Description
Sunday, March 7, 2027 12:00 to 2:30 pm
1930s Gypsy Jazz Lunch Fundraiser
Our Lady of the Cedars, 507 S. Cleveland Massillon Road, Fairlawn, OH 44333
Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) invites you to enjoy a Jazz Lunch Fundraiser featuring Hot Club of Cleveland Gypsy Jazz Trio on Sunday, March 7, 2027, from 12:00 until 2:30 pm at Our Lady of the Cedars, 507 S. Cleveland Massillon Road, Fairlawn, OH 44333.
Savor either a mimosa or bloody Mary (included), then tuck into a hearty lunch buffet that includes Chicken Marsala, Atlantic Salmon, Tomato and Basil Pesto Pasta, Rice Pilaf,
Medley Whole Green Almandine, Salad and Dessert. Stroll around and bid on auction items that benefit ORMACO’s outreach programs, soak in the music and enjoy a Gypsy Jazz celebration with friends.
Attendance is limited so book now to avoid disappointment.
Reed Simon-Jazz Violinist has been fortunate to have worked with many of Cleveland’s top jazz musicians over the years and has been on area stages including Nighttown with the band Hot Djang!, warming up for internationally touring artists guitarist Olli Soikkeli and Stephane Wremble. In 2021, Reed was a guest artist with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Paul Ferguson in a concert at the Bop Stop. Additional bands Reed has warmed for up for include Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Big Bad Vodoo Daddy, The Hot Club of Cowtown. Reed shared the Severance Hall stage with percussionist Cándido de Guerra Camero for the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society’s production of Duke Ellington’s “A Drum is a Woman” under the direction of John Richmond, as well as performed a concert with swing jazz guitarist Dennis Chang. International musicians of note that Reed has sat in with include Diego Figueiredo III, Gary Burton. Reed has also worked with the New York City based band Nuage Rhythm as well as the band Chest Fever. Reed currently plays in the Cleveland Pops Orchestra where he has soloed on occasion. Reed was a founding member of the band Bent String, and occasionally plays with other local groups. Reed once met legendary French jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli in person. Reed is currently a member of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra where he has been featured on occasion as a jazz and bluegrass soloist.
Guitarist Steve Karla, originally from North East Ohio, has returned to the Cleveland area after 15 years of performing music in Asheville NC with The Hot Club of Asheville and various other projects. Steve is a current founding member of Forest City Django Club, a Hot Jazz style band with vocals, accordion and violin. Steve can be heard performing regularly with FCDC at Forest City Brewery and other venues. As of 2026 Steve joined Cleveland big band “SwingTime” as their guitarist playing local swing dance events. Steve is honored to occasionally play with The Hot Club of Cleveland, led by violinist Reed Simon along with other great talents. Excited to be part of the local jazz scene, Steve also takes part in the monthly CLE Urban Winery swing jam every last Tuesday of the month.
Bryan Thomas is a full-time professional musician based in the fertile music community of Northeast Ohio. He comes from a background of classical and jazz bass traditions and has sought out musical interactions in as many cultures as possible. Experienced in the worlds of dance, pop, folk, and Caribbean ensembles, Bryan’s favorite music is any that is conversational, with both musicians and audiences involved. In addition to being a sought-after sideman for decades, Bryan has been expanding his roles as an arranger, music director, composer and recording artist. Bryan’s many first-hand experiences and lessons with giants of the double bass, notably soloists Gary Karr, François Rabbath, Cleveland Orchestra bassists Anthony Knight, Scott Haigh, and Mark Atherton, jazz legend Ray Brown, and great Cuban bassist, Carlos del Puerto, shape his approach to the instrument. After earning his BM in Music Performance at Kent State University, he spent many years as a road musician, touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, as a staff musician on Norwegian Cruise Lines, and as a freelance copyist and musician in Germany. Since 1996 Bryan has been based in Northeast Ohio as a freelance musician, teacher, and recording artist. Check out his recent recordings with the dynamic Americana/Folk/Rock group Hey Mavis, singer and producer Helen Welch, and with wife and hammered dulcimer artist Tina Bergmann. Since 2000 Bryan has been an adjunct professor of double bass at Kent State University as well as maintaining a private studio for students from as young as five to current professionals. Other current teaching positions include the Aurora School of Music (since 2006) and the Tri-C JazzFest Academy (since 2022). Bryan has been Principal Bass of the Ashland Symphony since 2023. He was the music director for the Unity Chapel of Light in Tallmadge, OH from 2019 to 2021 and a member of their music team since 2000.