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.