(view all archives)

Nighttown 50th Anniversary Celebration - BIG WEEK

Nighttown Cleveland by Nighttown / Jim Wadsworth Productions

Hi Folks.

It's Here!! Nighttown celebrates it's 50th Anniversary this Thursday on February 5th!! We'resuper excited to be celebrating this great anniversary and appreciate all of your support over theyears. Come join us as we celebrate all this month.

On Wednesday, join us with a great concert by two guitar masters, Frank Vignola and VinnyRaniola. Jim Wadsworth's first concert that he produced at Nighttown back in 1999 was with FrankVignola!! So it's great that he will be here again to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with a concert.

On Thursday, our official 50th Anniversary Party takes place and we'll be celebrating throughoutNighttown that night. The concert that night features dozens of NE Ohio artists that have performedhere over the years. Come and hang and join us for a drink and/or dinner. It will be a HUGE night!!

On Friday, come and enjoy one of the hottest NE Ohio groups, Howie Smith / David Thomas / BobFerrazza / Ray Porrello All-Star Organ Quartet.

Then on Sunday, join us for the dean of sax, Buddy Sullivan, along with The Joe Hunter Trio, in aspecial 5PM concert.

Check out all of the great articles and radio broadcasts below celebrating our 50th Anniversary. And ifyou have some great stories about your experiences at Nighttown, please share them with us on ourFacebook page.

Hope to see you soon!

Brendan RingNighttown

More Great Music, Dining and Memories at

12387 Cedar Road (top of Cedar Hill)Cleveland Heights, OH

216-795-0550 No need to make an additional table reservation -

it's already included with your concert tickets!!www.nighttowncleveland.com

Map to Nighttown

To Purchase Concert Tickets

No need to make an additional table

reservation - it's already included with your concert

tickets!!

Music and Production for Special & Private Events

Jim Wadsworth Productionswww.jwpjazz.com

Nighttown News

Nighttown is Celebrating It's 50th Anniversary!!

Yes, Nighttown turns 50!! The official day is February 5th, but we'll becelebrating all month.

We're kicking off the celebration on Thursday February 5th with the official 50thAnniversary Party, including a concert featuring dozens of musicians who haveperformed at Nighttown over the years including Joe Hunter, Jackie Warren,Ernie Krivda and many, many more.

Then on Friday February 13th, Nighttown continues the celebration with one of ourbiggest concerts ever with The Manhattan Transfer.

The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com featured Nighttown in three separatearticles:

Nighttown at 50: Owner Brendan Ring talks about the fabulous yearsof legendary nightclub by Michael HeatonNighttown at 50: Cleveland Heights jazz club celebrates 'first 50 years'with a concert by Chuck YarboroughNighttown in Cleveland Heights turns 50: a jazz club where time standsstill by John Petkovic

Destination Cleveland is featuring Nighttown on their website all this month with aspecial banner ad and a feature article on Nightown. Cl ick here to read theircelebration of Nighttown.

Nighttown is also featured in February's "Cleveland Magazine". Click here to readthe article (pdf).

Tune in to WCPN 90.3FM's "The Sound of Applause" featuring Dee Perry onWednesday February 4th at 2:00PM for a live interview with Brendan Ring,Nighttown's illustrious proprietor, along with our legendary artistic director JimWadsworth. They'll be sharing stories of Nighttown's past and it's musical legacy.

Come join us at Nighttown as we celebrate throughout the month ofFebruary. Stay tuned for more celebration news!!

New Shows Just Added

2/20 Barbara Rosene & Jackie Warren Trio 3/04 Cyrille Aimee & Diego Figueiredo

3/04 Cyrille Aimee & Diego Figueiredo

Nighttown Swag

Take a little of Nighttown home with you, with authentic Nighttown mugs, shirts,caps and more. Be proud and support your favorite music venue. Click here

And right now you can get 15-20% off on all Nighttown items. Click here for discountcodes

Nighttown One of the Top Great Jazz Venues in the World

Once again, Nighttown has been selected as one ofthe Great Jazz Venues in the World by DownBeatMagazine. Nighttown is still the only club in thestate of Ohio selected. We're super proud of beingselected once again.

It's a lot of hard work presenting international levelartists, but you have supported our efforts, and as aresult together we have built a home for us all toenjoy.

Thank you to all of our fans!!

Click on the DownBeat cover to see all the clubs

"Late Night at Nighttown" ** Every Week **Fridays Dennis Lewin on piano 10:30PM - 1:00AM No coverSaturdays Jackie Warren on piano 10:30PM - 1:00AM No cover

Starting this weekend (1/23/15), Dennis Lewin now joins us on Friday nights on piano in the Music Room Lounge.

Nighttown Newsletter

Click here to sign up for the Nighttown newsletter. Subscribers receiveadvance notice and discounts to many of the shows.

Nighttown Tickets and Seating Policy

To purchase tickets click here, Do not make an additionaltable reservation - it is already included with yourpurchased tickets. All seats are General Admission. Allseating is based on the time that you arrive for the showand based on how many people are in your party andwhere we have tables of that size. You may be sharing atable with other people.

Nighttown Student Discount PolicyStudents up to age 26 are 1/2 off the regular price. Student priced tickets are only available the night of the

Student priced tickets are only available the night of theshow, are available only at the door, and are subject toavailability. Students must have a photo ID from agenerally-recognized high school, college or university. Full-paying ticket holders get priority on admission andseating. Certain select shows have no discount based onarrangements with the artist. On evenings when there aretwo shows (i.e. shows at 7 & 9PM), the discount is onlygood for the second show. Students under the age of 18must be accompanied by an adult paying full price inorder to be eligible for the discount.

FRANK VIGNOLA & VINNY RANIOLO $20.00 Wednesday 2/04 7:00 pm Buy Tickets

Guitar virtuosos in exciting Duo performance live at Nighttown!

Vinny Raniolo

Still in his 20s, Raniolo has already performed alongside Tommy Emmanuel, Tony Trishka, BuckyPizzarelli and David Grisman. Vignola and Raniolo have been touring together as a guitar duo fornearly four years, and have played hundreds of shows together.

Frank Vignola

Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. Hisstunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians,including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, the BostonPops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five MostAdmired Guitar List” for the Wall Street Journal. Vignola’s jaw-dropping technique explains whythe New York Times deemed him “one of the brightest…stars of the guitar”.

Born on suburban Long Island on December 30, 1965, Vignola was raised in the New York area.The Italian-American started playing the guitar at the age of six and grew up admiring a varietyof guitarists. Far from a jazz snob, Vignola never listened to jazz exclusively and was also a majorfan of classical, rock, R&B, and pop. The guitarists that he admires range from Django and LesPaul to rock icons like Frank Zappa and Eddie Van Halen. As a young adult, Vignola studied atthe Cultural Arts Center of Long Island and went on to enjoy an enormous amount of sidemangigs in the 1980s including recording and touring with the likes of Madonna, Leon Redbone,Ringo Starr as well as coming into his own as a leader in 1988 with his famed Hot Club of Francetribute which was hailed in the NY Times as one of the top ten acts in New York City in 1988 andforged the way for the many Django Hot Club groups that followed.

The New Yorker was 27 when, in 1993, he signed with Concord Jazz and recorded his firstConcord session as a leader, Appel Direct. Many more Concord releases followed in the 1990s aswell as 3 releases for the Telarc label as co-leader of the group Travelin’ Light. The early 2000′sfound Vignola recording a solo guitar CD for Acoustic Disc as well as performing regularly withguitarist, Les Paul. This also marked the time that Frank began working with record producer JoelDorn as well as making featured appearances on Atlantic, Sony and Warner Brothers Recordswith the likes of Donald Fagen, Queen Latifah, Mark O Connor and Wynton Marsalis. He alsorecorded a collection of Gershwin pieces for Mel Bay Records titled, “Vignola Plays Gershwin”which was number 2 in NPR radio airplay charts. In recent years, Vignola has recorded twoimportant collaborative CD’s, “Just Between Frets” with Tommy Emmanuel on Solid Air Recordsand “Frank-N-Dawg, Melody Monsters” with mandolinist David Grisman on Acoustic Disc Records.

Visit Website

Watch Video

NIGHTTOWN'S 50TH ANNIVERSARYPARTY$20.00

$20.00 Thursday 2/05 6:00 pm Sold Out

Nighttown turns 50 years old on this date! Come celebrate Nighttown'spast, present, and future with an All-Star Cleveland lineup including JoeHunter, Jackie Warren, Ernie Krivda, George Foley, Sammy DeLeon, PeterDominguez, Lem Adams, Glenn Davis, Bob Fraser, Moises Borges, andmany, many more!!! Full lineup TBA.

HOWIE SMITH/DAVID THOMAS/BOBFERRAZZA/RAY PORRELLO ALL-STARORGAN QUARTET $15.00 Friday 2/06 8:30 pm Buy Tickets

All-Star NE Ohio Organ Quartet Heats up the Stage at Nighttown! PlayingSoul Jazz/Standards/Originals…& more!

Featuring: Howie Smith-Sax, David Thomas-Hammond B-3 Organ, BobFerrazza-guitar, & Ray Porrello-drums.

Howie SmithA virtuoso saxophonist, composer and jazz musician, Mr. Smith has presented concerts andworkshops throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and Australia, andhas performed and/or recorded with musicians/organizations as renowned as John Cage, theCleveland Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Elvis Presley, and the Tone Road Ramblers. His catalog ofcompositions is extensive, and recordings of his work can be heard on the Philips, Polydor,Optimism, and Sea Breeze labels. Mr. Smith has twice served as co-chair of both the JazzFellowship and the Music Overview panels for the National Endowment of the Arts. He holdsmusic degrees from Ithaca College and the University of Illinois.

David ThomasDave Thomas is most talented piano and organ player. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Thomaswas an original member of the R&B group, "Sweet Thunder". He has also performed withnumerous artists including the late James Cleveland, Dizzy Gillespie, Albert Ayler, Jean Carn,David Ruffin, and Grover Washington. His musical involvement also includes musical theater as awriter, performer, and musical director in performances such as "The Living Cross," "TheAudition," and "Black Nativity," which have played throughout the United States and Canada. Heis also a gifted educator, having worked at The Cleveland School of the Arts, CuyahogaCommunity College, Cleveland State University, and Case Western Reserve University. He is theco-author of a book entitled, "A Child's First Book of Spirituals," which is the recipient of theCoretta Scott King Award. Presently, he is a music teacher with the Cleveland Board of EducationSchool District, Musical Staff member of The Southeast Seventh Day Adventist, Faculty memberof The Cleveland State University, and Minister of Music at St. Timothy Baptist Church. He earnedhis undergraduate and graduate Music degrees from Cleveland State, Cleveland Institute ofMusic, Case Western Reserve University, and postgraduate work at the Royal Holloway College inLondon, England.

Bob FerrazzaBob Ferrazza is Associate Professor of Jazz Guitar at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He hasappearedregularly in jazz clubs and concert halls around the world, from New York City’s Blue Note andBirdland to TheBottom Line in Japan and countless others.

Ferrazza has performed with many great jazz musicians, including Donald Byrd, JoeyDeFrancesco, Art Farmer,Slide Hampton, Billy Hart (Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the Oberlin Conservatory), J.J.Johnson, JoeLovano, Jack McDuff, and David “Fathead” Newman.

Lovano, Jack McDuff, and David “Fathead” Newman.

Ferrazza began his studies with legendary guitarist Bill DeArango and has since studied with JoePass and Pat Martino. His first recording as a leader, Personal (1991), garnered unanimousenthusiastic reviews. Since then, he has recorded other albums, including his own The Way ILike It and the collection Rare Beauty: Intimate Gems of Duke Ellington, both available on KochRecords. In 2007, Ferrazza collaborated with other Oberlin jazz studies faculty members on thealbum Beauty Surrounds Us, named after his own composition. The recording was produced forthe Oberlin Conservatory’s new music label, Oberlin Music.

http://www.jwpjazz.com/nighttown/Howie_Smith%27s_Second_Door_on_the_left.mp3

http://www.jwpjazz.com/nighttown/Howie_Smith_Crazy_Red.mp3

BUDDY SULLIVAN & THE JOE HUNTERTRIO $10.00 Sunday 2/08 5:00 pm Buy Tickets

North Coast Sax legend Buddy Sullivan plays special Sunday afternoon 5PM matinee show with Pianist Joe Hunter & Trio.

Buddy SullivanVeteran saxophonist Buddy Sullivan has been a Cleveland favorite for many years. A featuredsoloist with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Sullivan is also a fine small group player. Sullivan is notone to stir an audience with blazing speed or pyrotechnics, he is more likely to seduce the crowdwith his big tenor sound that is reminiscent of saxophone heroes like Ben Webster, ColemanHawkins, and Lester Young. While Sullivan is a master of the more traditional forms of straight ahead jazz, he is also wellversed in modern jazz and he continues to keep the younger musicians on their toes. Sullivan isa master of his craft and he is not to be missed.

Joe HunterNighttown favorite Joe Hunter has released two popular CD's in recent years. Hunter is thepianist of choice in the Northeast Ohio area. He can be heard frequently in the Fat Tuesday BigBand, Swing City, and backing big name artists. He has backed many, including the legendaryTito Puente, and saxophonist David Sanborn, At Nighttown Hunter has backed some several topguns including clarenetist Ken Peplowski, and saxophonists David "Fathead" Newman, and ScottHamilton. Joe Hunter is also on the faculty at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), one of the topjazz programs in the country.

Visit Website

ATOMIC $20.00 Tuesday 2/10 7:00 pm Buy Tickets

Cutting edge Jazz Quintet from Norway, and Sweden, live at Nighttown!

Featuring: Fredrik Ljungkvist (reeds), Magnus Broo (trumpet), HavardWiik (piano), Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (bass), Hans Hulbækmo (drums).

Atomic was established in 2000 and already after their first two studio albums Feet Music (2002)and Boom Boom (2003), both their growing audience and music reviewers alike began to

and Boom Boom (2003), both their growing audience and music reviewers alike began toperceive them as an original flavor with an entirely individual energy that few Scandinavian jazzgroups could match. Even though initially thought of as a sort of rebellion to the quaintness ofthe “Scandinavian Sound” which had become exemplified by Norwegian artists on labels such asECM, Atomic found themselves becoming a new sort of unique sound on their own. An explosiveblend of American free-jazz with European characteristics is how some reviewers have describedthem. Or better yet, “part academic lecture, part a fun night out on the town”, is how the banddescribes themselves, and is what makes their sound truly Atomic.

While they make no secret of their admiration for leading American jazz musicians such as DukeEllington, Archie Shepp, Charles Mingus and George Russell, just to mention a few, the music ofAtomic is also mixed with an equal love of European free jazz and improvised music. They regardthe American and European jazz traditions as an inspiration rather than a restriction, as aspringboard to set their own direction and position within jazz music.

No strangers to the touring circuit, Atomic were on the road almost as soon as they were formed,and they have since 2000 been touring extensively in Europe, Japan and the US. They havereleased 12 CD’s including their 2010 releases “Theater tilters Vol 1 & 2”, in connection withtheir 10 year anniversary, and “There’s a hole in the mountain” in 2013.

Visit Website

Watch Video

JOHN MCCUTCHEON$25.00 Thursday 2/12 8:00 pm Buy Tickets

Singer/Songwriter & Folk Music Legend returns to Nighttown! Back bypopular demand!

John McCutcheon is one of folk music’s great living storytellers. Revered around the world for histhoughtful and inspiring songwriting and mastery of the hammered dulcimer, JohnMcCutcheon’s career spans over twenty albums and seven Grammy nominations.

Wisconsin native John McCutcheon is an American folk music singer and multi-instrumentalistwho has produced 34 albums since the 1970s.He is regarded as a master of the hammereddulcimer, and is also proficient on many other instruments including guitar, banjo, autoharp,mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and jawharp.

McCutcheon, whose family background encompasses farmers and shoemakers, started playingguitar in the early 60s. He picked up a great number of traditional American songs and tunesfrom the Appalachians, and learned a wealth of instruments, including fiddle, banjo, autoharpand, most notably, the hammer-dulcimer. His playing of the latter encompasses folk, classical,jazz and many other elements. McCutcheon's extensive recording legacy has attracted a stringof awards, and also seven Grammy nominations. He has recorded exclusively for RounderRecords since the early 80s. Howjadoo was the first of several children's albums which haveestablished McCutcheon as arguably the leading artist within the genre. In the 90s his children'srecordings included the Grammy-nominated Four Seasons series, which featured manycompositions co-written with long-time friend and collaborator, Si Kahn. McCutcheon has alsocollected and recorded a good deal of Nicaraguan music, which was released by Rounder as adouble album, Nicaragua Presente!, in 1989. McCutcheon's prolific work rate has includedproduction work for several other folk artists, and he has also had published songbooks andinstructional materials.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a living legend perform live on the Nighttownstage.

Visit Website

Watch Video

THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER$80.00 Friday 2/13 7:00 pm Sold Out

7:00 pm Sold Out 9:00 pm Sold Out

Legendary Vocal Group Live at Nighttown for our 50th Anniversary Concerts, & Extra Special Valentine's Shows!!!!!

The Manhattan Transfer has remained an important part of musical history for over forty years.The legendary quartet has won 10 Grammy Awards of 20 nominations, has been inducted intothe Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and continues to wow audiences with live performancesthroughout the country and the world. The Manhattan Transfer is comprised of Cheryl Bentyne,Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Trist Curless, who recently stepped into the shoes of the group’sfounder, Tim Hauser, after his recent passing. With worldwide record sales in the millions, theextraordinary group topped the charts consistently for decades with their melodic and jazzinfused vocals that bring audiences back year after year and that span generations.

The group was founded by Tim Hauser when he was paying his bills by driving a New York Citycab and aspiring to form a harmony vocal quartet that could authentically embrace variedmusical styles, and still create something wholly unique in the field of American popular song.While driving, he met the first members of the legendary group -- Laurel Massé and Janis Siegel.Alan Paul, who was appearing in the Broadway cast of “Grease” at the time, was recommendedas the additional male voice and the four became The Manhattan Transfer on October 1, 1972.Cheryl Bentyne joined The Manhattan Transfer in 1979, replacing Laurel.

In 1974 the group began performing regularly throughout New York City at Trude Heller’s,Mercer Arts Center, Max’s Kansas City, Club 82, and other cabaret venues. By the end of theyear they were the number one live attraction in New York City. They were signed to AtlanticRecords and released their selftitled debut album in 1975. The second single, a remake of thegospel classic “Operator,” gave the group their first national hit. The band was soon tapped tohelm a weekly hour-long summer replacement comedyvariety show, which premiered on CBS onAugust 10, 1975.

The 12 Grammy nominations they received for Vocalese in 1985 made it the single greatestGrammy nominated album in one year to date, and cemented the group’s status as one of themost important and innovative vocal groups in the history of popular music. The band’s nextstudio album, the ground breaking “Brasil”, won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duoor Group with Vocal.

Their Grammy wins continued into the ‘90s. In 2008, An Acapella Christmas became a topselling record and they expanded their catalog to include recorded children’s music anddifferent genres of swing music. The group has also recorded with an impressive roster of artists– Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, Laura Nyro, Phil Collins, B.B. King, Chaka Khan,James Taylor, and Frankie Valli and their music has been featured in numerous TV shows andfilms.

With worldwide sales in the millions, awards by the dozen, and sold-out world tours, TheManhattan Transfer continue to record and tour, with many more surprises to come.

Visit Website

Watch Video

HUBBS GROOVE FEATURING STEVEFOWLER & MARIAMA WHYTE$20.00 Saturday 2/14 8:00 pm Buy Tickets 10:00 pm Buy Tickets

Soul Jazz, R&B, and then some, for Valentine's Day! With Drummer RobertHubbard & Hubb's Groove featuring vocalists Steve Fowler & MariamaWhyte!

Hubb's Groove is a mIx of Soul, Jazz, R&B and a splash of Gospel.

It's a smooth but yet high energy band that believes whats played from the heart, reaches theheart.

The band was founded In 1996 by Robert Hubbard in Cleveland Ohio under the name "Moments

The band was founded In 1996 by Robert Hubbard in Cleveland Ohio under the name "MomentsNotice". In 2006 Robert changed the name to "Hubb'S Groove". The band has shared the stagewith Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Earth Wind & Fire, Wayman Tisdale and Pieces of a Dream.

Hubb's Groove has performed with Angela Bofill, Marcus Johnson, Alex Bugnon, Mike Phillips andSean Jones to name a few.

When the group is not on tour together, they are working with other artists such as Babyface,Toni Braxton, Gerald Albright and Pieces of a Dream.

Visit Website

Watch Video

NEIL JACOBS AND AMERICAN GYPSY$15.00 Thursday 2/19 8:00 pm Buy Tickets

Acoustic 12 string guitar wizard Neil Jacobs and his American Gypsyproject hit the Stage at Nighttown!

Featuring: Neil Jacobs-12 string acoustic guitar, Steven Fox-acoustic bass,& Arkadiy Gips-violin.

American gypsy is deserving of every honor it receives!

The Eastern European gypsy tradition is deftly captured, along with overtones of jazz and evenflamenco.Roma and folk traditions are presented in Neil Jacobs' own guitar styling compositions, supportedon many pieces with the Ukrainian master violinist Arkadiy Gips.

"American Gypsy", unlike many traditional peasant productions, is apt to reach a wider audiencethan most - Its flamenco styles will draw listeners of spanish music, its classical precision willappeal to classical musicians, and its gypsy roots will attract Eastern European listeners who willfind the blends surprising and refreshing.

From Flamenco to Hungarian gypsy cafe to near-Klezmer beats, American Gypsy provides a hostof ethnic-rooted, rollicking guitar songs.

An outstanding production!”

Visit Website

Watch Video

BARBARA ROSENE & JACKIE WARRENTRIO$15.00 Friday 2/20 8:30 pm Buy Tickets

NYC based & Ohio Native Barbara Rosene returns to Nighttown! Vocalistfrom the Harry James Orchestra! Featuring: Jackie Warren-piano, PeterDominguez-acoustic bass, & Ron Godale-drums.

Barbara Rosene has built an unequalled reputation for interpreting the great music of the 1920sand 30s and 40s. She is a passionate vocalist whose interpretations uncover the richness of jazzclassics through the subtle, skilled delivery of one truly in love with the genre she sings.

Rosene gives voice to songs in ways that are both gracefully provocative and warmly welcoming.

Rosene gives voice to songs in ways that are both gracefully provocative and warmly welcoming.Few singers have her feel for classic material, from all eras of Jazz, interpreting the music withnot only a full understanding and love of the original time period but with the rare ability tomake the material sound fresh and emotionally relevant today.

In her established career she has shared stages with jazz icons, performing internationally withThe Harry James Orchestra, Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, the late Les Paul at New York’sIridium Jazz Club, The Woody Allen Band, at The Carlyle Hotel, as well as directing her own NewYorkers, and as guest artist with orchestras and in festivals across the world. She has playedsuch venues as The Iridium, Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Nighttown(Cleveland), Blues Alley (DC), The Arizona Music Festival, Jazz Amarinois, and The Hotel Villa Flori,Lake Como.

Will Friedwald, author of Jazz Singing and Sinatra! has written: “No one evokes more vividly themusic of the great singers of the 1920s than Barbara Rosene.”

Barbara’s CDs include releases on the Blues Back, Arbor’s and Azica labels.

Jackie Warren is one of the most in demand and prolific jazz artists working in the Great Lakesregion. On any given night she can be found playing solo, leading her trio, or she may be heardas the featured soloist and arranger for Sammy DeLeon's Salsa and Latin-Jazz ensemble.

Jackie is also a professor of music at Tri-C and has several private students. Jackie gets callsconstantly from vocalists who want her to back them, and she is frequently called on to guestwith national artists. In the past few years Jackie has performed with David "Fathead" Newman,Bobby Watson, Jane Bunnett, and Gerald Wilson. Her arrangements can be heard on SammyDeLeon's new CD, and recently she recorded a session in collaboration with the legendaryproducer Tommy LiPuma.

Visit Website

Watch Video

NORMAN CONNORS $30.00 Saturday 2/21 8:00 pm Buy Tickets 10:00 pm Buy Tickets

Legendary Drummer and Producer Back at Nighttown for Black HistoryMonth Celebration!

Playing all of his hits including "You are My Starship", "Valentine Love","Betcha My Golly Wow", and More!

Like Roy Ayers, George Benson, and Patrice Rushen, Norman Connors is best known for his majorRB hits but started out as a jazz improviser. The drummer/composer was born and raised inPhiladelphia, where he lived in the same neighborhood as Bill Cosby and became interested injazz when he was only a child. Connors was in junior high when he began sneaking into jazzclubs and sat in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane gig.

Connors went on to study music at Philly's Temple University and the Juilliard School of Music inNew York. Gigs with Jackie McLean, Jack McDuff and Sam Rivers followed, and he was firstrecorded as a sideman when Archie Shepp employed him on his 1967 Impulse session Magic ofJuJu.

After touring with Pharoah Sanders and playing on several of his albums, Connors signed withBuddah's Cobblestone label in 1972 and recorded his first album as a leader, Dance of Magic. Afew more jazz-oriented Cobblestone and Buddah dates followed, and it was in 1975 that Connorsmade R&B his main priority with Saturday Night Special (which included the number ten soul hit"Valentine Love"). The rest of the 1970s found Connors featuring R&B singers prominently(including Michael Henderson, Jean Carn, and the late Phyllis Hyman) and scoring such R&B hitsas "We Both Need Each Other," "Once I've Been There," and the lovely "You Are My Starship."

Currently Norman Connors is touring in support of his latest CD "Star Power" on Shanachierecords. He will be featuring his six piece touring group and promises to perform all of his classichits.

Don't miss legendary drummer, producer, and vocalist Norman Connors for a specialengagement in the intimate Music Room of Nighttown.

Visit Website

Visit Website

Watch Video

EWAN DOBSON $15.00 Monday 2/23 7:00 pm Buy Tickets

Canadian Acoustic Guitar Master makes Cleveland debut at Nighttown! Asfeatured on You Tube with over 20 Million Hits!!

In February 2015, EWAN DOBSON embarks on a 3 month coast-to-coast North American Tour,hitting all major markets! North America is big, so Ewan Dobson will release not one, but twonew albums to support his North American tour. ACOUSTIC METAL II is the first of these two newreleases and is the follow-up to the Acoustic Metal 1. “12-String Guitar” includes 12-stringversions of material from Ewan´s previous albums along with 5 new unreleased songs. The showwill include material spanning Ewan´s entire catalogue performed fingerstyle and with flatpick.

On Friday, July 4th, 2014, guitar virtuoso & YouTube sensation EWAN DOBSON releases his 9thsolo album, Acoustic Metal II. Recorded in complete isolation in the backwoods of Canada justafter completing his tour of Europe , Acoustic Metal II is the follow-up to Acoustic Metal(CandyRat Records, 2013). and features multi-tracked acoustic guitar played with a flat-pick. With Acoustic Metal II, Ewan shows that acoustic guitar can definitely be metal, and you don´tnecessarily need distortion. "Think Spanish Flamenco in a head on crash with a bus filled with Kerry King, Dave Mustaine andDimebag Darrell! It’s when you listen to this record you can easily understand why ex-Megadethguitar virtuoso Marty Friedman selected Ewan to play the acoustic parts that appears on MartyFriedman’s latest album Inferno. Friedman was even quoted saying ´Ewan played the parts sobeautifully and with so much expertise and flair that Jason (Becker) and I were in awe of hisperformance.´ Lets be fair, that statement alone deserves a round of applause." -http://themetalreview.com/albums/ewan-dobson-acoustic-metal-ii-review/ Ewan Dobson has established himself as one of Canada’s most brilliant andexhilarating guitarists. Don't miss him at Nighttown on Monday February 23rd.

Visit Website

Watch Video

BERT STRATTON / KLEZMER GUY TRIO$10.00 Wednesday 2/25 7:00 pm Buy Tickets

Clarinetist, and Comedian, Bert Stratton (AKA Klezmer Guy) leads Trio atNighttown.Featuring: Tamar Gray-vocals, & Alan Douglass-piano

“Klezmer Guy” is humorist, landlord and clarinetist Bert Stratton. He is a frequent contributor tothe New York Times, the Plain Dealer and CoolCleveland.com

Expect an evening of social commentary, plumbing tips and song. As if Garrison Keillor wasraised on pastrami!Alan Douglass on keyboards and vocals, and Tamar Gray on vocals. The group plays klezmer, TinPan Alley, swing and Motown.

Pan Alley, swing and Motown.

Klezmer music is a hybrid of Eastern European Jewish folk music, American swing, Yiddishtheater tunes and Israeli horas. The Evening Post of Wellington, New Zealand called it "adelicious concoction that sounds like jazz but with 11 secret herbs and spices added." Klezmermeans "village musician" in Yiddish.

Yiddishe Cup's first album, Klezmerized, is "a perfect introduction to klezmer," said the ClevelandFree Times. The New York Jewish Week rated the band's second release, Yiddfellas, one of the top13 Jewish albums of 1999. Meshugeneh Mambo is a klezmer comedy album. Ari Davidow, of theKlezmershack Web site, called the recording: "The most outrageous combination of '50s BorschtBelt shtick and post-modern Jewish deconstruction I've heard in years and, boy, did we need it." The band's latest release is Klezmer Guy.

Music editors at the Cleveland Free Times named Yiddishe Cup the best "ethnic/world" band in2000.

Yiddishe Cup's music is in the movie "Harley Son of David" (Avner Levona, director; Canada/ USA,2006; UK Jewish Film Festival, 2006) and the Jewish Museum's exhibit "Chagall and the Artists ofthe Russian Jewish Theater, 1919-1949" (New York City, 2008-09). Yiddishe Cup is on the SonyGermany CD compilation Balkan Basics World Tour II (2009).

Jewish News Article by Carlo Wolff

Visit Website

Watch Video

FORECAST$15.00 Friday 2/27 8:30 pm Buy Tickets

Cleveland's Premier Contemporary Jazz Group back on the Nighttownstage!

Forecast is the leading contemporary jazz group in the Northeast Ohio area. Founding membersLem Adams on vibes and Gary Stephenson on electric bass have been entertaining Ohioaudiences for over 20 years. The current Forecast lineup includes Jermaine Lockhart on sax,Dave Crawford on keyboards, Kevin Byas on guitar, and Gene Butler on drums.

Forecast has shared the stage with many of the top names in contemporary jazz includingStanley Turrentine, Roy Ayers, The Crusaders, Bob James, Pieces of a Dream, and several others.They have won numerous awards and competitions over the years and have been the houseband at The Q for Cleveland Cavs games.

Visit Website

Watch Video

TONY CUDA'S JAZZ CATS$10.00 Saturday 2/28 8:30 pm Buy Tickets

Bassist extraordinaire Tony Cuda celebrates his 60th Birthday atNighttown! Playing music from his brand new CD "Herding Jazz Cats"!

Featuring: Tony Cuda-electric bass, Dave Sterner-saxophone, Joe Miller-

Featuring: Tony Cuda-electric bass, Dave Sterner-saxophone, Joe Miller-trumpet, Dan Maier-keyboards, Steve Renko-drums, Chris Cuda-guitar, &Special Guests!.

Tony Cuda is a bass player and composer. He is a graduate of Cleveland Hts High. Tonyattended Berklee College of Music in Boston for 3 years in the late 1970's and received a Mastersdegree from John Carroll University in education. His musical influences include Weather Report,Chic Corea, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, Yes, King Crimson and many others. As part ofCuDa, RenKo & CuDa, the band released 3 CD's and performed as an opening act for manyinternational artists.

Dave Sterner is a 1992 graduate of Indiana University’s Jazz Studies. In addition to teaching forthe Tri-C jazz program, Mr. Sterner conducts the Lakeland Community College Civic JazzOrchestra and co-directs the Lakeland Jazz Festival. Dave has recorded with the Ernie Krivda FatTuesday Big band, the Jazz Heritage Orchestra, the N. Glenn Davis Quintet (featuring PhilWoods), and the Dave Sterner Quintet.

Dan Maier attended Berklee School, New England Conservatory, and studied jazz piano withLennie Tristano, Jaki Byard, Ran Blake. In NYC, Dan was a member of Blood, Sweat, and Tears,and toured with Philip Glass and Woody Herman. In Cleveland, Dan plays at the jazz club,Nighttown, where he recently led trios for Cheryl Bentine of Manhattan Transfer, Nicole Henry,Alexis Cole, Jackie Ryan, and Ann Hampton Callaway.

Chris Cuda is a self-taught acoustic/electric/synth guitarist. Chris has a new release coming outthis year with Kip Reed (Bass), Steve Renko (Drums), as well as other guests. Chris has recordedand/or performed with David Thomas (Rocket From The Tombs & Pere Ubu), Horns & Things,Sonny Geraci (The Outsiders), Len Berry, Tommy Roe, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, Leslie Gore,Billy J. Krammer, The Shangri-La’s, Gilby Clarke (Guns & Roses, MC5, Heart), and Chris's primaryband - CuDa RenKo CuDa since 2006.

Steve Renko, received his first drumset at sixteen months and has been playing ever since. Atnine, hestarted studying with Bob McKee. . At age fourteen Steve joined Ernie Krivda's FatTuesday Big Band. Steve has performed with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Sammy Nestico, AlJarreau, Dave Koz, Jeff and John Clayton, Bobby Watson, and Terrance Blanchard. Steve iscurrently pursuing his undergraduate degree at The New School for Jazz in NYC.

Joe Miller is one of the most sought-after trumpet players in the area. Joe has toured andperformed with the Grammy-nominated Liquid Soul and with Bobby Caldwell. His recordingcredits Kenny Anderson, and the late Gerald Levert. Joe has performed with many internationalartists, including Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, The Funk Brothers, Frankie Valli,and many others. Joe currently holds the lead trumpet chair at Playhouse Square and has playedmany of the hottest Broadway musicals. Joe teaches at Cleveland State University, and performsand with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Paul Ferguson’s Jazz Orchestra, and Sammy Deleon’sOrquestra.

Visit Website

Watch Video

CYRILLE AIMÉE & DIEGO FIGUEIREDO$25.00 Wednesday 3/04 7:00 pm Buy Tickets

World Class Duo with Dynamic French Vocalist, & Virtuoso BrazilianGuitarist, back on Nighttown Stage for one night only! Rare reunionperformance!

Cyrille Aimée’s (pronounced Surreal M-A) unique blend of French gypsy jazz and Dominicanrhythm and spice combine to create an unmistakably smooth and driving vocal style. Growingup with the French Gypsies in Samois sur Seine brought her into the musical mentality thatproduced such legends as Django Reinhardt. In 2010 she was a finalist in the Thelonious MonkInternational Vocal Competition.

While being trained at the conservatory of SUNY Purchase, Cyrille Aimée competed in the famousMontreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition, where she was awarded first prize as well as the publicprize. It was there she first met Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo, who was also a finalist inthe Montreux Guitar Competition.

Diego Figueiredo (pronounced fig-a-reed-o) is considered one of the most talented guitar players

Diego Figueiredo (pronounced fig-a-reed-o) is considered one of the most talented guitar playersin the world today. He is the winner of several important competitions including the MontreuxJazz Competition and the VISA Prize. Diego has released over nineteen albums to date, threeDVD’s, and several instructional books. His music is a fusion between Jazz, Bossa Nova andClassical. Diego’s unique interpretations, along with his phenomenal technique and emotion, hascreated an explosion of adoring fans and concert goers. Diego has performed in over fortycountries around the world.

Diego Figueiredo was born in Franca, Brazil in 1980. At the age of four he used to strike posescarrying his small guitar. At six, he received a mandolin, which was kept in a very special placein his house. Diego played many instruments before choosing the electric guitar when he wastwelve. By the age of fifteen, he was playing theaters and nightclubs throughout Brazil, playingboth solo and with many renowned Brazilian musicians.

Diego’s strong emotion and incredible technique blend perfectly with Cyrille Aimée’s bold andbeautiful vocal interpretations to form an original, yet timeless sound. Influences drawn fromacross the globe can be found in each song.

Cyrille currently resides in Brooklyn, while Diego still lives in Franca Brazil

Don't miss the return of Cyrille and Diego at Nighttown on Wednesday March 4th.

Interview with Cyrille and Diego

Visit Website

Watch Video

ST PATRICK'S DAY AT NIGHTTOWN -THE NEW BARLEYCORN$22.00 Tuesday 3/17 5:30 pm Buy Tickets 7:30 pm Buy Tickets

Join us at Nighttown for a rollicking night of fun, food and drink with TheNew Barleycorn.

The place to be for St Patrick's Day!!.

Both Alec and John were born and raised in Ireland in counties Dublin and Down where theylearned to play music at an early age, they have both performed professionally since theirteenage years both enjoying considerable success with their respective careers.

John Delaney a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Irish group 'Barleycorn', joinedforces with Alec DeGabriele nine years ago to form 'The New Barleycorn', after the other finisheda 24 year run ending in 1995. John plays, 5 string and tenor banjos, mandolin, guitar, whistleand bodhran. He also has played banjo on many other Irish artists' recordings.

Alec DeGabriele spent his formative years learning the business of music, theatre andentertaining with his families traveling theatrical show, 'The Shannon Players', which was wellknown and highly regarded throughout Ireland. Alec plays guitar and bass and was the bandleader with a top Irish Show Band for some years before deciding to come to live in the U.S.A.

Don't miss St Patrick's Day at Nighttown!!

Visit Website

Watch Video

"Late Night at Nighttown" ** Every Week **

Fridays Dennis Lewin on piano 10:30PM - 1:00AM No coverSaturdays Jackie Warren on piano 10:30PM - 1:00AM No cover

Planning a reception, wedding,

Planning a reception, wedding, business meeting, graduation,

birthday or B'nai Mitzvah?

. . . . . . . . .think Nighttown!

We give you the best package in town at a pricethat won't break the bank. And everything isincluded at no extra charge. Our experience is asaccommodating as our atmosphere. Privatefunction spaces from 20 - 150. Valet parkingavailable.

To book your party, call Brendan Ring directly at216-952-9133

Visit our Private Event Page

Nighttown Tickets and Seating PolicyTo purchase tickets click here, Do not make anadditional table reservation - it is already included withyour purchased tickets. All seats are GeneralAdmission. All seating is based on the time that youarrive for the show and based on how many people arein your party and where we have tables of that size. Youmay be sharing a table with other people.

Nighttown Student Discount PolicyStudents up to age 26 are 1/2 off the regular price. Student priced tickets are only available the night of theshow and are subject to availability. Students musthave a student photo ID from a generally-recognizedhigh school, college or university. Full-paying ticketholders get priority on admission and seating. Certainselect shows have no discount based on arrangementswith the artist. On evenings when there are two shows(i.e. shows at 7 & 9PM), the discount is only good for thesecond show. Students under the age of 18 must beaccompanied by an adult paying full price in order to beeligible for the discount.

Nighttown uses Yamaha Pianosexclusively

For more information about the Yamaha C-7, The New Avant Grand Piano or any of the Yamaha pianos,

Please contact Classic Pianos-Akron/Cleveland at 216-831-1600 Nighttown/JWP graphic

designerKathy Kelly

Nighttown drums providedby

www.fortunedrums.com

Kathy Kelly 216-941-5439

Gerry Paluck RPTRegistered PianoTuner/Technician(216) 346-9308

www.gerrythetuner.com

Recommended Places to StayIntercontinental Suites 216-707-4100

The Place on Larchmere 216- 721-8968University Circle Bed & Breakfast 216-721-8968

Looking for great music on the radio

and the web?

Check out the Nighttown / Jim Wadsworth Productions

Radio Guide. Updated 12/10/14 Radio List (in pdf)

Thanks to Bruce Amsel for compiling and keeping the list up to date!!!

12387 Cedar Road (top of Cedar Hill)Cleveland Heights, OH

216-795-0550No need to make an additional table reservation -

it's already included with your concert tickets!!www.nighttowncleveland.com

Map to Nighttown

To Purchase Concert Tickets

No need to make an additional table

reservation - it's already included with your concert

tickets!!

Music and Production for Special & Private Events

Jim Wadsworth Productionswww.jwpjazz.com

**New** denotes recent additions or changes to the schedule

"Late Night at Nighttown"Fridays Dennis Lewin on piano 10:30PM - 1:00AM No coverSaturdays Jackie Warren on piano 10:30PM - 1:00AM No cover

Wednesday, February 4 Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo 7 PM $20.Guitar virtuosos in exciting Duo performance live at Nighttown!

Thursday, February 5 Nighttown's 50th Anniversary Party 6-11:30 PM $20.Nighttown turns 50 years old on this date! Come celebrate Nighttown's past, present, and future withan All-Star Cleveland lineup including Joe Hunter, Jackie Warren, Ernie Krivda, George Foley, SammyDeLeon, Peter Dominguez, Lem Adams, Glenn Davis, Bob Fraser, Moises Borges, and many, manymore!!! Full lineup TBA.

Sunday, February 8 Buddy Sullivan w/Joe Hunter Trio 5 PM $10.North Coast Sax legend Buddy Sullivan plays special Sunday afternoon 5 PM matinee show with PianistJoe Hunter & Trio.

Tuesday, February 10 Atomic (From Norway & Sweden) 7 PM $20.Cutting edge Jazz Quintet from Norway, and Sweden, live at Nighttown!Featuring: Fredrik Ljungkvist (reeds), Magnus Broo (trumpet), Havard Wiik (piano), Ingebrigt HakerFlaten (bass), Hans Hulbækmo (drums).

Thursday, February 12 John McCutcheon 8 PM $25.Singer/Songwriter & Folk Music Legend returns to Nighttown! Back by popular demand!

Friday February 13 The Manhattan Transfer 2 shows at 7PM & 9:00PM $80Legendary Vocal Group Live at Nighttown for our 50th Anniversary Concerts, & Extra SpecialValentine's Shows!!!!!

Sat, February 14 Hubbs Groove featuring Steve Fowler & Mariama White 8 & 10 PM $20.Soul Jazz, R&B, and then some, for Valentine's Day! With Drummer Robert Hubbard & Hubb's Groovefeaturing vocalists Steve Fowler & Mariama Whyte!

Thursday, February 19 Neil Jacobs & American Gypsy 8 PM $15.Acoustic 12 string guitar wizard Neil Jacobs and his American Gypsy project hit the Stage at Nighttown!Featuring: Neil Jacobs-12 string acoustic guitar, Steven Fox-acoustic bass, & Arkadiy Gips-violin.

*New*Friday, February 20 Barbara Rosene & Jackie Warren Trio 8:30 PM $15.NYC based & Ohio Native Barbara Rosene returns to Nighttown! Vocalist from the Harry JamesOrchestra! Featuring: Jackie Warren-piano, Peter Dominguez-acoustic bass, & Ron Godale-drums.

Saturday, February 21 Norman Connors 8 & 10 PM $30.Legendary Drummer and Producer Back at Nighttown for Black History Month Celebration!Playing all of his hits including "You are My Starship", "Valentine Love", "Betcha My Golly Wow", andMore!

Monday, February 23 Ewan Dobson 7 PM $15.

Canadian Acoustic Guitar Master makes Cleveland debut at Nighttown! As featured on You Tube withover 20 Million Hits!!

Wednesday, February 25 Bert Stratton / Klezmer Guy Trio 7 PM $10.Clarinetist, and Comedian, Bert Stratton (AKA Klezmer Guy) leads Trio at Nighttown.Featuring: Tamar Gray-vocals, & Alan Douglass-piano.

Friday, February 27 Forecast 8:30 PM $15.Cleveland's Premier Contemporary Jazz Group back on the Nighttown stage!

Saturday, February 28 Tony Cuda Sextet 8:30 PM $10.Bassist extraordinaire Tony Cuda celebrates his 60th Birthday at Nighttown!Featuring: Tony Cuda-electric bass, Dave Sterner-saxophone, Joe Miller-trumpet, Dan Maier-keyboards, Steve Renko-drums, Chris Cuda-guitar, & Special Guests!.Playing music from his brand new CD "Herding Jazz Cats"!

*New*Wednesday, March 4 Cyrille Aimee & Diego Figueiredo 7 PM $25.World Class Duo with Dynamic French Vocalist, & Virtuoso Brazilian Guitarist, back on Nighttown Stagefor one night only!

*New*Tuesday, March 17 St Patrick's Day with The New Barleycorn Shows/seatings at 5:30 and7:30 $22.Join us at Nighttown for a rollicking night of fun, food and drink with The New Barleycorn. The place tobe for St Patrick's Day!!.

One of The Top Jazz Clubs In the World !!

For the tenth year in a row, Nighttown has been named one of the top jazz clubsin the world by Downbeat Magazine. Nighttown is the only club in Ohio that

has received this recognition. A big thanks to all of our friends who have joinedus over the past thirteen years for concerts from the hundreds of great jazz

artists that we have presented.

EZezine Company Terms of Service Privacy Policy

12387 Cedar RoadCleveland Heights, OH

216-795-0550No need to make an additional table reservation -

it's already included with your concert tickets!! www.nighttowncleveland.com

Map to Nighttown

Music and Production for Special & Private Events

Jim Wadsworth Productionswww.jwpjazz.com