Jazz under the Stars: Chris Hovan Organic Trio
Saturday, August 2, 2025 – 7:00 pm
Uptown Park, Medina, OH
Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) continues its summer Jazz under the Stars concert series with Organic Trio on August 2, 2025 at 7 pm.
Tapping into the current Hammond organ revival, Chris Hovan’s Organic Trio revisits the classic organ combo genre with a renewed sense of purpose that puts swing and soulful energy at a premium. Covering both modern repertoire and iconic standards from the jazz lexicon, the trio features Michigan natives Cliff Metcalf on organ and Chandler Carpenter on guitar.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy this free concert. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 317 E. Liberty Street, Medina, OH 44256. For more information, call 419-853-6016.
About the Musicians
A respected photographer, journalist, and musician, Chris Hovan attended the music conservatory at Baldwin-Wallace College where he studied classical percussion with George Kiteley. He also studied drum set for a year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston with Skip Hadden, John Ramsay, and Tommy Campbell. Upon his return to Cleveland, he honed his big band and chart reading skills with the legendary Harry Damas. Over the past 25 years, Hovan has played in a variety of Northeast Ohio venues with such jazz artists as Rich Holsworth, Josh Smith, Francois Roland, Larry Ross, Jackie Warren, Jeremy Poparad, Bobby Selvaggio, Mark Russo, DANJO Jazz Orchestra, and Just Jazz. He has also shared the stage with such national artists as Tony Monaco, Arturo O’Farrill, Brian Lynch, Alex Harding, and James Carter. Hovan’s Generations Quartet is his latest group, the ensemble performing at The Bop Stop and Con Alma on several occasions. Hovan also performs as a percussionist with the horn-based ensemble Funkology, Doobie Brothers tribute band China Grove, and with Bob Niederriter and The Jazz Shepherds.
Clif Metcalf is a graduate of Hope College in Holland Michigan, where he studied with jazz organ monster, Tony Monaco. In the fall of 2016, he participated in the 1st annual Jazz Organ Summit, a gathering of prominent artists and enthusiasts from around the United States that featured Jim Alfredson (Organissimo, Root Doctor, Hammond TV) and Gerard Gibbs (Organized Crime, RYZ). At Hope, Metcalf was a recipient of the Swaby Scholarship, the Freshman Music Prize, Distinguished Artist Award, and the Jazz Alliance of Mid Michigan Izenson Memorial Scholarship. His Hammond Family status has allowed him to meet and make valuable connections with jazz organ greats including the legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith. Currently working as a music teacher based in Holland, Michigan, Metcalf enjoys a healthy performing schedule, and can regularly be seen at festivals and pubs in Central and Northwest Michigan.
Chandler Carpenter is a rising talent on the Cleveland-Akron jazz scene. The Brunswick native did his undergraduate studies at the University of Akron and earned his Master’s degree in jazz performance from Youngstown State University where he studied under many distinguished professors including Dave Morgan. He has performed with drummer Owen Davis, DANJO Jazz Orchestra, and has been a regular in the house band for BLU Jazz Akron’s monthly jam sessions. In addition, his music has been performed by Third Law Collective at the Bop Stop on several occasions. Carpenter currently resides in New Jersey where he works as a private school music teacher.