SeibertKeck Insurance Stage - Outdoor Lineup Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, presented by KeyBank, will feature local and regional bands to play the SeibertKeck Insurance Outdoor Stage at Playhouse Square as part of the festival’s 45th season.
A committee of music industry experts will select the groups for the stage lineup. A variety of musical genres will be considered, ranging from jazz, to blues, R&B, funk, gospel, jam band and reggae.
Fourteen acts will ultimately take the stage between 3 p.m. and midnight on Friday and Saturday of the festival weekend.
Friday, June 21
Moises Borges | 3 p.m.: Based in Cleveland for over two decades, guitarist and vocalist Moises Borges was born in Bahia, Brazil. Samba and bossa nova are hallmarks of his performances, along with his soothing voice and charm. Borges has performed in numerous countries, venues and events, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Severance Hall and Playhouse Square. Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band | 4:15 p.m.: Ernie Krivda is one of Cleveland’s most accomplished, awarded and well-known jazz artists. This 19-piece group and its legendary frontman have earned a reputation as one of the region’s hardest-swinging big bands. HORNS AND THINGS | 5:30 p.m.: Founded by saxophonists J.T. Lynch and Ken LeeGrand 40 years ago, HORNS AND THINGS has shared the spotlight with a who's who list of legendary performers. The band consists of bassist Derrick James, keyboardist Sakait Baksar and drummer Ray Harvin. The group’s albums include Till the Dawn, Northern Wind, Da Boss and its latest release, GET Your HAT On! Sam Blakeslee | 6:45 p.m.: Sam Blakeslee is a New York City-based trombonist and composer who has performed at iconic jazz clubs such as the Birdland Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club and the Blue Note Jazz Club, among others. He is a tenured faculty member at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music in Connecticut. Ronell Regis | 8 p.m.: Ronell Regis is a saxophonist and composer who comes from a line of musicians. His compositions are inspired by his family’s history and reflect the uplifting music of the island of Grenada in the West Indies. Sam Hooper | 9:15 p.m.: A captivating guitarist, vocalist and songwriter from Cleveland, Sam Hooper has thrilled audiences in China, Finland, Japan and the United States. Millions have heard his songs on All My Children and The Young and the Restless. The band also played Tri-C JazzFest in 2018 and 2022. Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band | 10:30 p.m.: Carlos Jones has been entertaining audiences for over 35 years, first as a member of the reggae group I-Tal and then with the legendary First Light, before pursuing a solo career with his current group, the Peace, Love, Unity Syndicate (The P.L.U.S. Band). The group brings a brand of high-energy reggae to its shows.