Violinist Reed Simon and rhythm guitarist Brad Smedley collaborate with some of the area's best talent to bring fresh interpretations to the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with their hot gypsy jazz caravan! Featuring special guest, Jeremey Poparad.
Reed Simon (jazz violin) has worked with many of Cleveland's top jazz musicians over the years and has been on area stages including Nighttown opening for artists such as French guitarist Stephane Wremble. Reed also had the honor of playing for Sinatra’s guitarist Tony Mattolla at a jam session in New Jersey as well as jam with vibraphonist Gary Burton during a Tri-C Jazz jam event. Reed shared the Severance Hall stage with percussionist Cándido de Guerra Camero for a production of Duke Ellington’s “A Drum is a Woman". Reed once met legendary French jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli in person.
Brad Smedley (rhythm guitar) is the heartbeat of the band. He has studied under several of the best jazz guitarists of this genre including Frank Vignola, Gonzolo Bergara, and Robin Nolan.
Special guest Jeremey Poparad (lead guitar) is a guitarist, bassist, composer, educator, and recording engineer in the Northeast Ohio area. He is a 2006 graduate of the University of Akron with bachelor's degrees in jazz studies and music composition and a 2018 graduate of Cleveland State University with master's degrees electric guitar performance and music composition. As a performer, Jeremey regularly appears with jazz and rock groups as well as classical ensembles and in musical theatre pit orchestras. He performs regularly for productions at the Cleveland Playhouse, Canton Players Guild, and Porthouse Theatres, with the Dave Banks Big Band, the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, the NEO Sound Orchestra, as well as a band leader with his own ensembles. Jeremey leads and composes music for the progressive rock band Axon-Neuron, the electronic-jazz trio Volt Meter, the hybrid classical-jazz group Janus Ensemble, as well as a French-gypsy jazz group The Hot Club of Akron.
Join us as the gypsy jazz sounds of old world France make their way to the BLU stage with this spirited group – get your tickets now!