The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra will hold its benefit, Looking Forward – Laying Back, on Sunday, September 30, 2018, at the Hawken School Upper Campus,12465 County Line Road, Gates Mills.  The event, which honors the memory of businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist vic gelb, will begin at 5 pm with a cocktail reception and end with a concert by the Orchestra featuring arrangements of old favorites as well as new music by Artistic Director Paul Ferguson and various band members.  Says CJO Executive Director Kenny Koblitz, “in our subscription series concerts, with guest artists and collaborations, audiences rarely have this kind of opportunity to hear and get to know the players of the CJO.  This is our chance to feature the band, and its uniquely talented members, front and center.”

Honoree vic gelb was a long time CJO fan.  Koblitz recalls that “vic introduced me to the CJO 28 years ago. We went to CJO concerts together from then until last season, and vic’s widow, Joan, recounts that vic regularly turned down invitations that conflicted with concert dates.”

The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, founded in 1984, is one of the largest non-profit big bands in Ohio and “the best damn big jazz band in the land.”  Its mission is to insure the legacy of jazz as an art form in Northeast Ohio through performance, outreach and youth education.

Proceeds from the benefit support CJO’s community performances as well as its music education programs, which include master classes, “Side by Side” concerts, in which its professional members play alongside and inspire high school bands, free and discounted student tickets to concerts, band camps, and hands-on, instrumental demonstrations, where children can try out band instruments, ensuring true jazz experiences for all ages.

Tickets for the event may be purchased online at www.clevelandjazz.org, or by phone at 216.287.0945.