The 46th Annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank, is June 26 - 28, 2025.

The lineup for the 46th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank, promises to be an eclectic mix of cultures and styles. 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 tradition 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.

Schedule of Events:

5:30 pm: Centennial Tribute to Oscar Peterson with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra featuring Benny Green and Dan Wilson - Mimi Ohio Theatre

Oscar Peterson, a Montreal-born virtuoso often hailed as jazz's greatest pianist, composed the Africa Suite in the 1980s. Largely unperformed during his lifetime, the suite included "The Fallen Warrior," inspired by Nelson Mandela while imprisoned. Peterson met Mandela in 1988, though his music had been banned under apartheid. After Peterson's death, his widow, Kelly, worked to share the suite globally, culminating in its 2020 premiere in Toronto's Koerner Hall, arranged by John Clayton.

Clayton, cofounder of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with Jeff Hamilton and Jeff Clayton, crafted the ensemble's signature blend of influences from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Thad Jones. The 19-piece orchestra tours internationally, collaborating with icons like Diana Krall and Natalie Cole.

Peterson's protege Benny Green and Ohio-raised guitarist Dan Wilson continue jazz's rich traditions. Green toured with legends like Art Blakey, while Wilson, mentored by Christian McBride, gained acclaim for his innovative, genre-spanning artistry.

This performance is sponsored by Scott Balogh

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7:15 pm: Stanley Clarke N-4EVER - Connor Palace Theatre

Four-time Grammy-winning bassist Stanley Clarke is one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world. What's more, he is equally gifted as a recording artist, performer, conductor, arranger, producer and film score composer. A true pioneer in jazz and jazz fusion, Clarke is particularly known for his ferocious bass dexterity and consummate musicality. In 2022, Clarke was selected by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of its four new Jazz Master honorees. Clarke was honored with Bass Player Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of Guitar Player Magazine's "Gallery of Greats."

"Stanley Clarke's prolific output can soothe you with a gentle bow of the bass … or launch you into an interplanetary future. His playing holds a reckless abandon, clarity and facility rarely heard on the low end." - The New York Times

Stanley Clarke N-4EVER's performance is sponsored by The Roy Minoff Family Fund

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9:00 pm: Sun Ra Arkestra - Mimi Ohio Theatre

The Sun Ra Arkestra is known worldwide for its live shows that combine big-band swing, space-age free jazz, bebop, singing, dancing, chanting and Afro-pageantry. The Arkestra has been at the forefront of Afrofuturism since its inception. Herman Poole Blount - better known by his stage name, Sun Ra - founded the Sun Ra Arkestra in Chicago in the mid-1950s. Sun Ra, a jazz composer, bandleader and pianist, is considered one of the earliest pioneers of the synthesizer and the free jazz revolution of the 1960s. He had sent a strong spiritual and musical message to his Arkestra, wanting them to help make the universe better through positive vibrations and music. The group has recorded over 100 albums, including the Grammy-nominated Swirling (2020). After more than 60 years, the band continues to tour worldwide, performing at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall and the Berlin Opera House.

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