammy-winning singer Durand Bernarr, the "Queen of Percussion" Sheila E., two-time Grammy winner Kurt Elling, Savion Glover, Ron Carter, Grammy-winning trumpeter Nicholas Payton and more.

"We are thrilled about this year's Tri-C JazzFest lineup," said Orlando Watson, executive director of Tri-C JazzFest. "It's a bold celebration of jazz in all its forms, with artists coming together not just to perform but also to create unforgettable moments of pure musical joy for our community."

Watson's homecoming to Cleveland signals a bold new era for JazzFest. He is the first African-American and the youngest executive director in the festival's history at age 34, when he returned to the organization where he previously served as associate director from 2019 to 2022.

Below is the indoor concert schedule with showtimes, locations and artist bios:

Thursday, June 25

Sheila E. — KeyBank State Theatre, 8 p.m., sponsored by Char and Chuck Fowler
Widely known as the "Queen of Percussion," Sheila E. is a trailblazing percussionist, singer, and producer whose career blends jazz, R&B, pop, and Latin rhythms. Raised in a musical Bay Area family, she built an early reputation performing with top artists before joining Prince on the Purple Rain sessions. Her 1984 debut album The Glamorous Life produced Grammy-nominated hits, followed by Romance 1600 and the classic "A Love Bizarre." Beyond performing, she is a songwriter, actress, mentor, and philanthropist. Through projects like the E-Train and her foundation Elevate Hope, Sheila E. continues recording, touring, and inspiring new generations through music and community outreach.

Friday, June 26

Dominick Farinacci & Jon Thomas— Hannah Theatre, 6 p.m.
Trumpeter Dominick Farinacci served as ambassador to Jazz at Lincoln from 2013 to 2015 in Doha, Qatar, working to further integrate music into communities around the world in culturally collaborative ways. He is a 2022 recipient of the Cleveland Arts Prize, an honor previously awarded to author Toni Morrison and Cleveland Orchestra conductors George Szell and Franz Welser-Möst. Farinacci graduated from The Juilliard School in 2005, launching his career in Japan with a prolific run of eight albums, later releasing four more globally. He has been profiled in Vanity Fair. Farinacci is the director of the Tri-C JazzFest Academy, a year-round pre-college program of Tri-C, housed at the Gill and Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts. In 2024, Farinacci's newest group, TRIAD, released a self-titled debut album.

Spyro Gyra — Mimi Ohio Theatre, 7:15 p.m.
Spyro Gyra is one of contemporary jazz’s most enduring ensembles, known for nearly five decades of touring, vibrant energy, and exceptional musicianship. Formed in Buffalo in 1974 by saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and keyboardist Jeremy Wall, the band has performed more than 10,000 shows on six continents and released over 35 albums, earning platinum and gold records. Longtime members include Tom Schuman, Julio Fernandez, Scott Ambush, and Bonny Bonaparte. Blending jazz, funk, and pop influences, their breakthrough album Morning Dance helped define the genre. Still recording and touring, Spyro Gyra continues to evolve while delivering joyful, polished performances that connect deeply with audiences worldwide.

Durand Bernarr with special guest Hubb's Groove presents: Long Live Levert — KeyBank State Theatre, 8 p.m.
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and creative visionary Durand Bernarr earned Best Progressive R&B Album for "BLOOM," cementing Bernarr as a leading voice in contemporary R&B. Known for theatrical command, he blends soul tradition with forward-looking artistry, drawing comparisons to Luther Vandross and Little Richard. A GLAAD Award winner for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist, Bernarr’s catalog includes the Grammy-nominated visual EP "En Route" and a viral Tiny Desk concert. He is currently recording the deluxe edition of "BLOOM" following sold-out Blue Note shows.Robert Hubbard is a dynamic drummer and the driving force behind Hubb’s Groove, known for blending soul, jazz, R&B, and gospel into smooth yet high-energy performances. Founded in Cleveland in 1996 as Moments Notice, the group was rebranded as Hubb’s Groove in 2006 and has since become one of the region’s most sought-after ensembles. The band won Cleveland Best Band in 2019 and earned Best Jazz Band at the Cleveland Music Awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Hubbard was also honored as a 2024 Tri-C JazzFest Legend. With a talented ensemble behind him, Hubbard continues delivering powerful performances that celebrate connection, tradition, and musical excellence.

Wildflowers: Kurt Elling & Fred Hersch — Hanna Theatre, 9 p.m.
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. The 16-time Grammy nominee has collaborated with other leading figures in jazz, including Branford Marsalis, Danilo Perez, Fred Hersch, Charlie Hunter and Stefon Harris. He has also performed as a featured soloist with premier ensembles, including the NY Philharmonic, The BBC Concert Symphony, The Count Basie Orchestra, The WDR Big Band and Orchestra, The Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and The Village Vanguard Orchestra. He has toured globally, performed twice at the White House, and served as Artist-In-Residence at the Monterey and Singapore Jazz Festivals.

Saturday, June 27

Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet — Hanna Theatre, 4 p.m.
Ron Carter is one of the most original, prolific, and influential jazz bassists, holding a Guinness World Record for appearing on over 2,200 albums. From 1963–1968, he was a core member of Miles Davis’s acclaimed quintet, contributing to landmark recordings such as Speak No Evil, Maiden Voyage, Speak Like a Child, and Red Clay. Carter has recorded with artists including Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Gil Scott-Heron, A Tribe Called Quest, Billy Joel, and Paul Simon. A prolific composer and bandleader, he also writes for string ensembles. His book Finding the Right Notes and transcription system "Chartography" reflect his dedication to documenting musical interaction and jazz performance practice.

Chris Dave & the Drumhedz, featuring Stokley — Mimi Ohio Theatre, 5 p.m.
Led by innovative drummer Chris Dave, the Drumhedz blends funk, soul, gospel, hip-hop, and jazz into a deeply syncopated, groove-driven sound. The collective features core collaborators including Pino Palladino, Isaiah Sharkey, Robert Glasper, Sir Darryl Farris, and Keyon Harrold, along with a wide circle of acclaimed musicians. Dave’s musical journey began in church as a child and led to touring with Mint Condition and collaborations with artists such as Maxwell and Lionel Richie. After years of live experimentation, the group released the Chris Dave and the Drumhedz Mixtape and later their debut LP, showcasing a boundary-pushing sound rooted in rhythm, emotion, and collaboration.

Laurin Talese — Hanna Theatre, 7 p.m.
Laurin Talese is one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz and the 2018 winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. She has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra at leading venues worldwide and earned praise for her rich, expressive vocal style. Her debut album, Gorgeous Chaos (2016), was named a Chicago Tribune Top 10 Jazz Album and charted on Billboard. Talese also gained acclaim portraying Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. A U.S. State Department Arts Envoy and Board Chair of Jazz Philadelphia, she blends storytelling, tradition, and innovation, using jazz as a powerful medium for cultural connection and human expression.

Nicholas Payton Trio, featuring John Patitucci + Brian Blade — Mimi Ohio Theatre, 8:15 p.m.
Grammy Award–winning trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and activist Nicholas Payton is a New Orleans native known for honoring tradition while expanding what he calls "postmodern New Orleans music." As a prodigy, he began playing trumpet at four and performing professionally before age ten. His debut album, From This Moment (1995), launched a prolific career of more than twenty recordings as a leader. His 1997 collaboration with Doc Cheatham earned a Grammy for Best Instrumental Solo. Payton has written major orchestral works, including The Black American Symphony, and advocates for the term #BAM — Black American Music — highlighting the cultural continuum of Black improvisational music in America.

Ohio Players — KeyBank State Theatre, 9:30 p.m.
The Ohio Players rose to prominence as trailblazers of street funk and underground R&B. After signing with Mercury Records in 1974, they launched a remarkable run through 1977 with three consecutive platinum albums. The band scored two No. 1 pop hits — "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster" — and five No. 1 R&B singles, including "Funky Worm" and "Sweet Sticky Thing." Over their career, they released more than a dozen albums and earned 14 gold and platinum certifications. Widely sampled by artists from hip-hop, rock, and R&B, their influence endures. Today, original members James "Diamond" Williams and Billy Beck still perform worldwide with a 10-piece band, keeping their legendary funk alive.

Founded in 1980, Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland has grown into a multifaceted cultural experience that brings nearly 500 artists together indoors and outdoors, offering both ticketed concerts in Playhouse Square's historic theaters and free community performances on the plaza at Playhouse Square on Friday and Saturday of the festival weekend. The festival's mission is rooted in celebrating the rich history of jazz, nurturing future generations of musicians, and making world-class music accessible to all.

Tri-C JazzFest is more than a series of concerts — it serves as a classroom for emerging artists through the Tri-C JazzFest Academy, providing students of all ages with direct mentorship from world-renowned musicians. This year, it will also serve as a hub of community engagement, with new programs and activities taking place throughout the festival to engage visitors and make jazz feel accessible to all.

Festival passes — which offer seating to all ticketed concerts, discounts on JazzFest merchandise, early entry into the late-night afterparty and more — are on sale through the Playhouse Square website until May 15. Individual concert tickets go on sale March 20 through the Playhouse Square box office.

The festival regularly draws tens of thousands of people downtown for the three-day family-friendly experience. For a full roster of Tri-C JazzFest events, visit the Tri-C JazzFest website.

Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland is made possible by KeyBank, Fran and Jules Belkin, the Connor Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, the Ohio Arts Council, SeibertKeck Insurance Partners, Debbie and Jim Strassman, the William M. Weiss Foundation, Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC, the National Endowment for the Arts and a growing list of donors and supporters.

March 18, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu