Past Events

An evening of Jazz standards, Bohemian Soul and R&B classics with hot blooded improvisation and wildly precise dance movement. Southfield natives Noah Jackson and Vie Boheme have been performing all over the world and bring energy from the corners of the world back home to…

Our long-standing early Saturday piano trio series, led by Evan, a fine player who now tours throughout the world with soul diva Bettye LaVette and the US with country-rock band Whitey Morgan. Samuel Chase Harris on bass & Jake Matthews on drums, all three are…

An evening of Jazz standards, Bohemian Soul and R&B classics with hot blooded improvisation and wildly precise dance movement. Southfield natives Noah Jackson and Vie Boheme have been performing all over the world and bring energy from the corners of the world back home to…

Jarrod Champion is a self-taught pianist, vocalist, organist, songwritier and multi-instrumentalist. Born in a suburb east of Detroit, Michigan, he’s the son of two working class parents, both trained pianists. Originally based in rock and roll, Jarrod eventually spread out into the prominent jazz, blues…

Twenty-one-year old Airey is bold, impressive, and bodacious. A singer/songwriter as well as guitar player and pianist. Her voice is captivating, expressive and emotional. She invokes the spirit of the first ladies of the blues like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith & Lizzie Miles. A breath…

Opening act: (6:00-9:30) T-Bone Paxton Trio- vocalist, trombonist  and bandleader Detroit Native and son of local legend pianist Fred Paxton Member of Planet D Nonet T-Bone explores what he jokingly likes to call “Non-Standard, Standards” or “The Dark Corners of the Great American Songbook” mixing…

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CLIFF BELLS! 

Matt Endahl is a pianist, composer and educator, currently based in Nashville TN. Since moving there in 2013 he has performed in groups led by Jeff Coffin, Chester Thompson, Imer Santiago, Duffy Jackson, Christina Watson, Marcus Finnie, and many others. He plays regularly with the…

About Well-versed in traditional jazz, bebop and post-bop idioms, Lawrence Barris draws from a variety of American musical forms; funk, soul, R&B, and blues. He currently performs and records with Lawrence Barris & Friends and the critically acclaimed trio, organissimo. Associated Acts include the late…

Our long-standing early Saturday piano trio series, led by Evan, a fine player who now tours throughout the world with soul diva Bettye LaVette and the US with country-rock band Whitey Morgan. Samuel Chase Harris on bass & Jake Matthews on drums, all three are…

Tapping into the current Hammond organ revival, Chris Hovan’s Organic Trio revisits the classic organ combo genre with a renewed sense of purpose that puts swing and soulful energy at a premium. Covering both modern repertoire and iconic standards from the jazz lexicon, the trio…

Jarrod Champion is a self-taught pianist, vocalist, organist, songwritier and multi-instrumentalist. Born in a suburb east of Detroit, Michigan, he’s the son of two working class parents, both trained pianists. Originally based in rock and roll, Jarrod eventually spread out into the prominent jazz, blues…

Aaron Jonah Lewis is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, performer and educator. He has won awards at the Clifftop Appalachian String Band Festival, including First Place Neotraditional Band in 2008 and 2015, and at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention, including First Place Bluegrass Fiddle in 2018 and…

Jazz pianist, composer, educator, singer-songwriter, playwright Dean Solden is a different kind of jazz musician. At his jazz shows you won’t hear the typical head-sax solo-piano solo-bass solo-drum solo-head on every tune. One tune may start with a drum solo. Another tune may be solo…

Scott is a band-leader, composer/arranger, pianist, and educator. As a performer, Scott has played on over 20 professionally released recordings including 5 under his own name. Basement Vibes (2002), Scott Gwinnell Trio (2006), the award-winning Brush Fire (2008), Cass Corridor Story (2011- Detroit Music Factory)…

The latest sounds blowing in from Detroit are from the Detroit Tenors, led by tenor saxophonists Carl Cafagna and Steve Wood. The Band is a tribute to the great tenor sax pairings of the 40’s and 50’s such as Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon/Wardel Grey,…

Our long-standing early Saturday piano trio series, led by Evan, a fine player who now tours throughout the world with soul diva Bettye LaVette and the US with country-rock band Whitey Morgan. Samuel Chase Harris on bass & Jake Matthews on drums, all three are…

David Alvarez III is a jazz drummer, composer, arranger, and music educator based in the Metro-Detroit area. The drum set was introduced to him at the age of five, growing up playing in church. At the age of nine, he started to learn how to…

Jarrod Champion is a self-taught pianist, vocalist, organist, songwritier and multi-instrumentalist. Born in a suburb east of Detroit, Michigan, he’s the son of two working class parents, both trained pianists. Originally based in rock and roll, Jarrod eventually spread out into the prominent jazz, blues…

The Southeastern Music Academy has an outstanding music faculty – successful performers with strong academic credentials that perform regularly with professional groups. This is a student jam session.

Trumpeter/vocalist James O’Donnell has been entertaining Detroit audiences for years. He has toured around the globe and lived in Mexico City. He brings plenty of swing and humor to whatever he does! James grew up listening to Detroit trumpet great Johnny Trudell. His teachers and…

The Rob Louis Trio is a group of talented young musicians centered around Detroit-native pianist and vocalist Rob Louis. The Trio has developed a unique style and sound tinged with modern rhythmic influences, and is known for performing vibrant jazz music, from traditional music out…

After over 30 years of playing together and working as sidemen both in Detroit and throughout the United States and abroad, Dane Bays and Alex Brooks are forming their own Quartet to bring their experience, energy, and passion to audiences everywhere and are in the…

Jeff Cuny is an excellent string bassist. He is also the chief arranger & bassist for the Planet D Nonet and appears around the city with singer/trombonist Tbone Paxton as well as his own groups. His fellow musicians include David Dunham on guitar & David…

Multi-instrumentalist/producer Jeff Ponders II has captivated audiences across the world with his provocative, soulful approach to music. Born in Detroit, Jeff honed his skills under the tutelage of jazz masters Donald Walden, Marcus Belgrave, and Wendell Harrison. His resume includes performances and recordings with heavyweights…

Our long-standing early Saturday piano trio series, led by Evan, a fine player who now tours throughout the world with soul diva Bettye LaVette and the US with country-rock band Whitey Morgan. Samuel Chase Harris on bass & Jake Matthews on drums, all three are…

Premier entertainer Ramona Collins is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, educator, actress, emcee and radio host who grew up in Lansing MI. Now based out of Toledo, Ohio, her shows have made her an audience favorite at clubs, concerts and festivals wherever she goes. She…

Jarrod Champion is a self-taught pianist, vocalist, organist, songwritier and multi-instrumentalist. Born in a suburb east of Detroit, Michigan, he’s the son of two working class parents, both trained pianists. Originally based in rock and roll, Jarrod eventually spread out into the prominent jazz, blues…

The Jazz Dept at Wayne State University hold a jam session. Always a great time!

Speakeasy Sunday January 19 Door 7:30pm / 8:30pm Coco Brûlée Miss Holly Hock Lilith Von Tal Heather Marie Josephine Shaker Vivi Valens Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speakeasy-sundays-january-new-decade-bash-tickets-85573447485 Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/289534409053444

David Alvarez III is a Jazz drummer, composer, arranger, and music educator based in the Metro-Detroit area. The drum set was introduced to him at the age of five, growing up playing in church. At the age of nine, he started to learn how to…

Jeff Cuny is the chief arranger & bassist for the Planet D Nonet and appears around the city with the singer & trombonist Tbone Paxton. Every Friday he leads the house trio at Cliff Bell's.  This is his first time doing a project of his…

David Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist, with his primary instruments being the piano and the trumpet. He is from Rochester Hills, Michigan. He began taking piano lessons with Mrs. Christine Gahman when he was 7 years old and finished his high school piano training with Mrs.…

Jeff Cuny is an excellent string bassist. He is also the chief arranger & bassist for the Planet D Nonet and appears around the city with singer/trombonist Tbone Paxton as well as his own groups. His fellow musicians include David Dunham on guitar & David…

Soul Cycle plays American Jazz/Soul Organ music styled after the masters. The set contents include contemporary renditions as wells as a litany of classic songs performed by the greats Formed in early 2013, Soul Cycle is comprised of studio musicians from various groups rooted in…

Our long-standing early Saturday piano trio series, led by Evan, a fine player who now tours throughout the world with soul diva Bettye LaVette and the US with country-rock band Whitey Morgan. Samuel Chase Harris on bass & Jake Matthews on drums, all three are…

Bandleader/composer/organist Duncan McMillan’s new CD is “Room with a View.” A labor of love, Duncan began the process in 2004, and has been fortunate to document this music with musicians who collectively represent important relationships in his life – both as individuals and as musicians.…

Jarrod Champion is a self-taught pianist, vocalist, organist, songwritier and multi-instrumentalist. Born in a suburb east of Detroit, Michigan, he’s the son of two working class parents, both trained pianists. Originally based in rock and roll, Jarrod eventually spread out into the prominent jazz, blues…