by Ben Giesen
DownBeat music magazine describes the Tri-C JazzFest as a performance series that provides “the type of top-tier talent typically found at a much larger festival.”
Wandering through this year’s JazzFest, I encountered no shortage of groups that fit the description of “top-tier talent.” Yet, the most captivating entertainers were the ones that understood their audience on a truly personal level. From the performances I saw, no other group fostered this connection quite like the duo of trumpeter Dominick Farinacci and pianist Jon Thomas.
Both Cleveland natives and both globally acclaimed, these artists can enchant a room with their wit just as much as they can with their music. In fact, when they took the stage at The Hanna Theatre on day two of the 2026 Tri-C JazzFest, there was hardly a break in the music when they weren’t bantering with an audience member.
The Akron Symphony pulled off an exceptional concert at E.J. Thomas Hall on January 13 that would have stretched any other ensemble to its limit.
Scientists, activists, a writer, a visual artist, a jazz singer, and a former president all sparked inspiration in the mind of Jinjoo Cho as she developed this summer’s Music & Ideas Festival as part of ENCORE Chamber Music Institute.
Though this past year took a lot from musicians, it also gave many the rare gift of time. Jinjoo Cho, artistic director of ENCORE Chamber Music Institute, decided to use that time to bring a long-held idea of hers to fruition — but first, it would require a lot of research. Starting June 6, ENCORE will present its 2021 Music & Ideas Festival, a reimagined format that makes the organization’s sixth season its most ambitious yet.
The 41st Tri-C JazzFest set a high bar for any virtual concerts to come, with excellent performances by local artists and a slick presentation. I heard the Friday and Sunday showings of the three-night festival, which ran from August 21-23.