Tri-C JazzFest swings back into action June 26 through 28 at Playhouse Square

An eclectic cornucopia of sounds and styles returns to the Rock Hall City. That's because it's time for the Tri-C JazzFest, which takes place June 26 through 28 with eight concerts inside Playhouse Square. The 46th annual affair kicks off with the Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (June 26) performing a Big Easy blend of jazz, funk, soul, R&B and psychedelic rock. "Trombone Shorty, if you don't present him, somebody else will," Tri-C JazzFest Director Terri Pontremoli said. "He's a constant in Northeast Ohio. People really love Trombone Shorty, he brings such great energy." Outside of the jazz world, the Grammy Award-winning trombonist Trombone Shorty has collaborated with everyone from Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson to the Foo Fighters and Ringo Starr. "That's why it's great to present Trombone because you can see him in a lot of different settings, but it's really great to put him in a jazz festival lineup," she said. The next night features quite a diverse range of offerings beginning with the Afro-pageantry of the Afrofuturism big band Sun Ra Arkestra (June 27) known to swing through space-age free jazz, bebop, singing, dancing and chanting. Pontremoli said the legendary outfit's avant-garde groove defines the eclecticism of this year's festival. There's also Stanley Clarke N•4EVER (June 27) and a tribute to music legend Oscar Peterson (June 27). The former is a four-time Grammy Award-winning jazz pioneer bassist; the latter a tribute to jazz's greatest pianist featuring the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with Benny Green and Dan Wilson. "Stanley, who hasn't been here for a while, offers such a variety of beautiful music," she said. 'That's going to be a lot of fun for the audience." The final day of the festival boats five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves (June 28), Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum with Jonathan Butler (June 28), a tribute to Chick Corea and Gary Burton (June 28) and the Pedrito Martinez Group (June 28). "Dianne Reeves is like our current day Sarah Vaughan or Ella (Fitzgerald)," she said. "She's influenced so many people and still at the peak of her powers. We haven't had her here for a long time, so I'm excited to see her. "And then we have Kirk Whalum and Jonathan Butler for one show. Kirk is really such a beautiful player. He's got the respect of both smooth jazz musicians and straight-ahead jazz musicians. And Jonathan comes from South Africa and is such a beautiful songwriter. That's going to be a really spectacular show." What's truly unique about the Tri-C JazzFest experience it doesn't end after each Playhouse Square performance. In fact, it's only just beginning considering the streets outside of the venue are closed for a festival-like atmosphere built around live music with food trucks, vendors, street performers, games and dancing under the Euclid Avenue chandelier. "The outdoors is really important because it gives us the opportunity to present 14 local and regional bands," she said. "Back in the old days, before we had the outdoor stuff, we could only present one or two bands that weren't national. This gives them a platform. So there's this wonderful energy outside where people really dig it." Now coming close to becoming a bonafide Tri-C JazzFest tradition is Lorain's own Sammy DeLeon y su Orquesta closing out the festival with a 10:30 p.m. Saturday performance on the Euclid Avenue stage. "We've had Sammy for several years now," she said. "There's just something so wonderful about the energy of ending the festival on a high note with a hot Latin band." WHAT: Tri-C JazzFestWHEN: June 26 through 28 (times vary) WHERE: Playhouse Square and Euclid Avenue in downtown ClevelandTICKETS: ticketed and free showsINFO: 216-241-6000 or PlayhouseSquare.org Trombone Shorty & Orleans open the Tri-C JazzFest June 26 at Playhouse Square Avenue. (Courtesy of EMily Butler Photography)