Tri-C JazzFest Returns to Playhouse Square for its 45th Year

The beloved Tri-C JazzFest will make its roaring return to Cleveland June 20-22. With vocalists, composers, pianists, guitarists and percussionists all slated to perform, the festival promises a diverse range of talent.

All weekend long, industry experts will present a curated lineup of local and regional artists who promise a rich future in the music scene. They will make their mark on the Playhouse Square plaza with free, outdoor concerts, accessorized by nine big names in jazz and soul performing each night in the Square’s most iconic theaters.

Kicking off the weekend is Take 6, a sextet of vocalists which boasts more than 20 awards, including 10 Grammys, and a spot in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Hailing from Huntsville, Alabama, the group experiments with funk, gospel, R&B and pop to create a sound that radiates love, faith and friendship.

Also featured in the festivities will be soloist Cecile McLorin Salvant. A composer, singer and visual artist, this triple threat turns every performance into a story, flaunting what other artists have called “full-fledged musicality.” Fusing elements of vaudeville into her blues and folk tunes, her work is equally humorous and humbling, leaving audiences in awe of her odes to tradition and detail.

Making the final impression on Playhouse Square will be Ledisi, a timeless name in jazz vocals. Recognized by the Recording Academy, NAACP and Soul Train alike, she has been awarded graciously for decades worth of soulful jazz music, tracing back to her roots in both New Orleans and Oakland, California. Ledisi has also celebrated a wealth of success in the film industry, making appearances in Leatherheads and Selma, and having a hand in producing the highly acclaimed Broadway musical, The Color Purple.

The lineup also includes Jason Moran and The Bandwagon, Scary Goldings, Diego Figueiredo, Charles Lloyd Ocean Trio II and more.

“The artists in the lineup are prize-winning creatives pushing boundaries, advocating for social change,” says festival director Terri Pontremoli. “When they hit the stage and play live, the magic begins.”

See the magic for yourself, when Cleveland gets the chance to host some of the most heralded names in the jazz industry. Weekend passes ($300) are available for VIP access to all nine concerts, and individual tickets for concerts will go on sale on April 12. Also stay tuned for the festival’s free outdoor concert lineup.

Find the full lineup at tri-c.edu/jazzfest.

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