Cleveland native and saxophonist Lovano, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra to play at HÜG in Akron

When Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Joe Lovano comes back to his native Cleveland, he talks about how important his home is when he does performances and master classes.

"He's one of the top-tier performers on the planet when it comes to jazz," Bobby Selvaggio, executive director of Akron's new Creative Arts Collaborative Center (C³), said of the local jazz legend, who graduated from Brush High School in Lyndhurst.

Lovano, an internationally known tenor saxophonist, will perform "Coltrane, Sinatra and the Surprise of Being" with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra at 7 p.m. Saturday at the nonprofit (C³) at Highland Square Universal Gathering Place (HÜG) in Akron.

He'll also give at a free master class at 4 p.m. at the community arts center, located at the former Temple Israel at 133 Merriman Road in Akron.

The former temple, restored and transformed by Akron developer Tony Troppe, kicked off its life as a new arts center March 23 with Philadelphia jazz vocalist Michelle Lordi.

Introducing HÜG: Former Temple Israel's transformation into cultural center in Akron is complete

The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has performed before at Blu Jazz+ in Akron, which Troppe owns. The ensemble and Lovano also will perform "Coltrane, Sinatra and the Surprise of Being" at Maltz Performing Arts Center in Cleveland Friday.

"It's special for them to come down and be able to do like an arts center in Akron, (which) for sure is not something they've done before," said Selvaggio, a saxophonist who's also director of jazz studies at Kent State University.

Festival honors genres: UA jazz festival pays homage to genre's past, present in Akron

Lovano is an international performer

Lovano, 70, born in Cleveland, is based in upstate New York and performs nationally and internationally. He released 25 records with Blue Note Records from 1991 to 2016. He recently released his third album with the quintet Sound Prints, which he co-leads with trumpeter Dave Douglas.

Saturday night in Akron, students with an ID who attend the master class receive free tickets to the concert. Regular admission is $10-$35.

Selvaggio urges everyone in the community, musicians and non-musicians, to attend Lovano's master class. Lovano tells stories and plays his sax in the classes, giving insight into how musicians think.

"His music just touches you in such a very human way as opposed to just like a musical jazz way," Selvaggio said. "It's just like a deep dive into who Joe Lovano is and the impact that he's had on jazz music."

The whole point of C³ programming, where artists can talk to everybody, is to bring the community together through the arts.

"I want everybody. I want students. I want other professionals. I want community members to come into these experiences, whether it be a clinic or a concert or a dance event or a visual arts project ... so that we can all experience arts much more holistically," Selvaggio said.

Cleveland Orchestra season: Here's the full season for Cleveland Orchestra's Blossom Music Festival

Selvaggio has a personal history with Lovano, having studied with him about 30 years ago when he was a master’s student in jazz performance at the Manhattan School of Music. Lovano also knew Selvaggio's father, the late Pete Selvaggio, who was a jazz accordionist and pianist.

Lovano comes home to Cleveland multiple times each year to see family and put on hometown gigs. When he does, Selvaggio looks forward to hanging out and playing with his friend.

Gathering before Saturday concert

The main auditorium at HÜG, which seats 250, is located in the former sanctuary, featuring recovered pew seating and a stage with a 9-foot Steinway grand piano.

"I'm excited to hear what a big band sounds like in there," Selvaggio said. "My guess is it's gonna sound beautiful."

Also performing will be vocalist Judi Silvano, who is Lovano's wife.

Before the concert, guests can gather for wine and cheese available for purchase and sit at high-top tables in the lobby, where doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Saxophonist Bobby Watson to appear next at C³

Next on the C³ schedule is bandleader and jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson, whose Bobby Watson Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. May 20, preceded by a free, public master class from 4 to 5 p.m. The Grammy-nominated artist, born in Lawrence, Kansas, has a career that spans four decades as a saxophonist, composer, bandleader, educator and producer.

He spent 25 years performing in New York and was a distinguished professor of jazz studies for 20 years at the University of Missouri Kansas City. For tickets to his Akron performance, see https://bit.ly/44mJ6kn.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Concert: "Coltrane, Sinatra and the Surprise of Being" with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Creative Arts Collaborate Center (C³) at HÜG, 133 Merriman Road, Akron

Cost: $10-$35

Free master class: 4 to 5 p.m.

Information: https://bit.ly/3LrSx9z or 330-376-6460

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Homegrown jazz legend Lovano, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra at Akron's HÜG