Live at the Bop Stop

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Indianapolis based guitarist Charlie Ballantine returns to our stage and to our program – this time in front of a live audience. Charlie released two albums in 2021; Cold Coffee is a collection of his own works and Life is Brief – a Tribute to Bob Dylan, which landed on Jazziz Magazine ' s Top Ten Best Releases list. His most re...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Long time Pittsburgh resident trombonist, pianist and band leader Reggie Watkins has released four recordings as leader and has appeared on many others. From 1999 to 2006 he served as trombonist and musical director for trumpeter and band leader for Maynard Ferguson and later served in the same capacity with singer-songwriter Ja...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Nathan-Paul grew up a pastor's son here in Cleveland, and knows how to deliver sound medicine to the people. His velvety lo-fi sounds are a vibe-heavy soul party, fusing modern trap, 70s funk, and fiery southern gospel. And Fusion is an apt word for this performance, which he terms Livf's Notes. This show is steeped in improvisa...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artists and venue. A chance meeting with Wynton Marsalis in Dayton, Ohio led Stacy Dillard to New York where the saxophonist thrives fronting three of his own bands that cut across R&B/Funk and Hip Hop and serves as an in-demand sideman. It's also where he met pianist Kiego Hirakawa with whom he partners for this performance. Keigo has spent the...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Venturing onward to New York seems to be a necessary step in the careers of most aspiring jazz artists. Guitarist Tim Picard has been a Northeast Ohio mainstay, equally adept in straight ahead and free jazz. But time marches on and opportunities abound in the Big Apple, so Tim is off to New York, but not before one last performa...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Buffalo based Adam Bronstein is a guitar player known for his clever songwriting and playful improvisation. Focusing on guitar at the forefront of its sound, his trio's music is instrumental with influences ranging from jazz through Hip Hop, R&B and Psychedelia. We were excited to catch Adam on a recent trip to his native Buffal...

Performance and works used with permission from the artist and venue. Sometimes, producing an album takes work, labor, a bit of suffering and a lot of negotiation. For Central New York Based Dave Solazzo and the Bridge, the trio knew after one session that they had to hit the studio and then the road. The fruit of that chemistry produced the 2023 album Locrian Skye, and you'll hear selections from...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Two legendary Northeast Ohio guitarists team up for a great duo performance from June 19th, 2025 on Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance and Works used wtih permission from the Artist and Venue. Columbus based bassist George Delancey was a core member of the Larry Fuller Trio and has performed with Ben Patterson, Wynton Marsallis and Houston Person, among others. For this performance, he enlists a number of Central Ohio musicians to Cleveland to work out material in advance of a live album recording. For this performanc...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. This week…it's an encore performance from the dynamite Alex Anest Organ Trio on Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Northeast Ohio based guitarist Tim Mirth specializes in adventurous and diverse compositions that speak to a desire to create, explore and bring energy to the world, whether he is performing with Night Terrors, Stellar Regions or leading his own touring trio. Saxophonist Justin Tibbs specializes in straight ahead power jazz desi...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. On this episode of the program, the New Nostalgia invite you to join them for music for your head and your heart. The Chicago based nonet blend jazz, pop and rock together to create a sound that is familiar and tight while also offering band members a bit of room to explore. Their self-titled 2019 debut was hailed by Downbeat as...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. We are spoiled as a region with an immense amount of talent, as this episode of the program will illustrate. Jackie Warren is a legend behind the piano, from her work in the 3D Jazz Trio, to her work with Tito Puente and her place as one of the anchors of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. She leads this performance, where she's join...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Mixing jazz, blues and funk with a healthy dose of the Hammond B3, the Pittsburgh based Norside produces a sound best described as Rust Belt Funk. Whether they're playing alongside contemporaries such as The New Mastersounds and Bar Kays, or pushing boundaries with the Steeltown Horns, Norside embodies the commitment to giving t...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Abstract Sounds are a 6-piece alternative jazz fusion band, centered around saxophonist Jevaughn Bogard dedicated to living at the intersection of jazz soul, bass and funk. Dancing shoes are required for this performance, which features Patrick Duke Graney on Percussion, Frank Alouishus on Keys and Trumpet, Ashton Thomas on Drum...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Pianist, guitarist and educator Ariel Kasler is a driving force behind the resurgence of jazz and classical music in Northwest Ohio in both his position as the pianist for the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and as the Artistic Director of the Orchard Guitar Festival. As the leader of his own quartet, he performs original jazz composition...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Saxophonist, composer, and educator David Bixler cut his teeth touring the world with the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Toshiko Akioshi. He later joined the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Big Band, with whom he played a decade-long residency at Birdland and won a LATIN GRAMMY for Final Night at Birdland. Beatitude is his quartet p...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. internationally acclaimed drummer and percussionist Bill Ransom, Aretha Franklin, Marion Meadows, Cecil Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Mary Wilson, and James Newton. This performance features selections from his album Generations, along with some jazz standards. From January 25 th , 2025 and featuring Ken LeeGrand on Winds, Kip Reed...

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Embracing his love for a vast variety of stylistic genres, three-time GRAMMY nominee, Troy Roberts is one of today's most widely recorded touring artists.   His name adorns several essential recordings ranging from the legendary Joey DeFrancesco, the iconic Van Morrison, and the critically acclaimed Kurt Elling. He's also a prol...

This performance used with permission from Bryan Kennard and The Music Settlement. The Bop Stop celebrated its 10th year under the auspices of The Music Settlement in 2024 by commissioning ten original Big Band pieces from ten different Ohio composers. We then took those pieces and rounded up 17 performers to form the All Star Bop Stop Big Band and put on a show to celebrate our birthday. Featurin...

This performance used by permission from Bryan Kennard and The Music Settlement. The Bop Stop celebrated its 10th year under the auspices of The Music Settlement in 2024 by commissioning ten original Big Band pieces from ten different Ohio composers. We then took those pieces and rounded up 17 performers to form the All Star Bop Stop Big Band and put on a show to celebrate our birthday. Featuring...

This performance used with permission from Eli Leder. Northeast Ohio's educational organizations are committed to identifying and developing young talent, and were proud to feature an emerging trio of young musicians on this weeks program. All three performers in the Eli Leder Trio emerged from the Tri-C JazzFest Academy and perform in the Spirit of the Groove under the tutelage of Dominic Farinac...

All performances used with artist permission. 2025 has come and gone and left a plethora of outstanding performances in its wake. We hope you've enjoyed the program this year and enjoy this episode as we look back at some of the best performances to grace our stage. Jamey Haddad feturing John Shannon - Cardinal Chris Burge - Land of Smiles Eli Leder Trio - Poinciana Gabi Alemana - Nice Work If You...

This performance used with permission from Nate Yingling Youngstown native pianist and bassist Nate Yingling returns as part of our Trio Tussle series with a new set of electric tunes born of frequent collaborations with bassist Darren Frate. When he isn't touring with guitarist Vlad Cetkar, Nate is a composer and educator who also coordinates the Argonaut Rowing Club collective. Nate and Darren a...

This performance used with permission from Andru Dennis. Every jazz scene, large or small, has a performer who serves as the glue that holds groups together. They're not necessarily the person that leads but they're almost always the person who helps others shine.   In Northeast Ohio in general, and Akron specifically, Andru Dennis is that performer. Andru's name is almost never on the marquee, bu...