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Caffè Vivace 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills For a cozy night of jazz and drinks, Caffè Vivace is the perfect spot. The space is intimate and decked out in autumnal colors that come to life when the lights go down and the music starts to play. During the day, it serves a coffeehouse menu along with hot breakfast sandwiches, a vegan African peanut stew, flatbreads and pastries. But at night, Caffè Vivace transforms into a jazz lounge complete with live music, café drinks, specialty cocktails, beer and wine. Photo: facebook.com/caffevivace

Cincinnati is no stranger to jazz. Once called a “hotbed” for jazz musicians, the city has a rich history of attracting jazz talent and preserving the cultural significance of jazz music.

The Midwest Jazz Collective, a cooperative of jazz clubs throughout the Midwest, intends to preserve and advance “the great American art form that is Jazz,” according to a press release. Cincinnati’s own Caffé Vivace has joined the organization.

All clubs involved in the tour are fairly small and intimate in size, with a capacity around 100-200 each. All venues pride themselves on being a “listening room” that encapsulate the audience solely in the music.

The club circuit consists of small jazz clubs throughout Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa. The clubs have formed a collective to make it easier to book acts across multiple venues.

“It is not feasible for small venues to take on the fees and travel expenses associated with presenting national acts,” a press release stated. “The MJC is born out of an interest to help optimize touring efficiencies by working together to make the Midwest jazz club circuit a viable consideration for artists across the country and around the globe.”

Additionally, the tour aims to facilitate education opportunities for budding musicians through local university partnerships with the clubs. The University of Cincinnati will have a masterclass hosted by trumpet player and educator Scott Belck on March 28.

The Benny Benack III Quartet will return to Cincinnati’s Caffé Vivace on March 28 as part of the Caffé’s 2025 Spring Series, thanks to help from the MJC. Benack performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the Late Show House Band and earned international acclaim for his work with YouTube sensation Postmodern Jukebox.

Benack’s talent has been described as a “post-Sinatra mold” with a fiery, stirring command of trumpet vernacular. He became an Emmy-nominated performer by the age of 33.

This month’s performance marks the second time Benack’s playing has graced the stage at Caffé Vivace, with his first performance being nearly two years ago in November of 2023.

The Spring Series continues through the end of May. Acts set to perform at Caffé Vivace during the Spring Series include the dynamic vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, Grammy Award-winning pianist Sullivan Foster and Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band.

“It is a true celebration of jazz. This lineup will captivate audiences and elevate the live music experience,” said Jazz Vivace Artistic Director Brent Gallaher in a press release.

For more information on the Midwest Jazz Collective, visit facebook.com. For more information about Caffé Vivace and to purchase tickets, visit caffevivace.com.

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This article appears in Feb 19 – Mar 4, 2025.

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