{"id":16823,"date":"2025-08-07T17:33:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=16823"},"modified":"2025-08-07T17:33:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:33:44","slug":"you-cant-define-jazz-you-have-to-feel-it-inside-toledos-jazz-revival-with-cheryl-catlin-hugh-ross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/07\/you-cant-define-jazz-you-have-to-feel-it-inside-toledos-jazz-revival-with-cheryl-catlin-hugh-ross\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cYou Can\u2019t Define Jazz. You Have to Feel It\u201d: Inside Toledo\u2019s Jazz Revival with Cheryl Catlin & Hugh Ross"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Jean Holden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Asia Nail<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Have you ever felt music wrap around your bones like a warm breeze, lifting you off the ground before you even realized you were dancing?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s jazz. And in Toledo, thanks to Cheryl Catlin<\/strong> and Hugh Ross<\/strong> of the Great Lakes Jazz Society<\/em><\/strong>, jazz is not only alive\u2014it\u2019s thriving.<\/p>\n

As organizers of the Glass City JazzFest<\/strong> and Toledo Jazz Week<\/strong>, this dynamic duo aren\u2019t just booking performers. They\u2019re building bridges\u2014between generations, genres, and cultures. And they\u2019re doing it with heart.<\/p>\n

Jazz Can\u2019t Be Boxed In\u2014And Toledo Won\u2019t Be Either<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWe always say,\u201d Catlin smiles, \u201cJazz cannot be defined. It must be experienced.\u201d Ross nods. \u201cAnd that\u2019s why we don\u2019t put it in a box. Jazz is evolving. It\u2019s a mixture. And it’s whatever the artist says it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, that mixture is bold. From smooth jazz to Christian jazz, Latin fusion to hip-hop jazz\u2014and even a Japanese ensemble transforming tsunami-inspired folk songs into jazz\u2014every performance tells its own story.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want people to see how jazz has influenced the world,\u201d Catlin says. \u201cWe\u2019re showcasing Brazilian jazz with a Korean vocalist. We\u2019re bringing artists from Japan, Detroit, New York\u2026 And we\u2019re bringing them here<\/em>. To Toledo.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Local Roots to Global Sounds<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"\"
Straight Ahead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the lineup has international flavor, Cheryl and Hugh are quick to spotlight Toledo\u2019s homegrown talent.<\/p>\n

\u201cToledo has a rich jazz history,\u201d Ross says, voice filled with pride. \u201cPeople forget\u2014Art Tatum<\/strong>, Miles Davis<\/strong>, John Coltrane<\/strong>… they all entertained here. This city had its fingerprints on jazz back in the \u201950s.\u201d<\/p>\n

But somewhere along the way, the beat slowed. Jazz faded from the spotlight. \u201cThere was a time people said jazz was dead,\u201d Ross admits. \u201cBut we knew better. It was just waiting for someone to turn up the volume again.\u201d<\/p>\n

So they did.<\/p>\n

And the city is dancing once more.<\/p>\n

Jazz Week: A Love Letter to the City<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Toledo Jazz Week, the lead-up to Saturday\u2019s big Glass City JazzFest, is a five-night adventure across city venues. From classy hotel lounges to open-air parks, each night is a different sound and a different scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to show off the City of Toledo,\u201d Catlin explains. \u201cThat\u2019s why we move around. One night might be at the Hilton, the next at Metroparks or a hidden jazz club. We want people to fall in love with new places and new sounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s lineup features artists like Leslie Deshazor<\/strong>, who once played in the Toledo Symphony Orchestra<\/em>, and Lori Lefevre<\/strong> with students from Toledo School for the Arts<\/em>. It\u2019s a beautiful blend of talent, legacy, and hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important for kids to see this,\u201d Catlin adds. \u201cTo see jazz up close. To see women, different cultures, people their age playing music. That\u2019s how you inspire the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Women in Jazz: Not an Afterthought\u2014An Anthem<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t have to go out of our way to include women in jazz,\u201d Catlin says with a grin. \u201cIt would be hard to exclude them.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, legendary vocalist Jean Holden <\/strong>will kick off the Glass City JazzFest. \u201cWe start strong,\u201d Hugh says. \u201cNo high school warm-up bands\u2014we want people in their seats early, fully present, from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another standout? The all-female ensemble Straight Ahead<\/strong> out of Detroit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese women play with such fire,\u201d Catlin says. \u201cIt\u2019s jaw-dropping. And the beauty is, they\u2019re not there because they\u2019re women. They\u2019re there because they\u2019re incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Akira Tana & Otonowa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Jazz Jam: A Family Reunion in Sound<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After the festival winds down at sunset on August 9, the beat doesn\u2019t stop. Instead, it shifts indoors to the Assembly American Brasserie<\/strong> at the Hilton, where Ramona Collins<\/strong> will host a Jazz Jam Session<\/em> from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be magic,\u201d Catlin says. \u201cMusicians from all over can just sit in, play together, vibe. It\u2019s jazz at its purest, spontaneous, soulful, unrehearsed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Admission is free for performers, $20 for the public. The money supports next year\u2019s programming.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our way of building community,\u201d Ross says. \u201cOld school meets new school. Legends meet up-and-comers. And the audience gets a once-in-a-lifetime night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the Music: Economic Power and Cultural Pride<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Glass City JazzFest isn\u2019t just about notes and rhythms. It\u2019s about economic development, tourism, and pride in Toledo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn year one, we had 2,500 attendees,\u201d Hugh recalls. \u201cThen 4,800. Last year, over 8,000. People are coming from Cincinnati, Michigan\u2014even Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their goal? To turn this one-day festival into a weekend destination<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want people to get hotel rooms, eat in our restaurants, walk our waterfront,\u201d Cheryl says. \u201cToledo has amazing infrastructure. It deserves to be seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

And sponsors are catching on. From the Mud Hens <\/strong>to Taylor Kia<\/strong>, from Destination Toledo<\/strong> to Lucas County<\/strong>, more local partners are stepping up to support this musical movement.<\/p>\n

The Legacy Lives On<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of this year\u2019s headliners, Akira Tana<\/strong>, played at Rusty\u2019s<\/em> in Toledo decades ago. Now, he\u2019s returning with his global jazz group Otonowa<\/strong>, bringing stories and sounds inspired by the tsunami in Japan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat tells you something,\u201d Ross says. \u201cArtists are calling us<\/em>. They remember Toledo. They want to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catlin adds, \u201cWe\u2019ve had agents from Sweden reach out. Musicians are saying, \u2018There\u2019s something special happening in Toledo<\/em>.\u2019 And they\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Final Notes: Why This Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As we wrapped our call, Cheryl and Hugh were still buzzing, not just from coffee, but from purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d Cheryl said softly, \u201cyou never know who\u2019s in the audience. A little girl who sees a woman making magic with her saxophone. A teenager who\u2019s never heard live jazz before. These moments change lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re in Toledo this August, come. Feel the beat. Bring your kids, your grandma, your lawn chair. Let jazz grab you by the hand and whisper, \u201cYou belong here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Because in Toledo, the music isn\u2019t background noise.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a heartbeat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reach Glass City JazzFest With $3 Shuttles From Franklin Park Mall, The Docks<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Glass City JazzFest returns to Glass City Metropark on Saturday, August 9, and so does the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority\u2019s shuttle service to this event, with affordable rides available from two park-and-ride locations.<\/p>\n

Buses at Franklin Park Mall and The Docks will be running directly to JazzFest, which begins at 12:30 p.m. and is expected to draw 8,000 people to the park. For $3 round trip, attendees can connect to this celebration of Toledo\u2019s past, present and future in jazz music.<\/p>\n

That celebration is a weeklong event this year, with free jazz performances slated around the area August 4-8 as part of Toledo Jazz Week.<\/p>\n

Trips from Franklin Park Mall to Glass City Metropark will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and run every 30 minutes until 8:30 p.m. Return trips to Franklin Park will run from 1:30 to 10:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Trips from the parking lot at The Docks to the event will begin at 11:45 a.m. and run every 15 minutes until 9 p.m. Shuttles back to The Docks begin at 1:05 p.m. and run until 10:20 p.m.<\/p>\n

TARTA Move paratransit service to the event can be scheduled by calling 419-382 9901, and fixed route service on TARTA routes 2, 12 & 14 stop near the Glass City Metropark.<\/p>\n

Glass City JazzFest will include performances by: \u00b7 Jean Holden, 12:30 p.m. \u00b7 Otonowa, 2 p.m. \u00b7 RiShon Odel & The 5th Element, 3:45 p.m. \u00b7 Straight Ahead, 5:30 p.m. \u00b7 Vinicius Gomes Quartet, with SongYi Joen, 7:15 p.m. \u00b7 Brian Bromberg, 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Music fans can also take TARTA to Jazz Week performances (6-8 p.m. each night), which include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Leslie Deshazor at Assembly American Brasserie (101 N. Summit Street) on Monday, August 4. Accessible via TARTA routes 2 & 5.<\/li>\n
  • Lori Lefevre & Toledo School of the Arts Jazz Vocalists at Middlegrounds Metropark (111 Ottawa Street) on Tuesday, August 5. Accessible via TARTA routes 27, 31, 32 & 34.<\/li>\n
  • Keith Bernhard & More Jazz Messengers at Toledo Club (235 14th Street) on Wednesday, August 6. Accessible via TARTA routes 2, 5, 22 & 26.<\/li>\n
  • Jerome Clark Trio at Club 1343 (1343 Avondale Avenue) on Thursday, August 7. Accessible via TARTA Route 33.<\/li>\n
  • Gene Parker & Damen Cook at Glass City Metropark (1001 Front Street) on Friday, August 8. Accessible via TARTA routes 2, 12 & 14.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Asia Nail The Truth Reporter Have you ever felt music wrap around your bones like a warm breeze, lifting you off the ground before you even realized you were dancing? That\u2019s jazz. And in Toledo, thanks to Cheryl Catlin and Hugh Ross of the Great Lakes Jazz Society, jazz is not only alive\u2014it\u2019s thriving. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,250,17],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[305],"class_list":["post-16823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover_story","category-local-news","category-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16823"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16828,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16823\/revisions\/16828"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16823"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=16823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}