Jazz returns to Lakeside with four days of music, conversation and storytelling during Chautauqua Jazz Week, June 9-12. Rooted in the Chautauqua tradition of learning through the arts, the series explores the rich history of jazz while celebrating the artists who continue to shape the genre today.
Each afternoon, guests are invited to Conversations with the Artists, where musicians share insights into their creative process, influences and experiences. In the evening, those ideas come to life during concerts.
The week features an exceptional lineup of performers, including composer and pianist Theron Brown, vocalist Maggie Green, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pianist Bobby Floyd, and the internationally acclaimed Emmet Cohen Trio. Together, they offer a journey through jazz’s past, present and future while highlighting the enduring impact of this American art form.
Tuesday, June 9
Conversation with Theron Brown
3:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Join Michael Shirtz for an engaging conversation with jazz pianist, composer and educator Theron Brown. Brown will reflect on the legacy of Blue Note Records, the musicians who shaped modern jazz and gospel, and the jazz experiences that have influenced his own musical path.
3:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Join Michael Shirtz for an engaging conversation with jazz pianist, composer and educator Theron Brown. Brown will reflect on the legacy of Blue Note Records, the musicians who shaped modern jazz and gospel, and the jazz experiences that have influenced his own musical path.
Celebrating the Blue Note Legends with Theron Brown
8 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Jazz pianist, producer, composer and educator Theron Brown presents a tribute to the legendary musicians of Blue Note Records. The concert explores the music and stories that launched the careers of Herbie Hancock, Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins and many more.
Brown performs with his quintet featuring Sam Ross (saxophone), Tommy Lehman (trumpet), George Delancy (bass) and Zaire Darden (drums).
Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Brown grew up in a musical family rooted in the rhythms of church. Guided by his pastor father and inspired by the organ melodies at Greater Apostolic Church of Christ, he began his musical journey on drums before adding piano and viola.
His passion for jazz was sparked by Thelonious Monk’s music, leading him to pursue jazz studies at the University of Akron. Brown has since shared the stage with artists across genres, from The Cleveland Orchestra to Snarky Puppy, and performed internationally at the Kennedy Center and Tokyo Kokusai Forum.
A pivotal moment came when he portrayed a young Herbie Hancock in the 2015 film “Miles Ahead,” directed by Don Cheadle.
Now based in Akron, Brown remains deeply involved in the region’s arts community. He serves as Artist Coordinator for the I Promise School, sits on several boards and founded the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival. He also teaches at Firefly Music School and Kent State University and leads the Jazz Studies program at the University of Akron.
Wednesday, June 10
Conversation with Maggie Green
3:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Jazz vocalist Maggie Green joins Michael Shirtz for a discussion about the origins and global influence of Brazilian jazz. Green will share how these styles developed and how they continue to inspire performers today.
3:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Jazz vocalist Maggie Green joins Michael Shirtz for a discussion about the origins and global influence of Brazilian jazz. Green will share how these styles developed and how they continue to inspire performers today.
An Evening of Brazilian Jazz with Maggie Green
8 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Relaxed rhythms and intricate guitar melodies bring the vibrant spirit of Brazilian jazz to Orchestra Hall during this special evening with vocalist Maggie Green.
Celebrating the music of legendary composers and performers such as Antônio Carlos Jobim and Elis Regina, Green leads the audience through the artists who have helped shape Brazilian jazz and Latin jazz traditions.
Emerging in the late 1950s, Brazilian jazz blends the improvisation and harmonies of American jazz with the rhythmic sound of the Brazilian samba. Often associated with the style of bossa nova, meaning “new wave,” the music gained worldwide popularity in the 1960s.
A longtime performer and educator in Columbus, Ohio, Green has been active in the local music community for more than 20 years. As a jazz vocalist, she has appeared at events including the Columbus Arts Festival and Jazz & RibFest.
In addition to performing, Green maintains a private studio for voice and piano instruction and welcomes students from all backgrounds. She has also served the music faculties at Capital and Otterbein Universities.
Green holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
Thursday, June 11
Conversation with Bobby Floyd
3:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pianist and organist Bobby Floyd returns to join Michael Shirtz for a conversation about his remarkable career and the role of the Hammond B3 organ in jazz. Floyd will share stories from decades of performing with legendary artists and orchestras around the world.
3:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall
Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pianist and organist Bobby Floyd returns to join Michael Shirtz for a conversation about his remarkable career and the role of the Hammond B3 organ in jazz. Floyd will share stories from decades of performing with legendary artists and orchestras around the world.
The Art of the Organ with Bobby Floyd
8 p.m., Orchestra Hall
From Jimmy Smith to Shirley Scott, the unmistakable sound of the Hammond B3 organ has energized jazz for generations. During this evening concert, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pianist and organist Bobby Floyd celebrates the soulful character of this iconic instrument through music and stories.
Floyd’s career spans performances with some of the most influential artists in jazz and popular music. He toured internationally accompanying Ray Charles on piano and organ and later served as organist for the Grammy Award-winning Dr. John and held the piano chair with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra for six years.
Today, Floyd continues to perform around the world and frequently appears with trumpeter Byron Stripling, collaborating with orchestras including the Boston Pops, Rochester Philharmonic and the Detroit Symphony.
In his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, he has been recognized as the city’s “Favorite Musician” for more than a decade in Columbus Monthly’s Best of Columbus Awards.
A respected educator as well as performer, Floyd has taught at Ohio State University, Otterbein University and the renowned Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops, while also mentoring students through residencies and his private studio.
For this performance, Floyd is joined by members of his trio, featuring Derek DiCenzo (guitar and bass) and Reggie Jackson (drums).
Friday, June 12
Conversation with Emmet Cohen
4:15 p.m., Hoover Auditorium
Join Michael Shirtz for a conversation with pianist and composer Emmet Cohen. The discussion will explore the jazz experiences that have influenced his own musical path.
4:15 p.m., Hoover Auditorium
Join Michael Shirtz for a conversation with pianist and composer Emmet Cohen. The discussion will explore the jazz experiences that have influenced his own musical path.
Emmet Cohen Trio
7:30 p.m., Hoover Auditorium
The Emmet Cohen Trio brings Chautauqua Jazz Week to a thrilling close with a high-energy finale in Hoover Auditorium.
Pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in jazz today. He began studying piano through the Suzuki method at age 3, and that early start quickly grew into a distinctive blend of musicality, technical brilliance and creative vision.
Today, Cohen leads his namesake trio with charisma, shines as a soloist and is a sought-after collaborator for fellow jazz greats. His playing is fluid, inventive and deeply rooted in tradition, delivered with the confidence of a seasoned pro and the enthusiasm of an artist fully devoted to his craft. Read more.
