Live at the Bop Stop

Performance used with permission from the artist.

Since 2014, contemporary jazz band Spin Cycle has been bringing their original music to clubs and concert halls across the US and Canada. Co-lead by Drummer Scott Neumann and Saxophonist Tom Christensen, the band highlights their flexibility, reach and capacity to surprise audiences. On any given song, you might encounter the modal influence of John Coltrane, the second-line funk of New Orleans, or the edgy experimentation of free jazz.

The group features guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Dave Ambrosio, both bandleaders and well-respected artists in their own right and this performance is in support of their most recent release Spin Cycle III. From a November 10th, 2024 performance it's Spin Cycle – Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance used with permission from the artist.

Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, pianist and composer Marta Sánchez is actively working in the contemporary creative music scene in New York City and around the globe. Charting a significant path through her innovative and original music, she has reached an international audience, gaining significant global recognition.

When not playing and recording with the David Murray Quartet, Oscar Noriega Quartet and the Maria Grand Duo, Marta performs with her Trio, as she does here in support of her 2024 release Perpetual Void.

Featuring Eliza Salem on Drums, Tyron Allen on Bass and Marta Sanchez on Piano, and from an October 26th, 2024 performance, it's the Marta Sanchez Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance used with permission from the artist.

You could argue at this point that Theron Brown is the glue that holds the Akron, Ohio jazz scene together. Between his work as the founder and director of the annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival, the artistic director of the I Promise School, the artist coordinator for the Curated Storefront and his heavy involvement with the Jazz Education program at the University of Akron, he's arguably the hardest working man in show business.

So we were lucky to manage to snag his trio for this performance. Featuring, Zaire Darden on Drums, Jordan McBride on Bass and Theron Brown on Piano – and from an October 25th, 2024 performance – it's the Theron Brown Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance used with permission from the artist.

In 2014, Monika Herzig had the idea to bring together fellow jazz musicians with the goal of presenting powerful role models on stage as a way of breaking some lingering stereotypes following a path initially paved by Sherri Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra in the '90s. That effort paid off then and continues to pay off now as you'll hear in this performance in support of their 2024 release All in Good Time

The various Sheroes ensembles over time have represented an extended family of bandleaders, and the group assembled here for this August 30th, 2024 performance is no different. Featuring Jamie Baum on Flute, Reut Regev on Trombone, Gina Schwarz on Bass, Chelsea Hughey on Drums and Monika Herzig on Piano and appearing courtesy of a grant from the Jazz Roads Foundation, it's Monika Herzig's Sheroes – Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance used with permission from the artists.

Detroit based Anthony Stanco, embodies the soulful essence of the city's musical legacy. Fueled by the city's vibrant rhythms, Stanco honed his craft under the tutelage of local luminaries like Marcus Belgrave and Rodney Whitaker, absorbing their wisdom like the note of a melody.

As leader of The Crucial Elements, Stanco commands attention with a distinctive blend of talent and charisma. Their music transcended borders while they served as cultural ambassadors through the US State Department's "American Music Abroad" program. From the rhythmic pulse of South Africa to the exotic melodies of Indonesia, they enrapture audiences worldwide, gracing esteemed stages such as the Java Jazz Festival and the Cairo Jazz Club.

The group in this performance contains a mix of Crucial Elements members, Michigan and Ohio State University faculty and students.

Featuring Pete Mills on Saxophone, Jon Eshelman on Organ, Zach Compston on Drums and Anthony Stanco on Trumpet, and from a November 3rd, 2024 performance, it's Anthony Stanco – Live at the Bop Stop.

This performance used by permission of the artist.

THE OBLIVION PROJECT was formed in 2003, is dedicated to the exploration and performance of the over 3000 Nuevo Tango works of Argentine tango master Astor Piazzolla. The musicians from all across the Americas have collaborated to explore and share the uncompromisingly unique, unequivocally attractive language of Piazzolla's tangos. We are extremely fortunate that they're based here in Cleveland.

This performance catches them on their 19th tour of the Midwest and comes on the heels of a sold out larger show with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severance Hall.

From September 21st, 2024 it's The Oblivion Project Presents: The Nuevo Tango of Astor Piazzolla – Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance used by permission from Joe Leaman.

Akron based Joe Leaman is an in-demand percussionist, pianist, composer, arranger and educator with an active following throughout Northeastern Ohio. For this performance, Joe leads a quintet in exploring the music of Trinidad and Tobago but with a jazz twist.

If you're a fan of Victor Provost or Andy Narell you'll be familiar with the steel drum sound but if you aren't, consider this a great introduction to the art form. Appearing here courtesy of the Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach in this October 24th, 2024 performance – it's Joe Leaman's Steel Drum Celebration – Live at the Bop Stop.

This performance used with permission from David Janeway.

Detroit native David Janeway cut his teeth with Marcus Belgrave and Harold McKinney before moving to New York in the late 1970s, and the enduring influences of both Motown and Latin Jazz are evident in his music. One of New York's most thoughtful composers, David's trio makes its Bop Stop debut in support of their second album 'Forward Motion', released in 2024.

This performance features longtime collaborator and fellow Detroit native Robert Hurst on bass, and drumming legend Billy Hart. From June 14th, 2024 it's the David Janeway Trio … Live at the Bop Stop.

Dreamer - Janeway Bye-Ya - Monk Gardenia - Peacock I Fall in Love Too Easily - Baker Little Willie Leaps - Davis Night and Day - Evans Slow Motion - Janeway K's Shuffle - Janeway

For more information on our program, visit our website at thebopstop.org and click on the Live at the Bop Stop Radio Show link.

Guitarist Dan Bruce and Pianist Theron Brown are frequent quests on the program, so they don't really need much of an introduction. They both have their own unique style and appear here in advance of their recent releases. For Theron Brown this was 2024's Spirit Fruit and for Dan Bruce this was his 2025 release with his trio project Ohm!.

They both serve as Artistic Directors of regional jazz festivals. For Theron this is the Annual Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival, and for Dan this is the annual Hingetown Jazz Festival here in Cleveland.

While Theron works with the Akron Symphony Orchestra and scores larger ensemble pieces, Dan prefers to focus his lead creative energies in a duo. This is a product of his time in Chicago and it creates a unique sound in a staged venue the size of The Bop Stop, as you'll here on this program. There are a lot of duos performing what you might call a wallpaper gig, but Dan really focuses his performance energy in featuring the duo at the center of a performance, which is unique here in Northeast Ohio.

So we hope you enjoy this performance. From March 2nd, 2024 its Dan Bruce and Theron Brown – Live at the Bop Stop.

Performance used with permission from the Scheen Jazzorkester

The Scheen Jazzorkester was founded in 2010 and has evolved into the the regional Jazz Orchestra of the Southern Jazz Center in Norway. It has succeeded in becoming a major force in Norwegian progressive composer-based ensembles along with similar units in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, and has released eight critically acclaimed albums.

The group tours regularly, and for this performance you'll hear, among other pieces, a commissioned piece by the great Norwegian saxophonist and composer, André Roligheten. He is known in Europe especially for his contributions in Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity, Friends and Neighbors, Susanne Sundfør as well as his own quartet.

We have to thank, among others, the Cultural Fund of Norway, Music Norway, Sørnorsk Jazz Centre, Telemark County and Northeast Ohio's own New Ghosts for their support of this performance. From September 28th, 2024 it's the Scheen Jazzorkester – Live at the Bop Stop.