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.

Performance used with permission from Alex Anest.

The Detroit based Alex Anest Trio explores both original tunes and compositions from some of the greats on this organ trio performance. And its territory Alex knows well with appearances on over three dozen albums under his belt including a half dozen as a group leader.

Alex anchors the group’s sound on guitar, but Jim Alfredson mans the Hammond B3 and David Ward brings the funk on drums. From a January 9th, 2025 performance it’s the Alex Anest Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

Buffalo based Adam Bronstein is a guitar player known for his clever songwriting and playful improvisation. Focusing on guitar at the forefront of its sound, his trio’s music is instrumental with influences ranging from jazz through Hip Hop, R&B and Psychedelia.

We were excited to catch Adam on a recent trip to his native Buffalo, and even more excited when he appeared on tour at the Bop Stop for this August 8th, 2024 appearance in support of his most recent release ABTrio.

Featuring Adam on Guitar, James Benders on Bass and Gabriel Wells on Drums and Percussion, it’s Adam Bronstein and the AB Trio-Live at the Bop Stop.