When producer R.H. Valentino Sweeten, better known as “KontraX,” hosted the first Beat Lounge Beat Battle at Clifton Heights’ Baba Budan’s, he says he saw himself as a “people person” wanting to integrate local Hip Hop and not as a promoter. After the first Beat Lounge’s successful turnout, the bar booked the event every third Saturday for two years.  

The flute hasn't always been considered the coolest of instruments (though certainly ahead of accordion and tuba), but "cool" is certainly a word that comes to mind when listening to Bradley Leighton, who's been praised for brining a presence to the Jazz flute comparable to that of a saxophonist or trumpeter. Local singer/songwriter Tracy Walker opens Thursday's show.  

Wade Baker recently nabbed his first CEA nomination in the Jazz category, but he's a pervasive presence throughout Cincinnati's music scene. In addition to playing trumpet with a rotating cast of Jazz luminaries in the Wade Baker Jazz Collaboration, he's toured with Hip Hop/Jazz/Jam locals Eclipse, provided bass for Blues cat Jon Justice for the past three years and has a regular gig with the veteran Blue Birds Big Band. And that's just a partial list.