Just like a memorable jazz solo built around improvisation, you sometimes know where they’re going until they finally arrive.
That, in a nutshell, is how Cleveland native Orlando Watson, a powerful and soulful baritone vocalist and distinguished lyricist, ended up last year being named the new executive director of Tri-C JazzFest. He succeeded the retired Terri Pontremoli, who served in the position from 2002 to 2004 before returning for a stint that ran from 2011 into November.
“I served as associate director of Tri-C Jazz Festival from 2019 to 2022 alongside the legendary Terri Pontremoli,” he said. “I learned a lot from her before leaving to go to Pittsburgh, where I was a senior director of programming for the Pittsburgh International Jazz Fest.
“I was there for three years before deciding to leave for California. That’s where we were headed right before I got the call from Tri-C, which pulled me back home. I thought it was an opportunity that was worth pivoting for. It’s been a beautiful homecoming — I’m glad to be back.”
It’s truly a full-circle moment; Watson talked about the fact he not only studied at Tri-C but early on took drum lessons as a teenager while attending its “Summer With the Jazz Masters” camp.
“I’m so honored to be back home and just take the helm of the festival and really push forth the artistic community,” he said.
The 47th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland takes place from June 25 through 27 at Playhouse Square.
The “Queen of Percussion,” Sheila E. worked with Prince during the late artist’s “Purple Rain” and is well known for her single “A Love Bizarre.” She will perform during Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland at 8 p.m. June 25 at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre. (Courtesy of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland)
This year’s affair features 10 indoor concerts, including “The Queen of Percussion” Sheila E. and Grammy Award winners Durand Bernarr, Kurt Elling and Nicholas Payton, as well as Savion Glover and Ron Carter, Spyro Gyra and The Ohio Players.
The Ohio Players – a group that’s released more than a dozen albums and worked with musical artists ranging from Snoop Dogg and Salt-N-Pepa to Soundgarden and the Red Hot Chili Peppers – will bring to a close the Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland with a concert at 9:30 p.m. June 27 at Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre. (Courtesy of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland)
“I’m trying to do a couple of things simultaneously,” Watson said. “I want to preserve the jazz foundation that we’ve built here with straight-ahead jazz, big band, bebop, ragtime and swing.
“So the festival is all over the place, but not at all. It’s a little bit for everybody, with streamlined programming. I’m just really trying to deepen the festival culturally for the region.”
Trumpeter and Cleveland native Dominick Farinacci will share a show with pianist Jon Thomas at 6 p.m. June 26 at Playhouse Square’s Hanna Theatre as part of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland. (John Abbott)
One notable change regarding this year’s festival has to do with the programming of free outdoor entertainment under Playhouse Square’s chandelier on Euclid Avenue.
“I want to open it up to a broader community to create more jazz-adjacent programming on outdoor stages,” he said. “Previously featured were local and regional artists but never national artists.
“I want to make that stage accessible and affordable because it was my aim and goal to just provide equity to the community.”
National acts such as Savion Glover featuring PROjECt.9, Tito Puente Jr. and Nestor Torres, Weedie Braimah and Hands of Time and Charles Haynes and The Tabernacle will perform outdoors.
At 34, Watson is the youngest director in the history of the festival, and his story provides a blueprint for students across all paths.
“You never know what’s next, so always be open for a larger plan or purpose in your life,” he said. “I was trying to move to sunny California, and here I am in Cleveland. What’s really cool about me in this position — and not just my age — is I’m also an African-American male.
“Representation matters to me in this position, which will provide an opportunity for Black and brown kids and students in the Greater Cleveland community to see what’s possible at a relatively young age. So I’m really honored to serve as an example and as a model in a way which I didn’t have coming up.”
Called “one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz” on the website of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, Laurin Talece will perform on the event’s final evening, June 27, at Playhouse Square’s Hanna Theatre. (Courtesy of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland)
The 47th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland
When: June 25 through 27
Where: Playhouse Square and Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland.
Shows: Ticketed and free.
Info: 216-241-6000 or PlayhouseSquare.org.