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Category: Concert Previews

Troy Roberts, A Saxophone Wizard From Oz, Lands at BOP STOP

Published 11 February, 2025 By John Chacona
Troy Roberts

I get a lot of records from publicists looking for a review, 788 last year. That’s way more than I can get to, but I try to check in on most of them. Last year I noticed that a lot of them had Troy Roberts on tenor saxophone, and even on records I didn’t care for–maybe especially those–I was drawn to his muscular sound. I missed his appearance last year with Pat Bianchi (a gig I previewed here), but I–and Cleveland—will get a second bite of the apple Sunday, Feb. 16 when the saxophonist returns to BOP STOP.

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A New, Plus-Sized Bad Plus Lineup Makes Its Cleveland Debut

Published 4 February, 2025 By John Chacona
The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus (from left): Chris Speed, Reid Anderson, Dave King, Ben Monder. photocredit: Evelyn Freja

“The Bad Plus,” Ben Ratliff wrote in the New York Times, “could be the group you use to turn your 17-year-old cousin on to jazz.” Twenty-two years and two lineup changes later, Ratliff’s observation might be more salient than ever.

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Chris Pitsiokos and Weasel Walter Open the 2025 New Ghosts Season

Published 21 January, 2025 By John Chacona

Visit the website of Chris Pitsiokos (click on this name and you’ll get there) and you’ll see an image of a blue sky striped with contrails. The saxophonist is no conspiracy theorist, but he is a roaddog, logging 92 shows in 2024. He’s off to a strong start in 2025, too, with a tour that will bring him to the Little Rose Tavern for a duo gig with eruptive drummer Weasel Walter presented by New Ghosts.

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For Open Sesame, “F” Is For Fiedler–And Fun

Published 17 September, 2024 By John Chacona
Joe_Fiedler_Open_Sesame_by_Peter_Gannushkin
(from left) Sean Conly, Michael Sarin, Joe Fiedler, Steven Bernstein (with duckie), Jeff Lederer. photocredit: Peter Gannushkin

Public radio often talks about “driveway moments,” listening experiences that keep you in your car listening even after you’ve reached your destination. Trombonist and bandleader Joe Fiedler had one that changed his life and set him on a career path that brings him and his Open Sesame band to The Treelawn on Friday. 

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Pull Up! Where To Go & What To Hear In NEO Sept. 12-18

Published 12 September, 2024 By John Chacona

Friendly experiencers,

Pull up! I see this all over my social feeds, an exhortation from my musician friends to get out and experience the music the way it’s meant to be heard: live.

This weekend brings a pair of shows on the west side–both on Friday (are you superstitious?). Good luck deciding which one you’ll want to pull up to. While you make up your mind, enjoy tomorrow’s theme song in the composer’s authoritative version with all-timer Walter Theodore Rollins, who turned 94 last Saturday the 7th.

Read morePull Up! Where To Go & What To Hear In NEO Sept. 12-18
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