Born in 1984 in Portland, Oregon, esperanza spalding is an eaabibacliitoti* artist, trained and initiated in the North American (masculine) jazz lineage and tradition.  Her work interweaves through various combinations of instrumental music, bass playing, improvisation, singing, composition, poetry, dance, therapeutic research, storytelling, teaching, regenerative agriculture, urban land & artist-sanctuary custodianship, and growing in love as a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, auntie, great-auntie, and friend, while collaboratively decolonizing within and through her hometown community.  She founded and co-directs Prismid Sanctuary, a nonprofit that creates and stewards free artist residency, performance, and workshop space in Portland (Prismid.org).

Milton + esperanza is spalding’s first new album release since 2021’s songwrights apothecary lab, which, along with 2019’s 12 Little Spells, both won Grammy Awards (Best Jazz Vocal Album).  Last year, spalding released a protest song titled “Não Ao Marco Temporal” that was recorded in Rio de Janeiro and addresses the Temporal Framework, an initiative in Brazil that threatens Indigenous Brazilians’ land rights and poses a major risk to the Amazon rainforest.  A 5-time Grammy winner and 11-time nominee, spalding has previously released 8 full-length albums and, in addition to working with her heroes including Nascimento and Shorter, has collaborated with Q-Tip, Janelle Monae, Robert Glasper, Terri Lyne Carrington, and many others.

esperanza continues to develop a mockumentary titled NIGREDO in collaboration with brontë velez to research, develop, and share liberation grammars in jazz and black dance // creatively consults and collaborates for upcoming productions of the opera …(Iphigenia) (music by Wayne Shorter; libretto by spalding) // and, through the Songwrights Apothecary Lab, collaborates with practitioners in various fields relating to sound, healing, and cognition to develop music with enhanced therapeutic potential.

With her dance project “Off Brand gOdds” and therapeutic music incubator “Songwrights Apothecary Lab,” she co-leads performance, teaching, workshop, and therapeutic-arts research residencies in collaboration with colleges and arts venues across the Americas and throughout the world.  She is a 2024 recipient of the Doris Duke Foundation Artist Award and a 2016 Ford Foundation “Art of Change” Fellow.

Emphasizing simplicity and intimacy of her voice, bass, and songs, in this special configuration of two musicians and two dancers, esperanza will perform songs from her previous albums, current releases, plus a special preview of her forthcoming project.

 *European-African ancestored being influenced by American cultures living in Indigenous Territories of Turtle Island

$1 charity fee per ticket will go toward Artist charity organization, Prismid Sanctuary.

Another Longworth-Anderson Series evening of great music, food, and drink!  Complimentary pre-concert reception features live local music, light bites from Ollie’s Trolley and N.Y.P.D. Pizza, and craft beer tastings from HighGrain Brewing Co.

One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of contemporary jazz piano, Brad Mehldau has forged a unique path, which embodies the essence of jazz exploration, classical romanticism and pop allure. From critical acclaim as a bandleader to major international exposure in collaborations with Pat Metheny, Renee Fleming, and Joshua Redman, Mehldau continues to garner numerous awards and admiration from both jazz purists and music enthusiasts alike. His forays into melding musical idioms, in both trio and solo settings, has seen brilliant re-workings of songs by contemporary songwriters like The Beatles, Cole Porter, Radiohead, Paul Simon, Gershwin and Nick Drake; alongside the ever-evolving breadth of his own significant catalogue of original compositions. With his self-proclaimed affection for popular music and classical training, “Mehldau is the most influential jazz pianist of the last20 years” (The New York Times).

A quartet of Cincinnati’s finest jazz musicians has been assembled by drummer Carmon DeLeone, with Phil DeGreg -Piano,  Aaron Jacobs – Bass, and Rich VanMatre – Saxes to present the amazing music and lyrics of the British musical genius – Leslie Bricusse.  If you enjoy “What Kind of Fool Am I,” Who Can I Turn To,” and “Candy Man,”  they are only the start of a program filled with memorable great tunes.

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September. 

Contemporary jazz – electric, funky and organic. Music with an exotic flavor and groovabilty. 

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September. 

Celebrated guitarist Carlos Vargas offers a unique pairing of repertoires from Brazilian composer and guitarist Toninho Horta and Memorial Hall favorite Pat Metheny.

Featuring Carlos Vargas (guitar), Brian Cashwell (piano), Justin Dawson (bass)

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September. 

Experience a mesmerizing journey through Ron Jones’ own arrangements of some of the most important and recognizable tunes from The Great American Songbook. Known for his on-stage energy and fun brough to each show, Ron and his quartet offer an tuneful and memorable evening of jazz.

Featuring Ron Jones (alto sax), Rob Allgeyer (piano), Mike Sharfe (bass), Jim Leslie (drums)

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September. 

Always a perennial favorite, world class vocalist Mandy Gaines returns to Memorial Hall and Jazz at the Memo for a magical and intimate evening featuring timeless classic love songs from the Great American Songbook and beyond. Guitarist Brad Myers and Bassist Chris Berg will join Mandy in making a strong case that love does indeed make the world a better place.

Mandy Gaines – Vocals
Brad Myers – Guitar
Chris Berg – Upright Bass

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September. 

Brandon Scott Coleman’s Chaos Magick will take the listener on a vibrant journey to be remembered. The audience will be guided on a cosmic path by a dynamic and expressive band playing colorful compositions that toe the line between precision and spontaneity. 

Featuring:
Brandon Coleman – Guitar
Ben Tweedt – Piano
Matt Wiles – Bass
Jeff Mellott – Drums
Patrick Duke Graney – Percussion
Zach Brock – Violin
Ben Sollee – Cello
Michael G. Ronstadt – Cello/Acoustic Guitar

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September. 

The Faux Frenchmen return from the brink of Oblivion to perform their own terrifying brand of originally composed Hot Club-driven swing, classic jazz tunes, and improvised pieces.

Featuring Paul Patterson (violin), George Cunningham (acoustic guitar), Brian Lovely (acoustic guitar), Don Aren (acoustic bass)

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September. 

Legendary Cincinnati vocalist Dixie Karas shares jazz-inspired selections from her favorite Motown and R&B artists. 

Featuring Dixie Karas (vocals), Ted Karas (guitar) and more TBA 

Bop those winter blues as Jazz at the Memo returns for the 2025-26 season in the beaux arts splendor of historic Memorial Hall. The finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene offer intimate performances in the theater’s superb acoustic, featuring local favorites Mandy Gaines, the Faux Frenchmen, Mambo Combo and more. In December, hear those sleighbells swing as the series takes a festive turn with faithful recreations of beloved holiday jazz albums, including the Christmas music of Nat “King” Cole, Oscar Peterson and the perennially sold-out A Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Phil DeGreg Trio 

New in 2025-26: the Improviser Pass! Want more jazz without committing to the whole series? Our new “Improviser” flex pass allows you to choose your favorite eight concerts now or as the season goes on, capturing $28 in savings on ticketing fees. 

Beginning in May, the party moves outdoors! Join us across the street for Washington Park’s “Jazz in the Park,” Monday evenings through October, and for Fountain Square’s “Jazz at the Square” programs, Tuesday evenings May through September.