Summer beckons and jazz gigs are blooming like Midwestern wildflowers. Summer means jazz festivals are just around the corner, so there is a list below of some events to keep on your calendar. Jazz is performed by musicians and vocalists who have spent many years getting their chops ready for public performance. These folks deserve our support, so remember to get out and listen to live jazz shows.
Old West End Festival
This is the 52nd installment of the OWE Festival and there is a special jazz connection with this year’s event. Dr. Ramona Collins, noted area jazz vocalist and jazz spokesperson, is the Grand Marshal for the King Wamba Parade on June 7. “Lo, the King approacheth,” said Bugs Bunny. Well, Toledo’s own Dave Kosmyna, cornetist with the historic Cakewalkin’ Jass Band and the Program Lead of Music at Ohio Northern University, is being crowned King Wamba for the 52nd OWE Festival.
Mike Karloff Set to Play for the SSJJ in June
The SSJJ guest keyboardist for June is Mike Karloff. Karloff hails from Windsor and is often heard playing with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and at the noted Jazz at Mackenzie Hall venue. He’s visiting the U.S. to play at the Second Sunday Jazz Jam on June 8, from 2:00pm – 6:00pm. It is his second appearance at the event; the crowd really appreciated his styling during his initial appearance for a 2024 gig.
Entertainment 1932 (and other years) – Booze, Gangsters and Jazz in Toledo.
The Toledo History Museum approached me to speak at the Mott Branch Library (1010 Dorr St.) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 6:30pm about any aspect of my forthcoming book, Toledo’s Jazz Legacy. The presentation is open to the public. The topic I will home in on is the entertainment scene in 1932, (and other dates) with a look at gangsters, clubs, and jazz in the area. These themes appear several times in the book. This presentation is derived from notes, chapters, and research related to the book, as well as material from the Toledo Jazz Newsletter. 1932 is a pivotal year in jazz for Toledo; Prohibition reigns, booze and jazz are in demand, and Toledo has plenty of both to go around.
Currently, there is a fundraising campaign underway to try to raise 20k to support a high-end publication by Ohio State’s Trillium Press for my book Toledo’s Jazz Legacy. The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts has graciously allowed the use of their website and is acting as a funding agent (they manage the donations), allowing for all donations to be tax deductible. Currently, donations accounted for stand at approximately $6500, with over 2k of pledges still outstanding. Please consider supporting the publication of the book; here is a link to support the book on TAPA’s website: https://www.artstoledo.com/toledo-jazz-legacy
Larry Fuller Trio to play Lucille’s on June 20
Fuller returns to Toledo, where it all began. He grew up in North Toledo, learned basic jazz in the Toledo Public Schools, studying with Floyd “Candy” Johnson. Then Fuller got on stage at Rusty’s Jazz Café and received an education that no university could deliver. Rusty’s jazz community embraced Fuller, and it was full steam ahead for the young kid from Central Catholic High School in the 1980s. He also, for a time, was the pianist with the Murphys. Eventually, Fuller came to the notice of the legendary vocalist Earnestine Anderson; after one gig where he backed her up, Anderson asked him to join her on tour. He’s played Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, toured the world, and performed with Jeff Hamilton, Ray Brown, John Pizzarelli, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Clark Terry, Jimmy Witherspoon, Houston Person, Anita O’Day, Steve Allen and many more. Now you can hear him at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge in Toledo for a one-night performance. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/larry-fuller-trio-tickets-1270006897819?aff=oddtdtcreator
April Varner Joins Postmodern Jukebox
You’ve read about Varner before in the Toledo Jazz Newsletter. She grew up in Toledo, moved to New York and has been making a name for herself in jazz circles around the world. She won the International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition in 2023, has played jazz festivals in France, released CDs to critical acclaim, worked with the late, great Russell Malone, and recorded with Benny Benack III, just to list a few accomplishments. She sang at Birdland, she has been written about in DownBeat, and many hereabouts have been lucky enough to hear her sing at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge or with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra. Now, the vaunted Postmodern Jukebox outfit has figured out what the author knew from the outset: April Varner is the real deal. Varner is headed to Nashville to begin practicing with the group for the month and will start touring with them in July. Below is a graphic of the Postmodern Jukebox’s schedule of shows that April will be a part of, and there is a link to order tickets.
Link: PMJ Website
WXTS
WXTS FM 88.3, as far as the author knows, is still using the following temporary link for streaming: rdo.to/wxts
WXTS is Toledo’s premier jazz radio station. If you don’t stream, then you can listen at FM 88.3, from 8am until 8pm. They have a superb library of jazz that never fails to impress.
Upcoming gigs to put on the calendar
Old West End Festival June 7 & 8 – The much beloved, historic festival has something for everyone. For many in the city this festival is what they wait the entire year for. There will be 26 bands, not all jazz, and food, house tours and much more. Link: https://www.toledooldwestend.com/festival
Crosby Festival of the Arts June 28 & 29 – This festival at the Toledo Botanical Gardens has it all – beautiful surroundings, art everywhere and music for two days. Crosby Fest Link
Jazz in the Garden kicks off July 10 with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra. What a great lineup. Link: https://metroparkstoledo.com/jazz
Defiance Jazz Festival is set for July 12 – This festival is in its 12th year of presenting a hip series of musicians and vocalists. The festival is in Kingsbury Park, along the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers. The festival honors two greats who called Defiance home, pianist/organist Milt Buckner (1915 – 1977) and cornetist Wild Bill Davidson (1906 – 1989). This outdoor festival is a neat slice of jazz in the Midwest. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair. Admission is 5 bucks for adults, kids get in free. Link: https://visitdefianceohio.com/defiance-jazz-festival/
SSJJ – mini festival on July 13 – The SSJJ has taken on a life of its own, so why not have its own jazz festival. Outside there will be a tent with a full big band; inside, when the big band isn’t playing, there will be a combo with plenty of people sitting in. This is a fan favorite and a real community gig. There is no cover, but there is a tip jar for the many musicians you will hear at this event.
Michigan Jazz Festival on July 20 – Don’t miss this one! This is a whale of a festival; here you get to really see and hear what is going on with jazz in this area of the Midwest. The selection of stages and the talent presented hour after hour is hard to top. I strongly suggest catching this festival. Link:
https://michiganjazzfestival.org/
Glass City JazzFest on August 9 – And don’t forget the week before is Jazz Week August 4-8, with special jazz gigs all week leading up to the festival date. Admission to the festival is free. Bands in the festival have not been announced as of June 1; more on this event will appear in the July edition.
Sunset Jazz Festival on Aug 17 – An art show and jazz festival along the Maumee River – what could be cooler? Link: https://grandrapidsohio.com/attractions/annual-events/
Last month, the TJN deployed an array of high-tech equipment and even dabbled in AI to try to locate a statue of Jon Hendricks in Toledo. The trend of past search methods held, and no statue was found. The search continues. Toledo needs a statue or monument celebrating Jon Hendricks.
Thanks for reading the TJN
Gig listings, historic ads, and other tidbits below.
What a gig this would have been! Tuesday June 7, 1961, looking at hitmakers from 1960.
Cool gigs for June 2025
Lucille’s Jazz Lounge Feel Good Friday
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6:30pm at the Mott Branch of Toledo Lucas County Public Library, the author will present — Entertainment 1932 — Gangsters, Booze, and Jazz in Toledo. A short talk and presentation about why 1932 was pivotal for jazz in Toledo and other aspects of jazz in the city. This is based on notes for the forthcoming book, Toledo’s Jazz Legacy, various materials not included in the book, and from material used in the Toledo Jazz Newsletter.
Listen!
Larry Fuller Trio plays Lucille’s Jazz Lounge on Friday, June 20, 2025
Link: Tickets for the Larry Fuller Trio at Lucille's Jazz Lounge
Recurring Gigs 2025
Monday Nights – Golden Road Jazz Night. 3560 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio, 7:00pm – 10:00pm.
Tuesday Nights – Sessions at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge – Gene Parker and Damen Cook with special guest each week. 1447 N. Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio. Gig runs 7:00pm – 10:00pm. Cover $5, two drink minimum, drink can be water or soft drinks.
Wednesday Nights – Organic Ingredients—Bob Manley, Tim Tiderman, John Johnson, and Clark Brooks with guests, are live every week at, the Oliver House, in the former Mutz Bar space, every Wednesday from 7p-10p.
Wednesday Nights – BGSU Jazz Ensemble at Arlyn’s Good Beer.
520 Hankey Avenue, Bowling Green, Ohio. 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Thursday Thru Saturday – Solo jazz piano at the Chop House, 300 N. Summit Street, downtown Toledo. Solo jazz piano in the evening.
Thursday Night – Jazz Collective at the Peacock Café. Each week the Jazz Collective features a different guest. 2007 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio, 7:00pm -10:00pm.
Friday Lunch – Lucille’s Jazz Lounge: Jazz Lunch Series, Feel Good Friday, 1447 N. Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio. Gig runs from 11:00am – 2:00pm
Sunday Nights – The Ministry of Jazz – The Village Idiot at 309 Conant Street, Maumee, Ohio 6:00pm -9:00pm.
Gig Listings Below (or download gig pdf)
*Remember, if the Gig list below is truncated, click on it, and the list will open in your browser, then, while in the browser, select the arrow, next to Page 1 of 2 >
Jazz On the Radio & Streaming
The Sunday Morning Extravaganza with host Ragtime Rick. “Music you won’t hear anywhere else on the radio dial.” Show details: 6am –9am FM 100.7 The Ticket, or available for streaming on the internet at 1007TheTicket.com.
Friday: then Saturday overnights -- WGTE broadcasts the Jazz Spectrum -- Friday 8pm – 12am, Saturday 8pm – 12am, then Jazz Spectrum Overnights Saturday from 12am – 4am, hosted by Fritz Byers. https://www.wgte.org/jazz
Other info at: https://www.facebook.com/jazzspectrumtoledo/
Listen to WXTS Jazz 88.3 FM 8a-8p Monday-Friday or 24/7, live stream at rdo.to/wxts
Deep Mix: Music & More with DJ Amjad: Radio show distilled & curated from 50 years knowledge & experience of people’s music & culture. Drawing on a wide spectrum of genres & styles. Broadcasts Sat. 8 PM & Wed. 4 PM EST on WAKT 106.1 FM, streaming on www.toledoradio.org and the WAKT 106.1 app
*Shows feature a mix of musical styles, with jazz showing up frequently.
H-Factor Jazz Show, 24hr/day Jazz:
Hosted by Hugh Ross, Jr.
http://hfactorjazzshow.com/
Mark Zaborney’s "Jazz Unlimited" on WBGU FM 88.1 and via bgfalconmedia.com Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from 9:00 am to noon. Note: Live in studio 9am - 12:00pm on Wednesdays. Every Friday Mark posts a new, hip jazz playlist on Spotify, too.
Thursdays, you can watch jazz broadcast live from the Peacock Café on BCAN, Watch BCAN on channel 109 (sd) or 609 (hd) or on Stream TV 26, or you can login with your Buckeye Broadband account here: https://www.bcanarts.com/watch/
Under The Sign at Lucille’s Jazz Lounge
Second Sunday Jazz Jam
Photos of Times Past — Rusty Monroe (jazz club proprietor) with friends, Harold Lindsey (jazz musician) with his 46 Desoto
