We Create Jazz

04/16/2026

04/10/2026

Highlighting our clinicians for 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day.

Gayelynn McKinney is a drummer, composer, educator and co-founder of the all-women jazz group Straight Ahead. A Detroit native raised in a musical household, she began playing the drums at age two and started lessons at age eight. McKinney's career has included several professional collaborations as a side musician and touring drummer. She was the drummer for Aretha Franklin from 2016 until Franklin's final performance in 2017. She has 3 recordings as a leader, and in 2022, she established the "Women Who Drum Festival", a free event in Detroit focused on female percussionists.

Gayelynn McKinney is in the drum chair tonight at Caffe Vivace for the We Create Jazz ensemble.

Ticket link is below.
7pm show has two bar stools left. 9pm show has tables and stools available.

Come join us to celebrate women in jazz and Jazz Appreciation month!
tickets.caffevivace.com/shows/10499

04/09/2026

People are always surprised when I say The We Create Jazz ensemble show at Caffe Vivace will feature 7 women.
Even when announcing the information, audience members gasp, because it’s rare. We encourage anyone who loves and supports jazz to come out Friday, April 10th to enjoy the show!

Ticket link is below. 7pm show has just bar stools left. 9pm show has tables and stools available.

Come join us to celebrate women in jazz and Jazz Appreciation month!

Featuring:
Jordan Pollard – piano
Cadence Okuwobi – bass
Gayelynn McKinney – drums
Angie Coyle – saxophone
Katie Carson – trumpet
Lexi Hamner – trombone
Kathy Wade – vocals

tickets.caffevivace.com/shows/10499

04/08/2026

I had the honor of being interviewed by Courtis Fuller on Let’s Talk Cincy to discuss 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day. My interview is after the wonderful discussion on Marian and Donald Spencer and the annual Spencer Awards.

The 11th annual Spencer Awards honoring the life and legacy of civil rights icons Donald and Marian Spencer: plus, the Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day, providing mentorship and master classes for girls studying jazz.

04/07/2026

The We Create Jazz ensemble performing this Friday at Caffe Vivace represent different generations of women walking the truth of their journey in jazz.

Ticket link is below. 7pm show has just bar stools left.
9pm show has tables and stools available.
Come join us to celebrate women in jazz and Jazz Appreciation month!

Featuring:
Jordan Pollard – piano
Cadence Okuwobi – bass
Gayelynn McKinney – drums
Angie Coyle – saxophone
Katie Carson – trumpet
Lexi Hamner – trombone
Kathy Wade – vocals

tickets.caffevivace.com/shows/10499

04/06/2026

My interview with Elaine Diehl about Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day will air today 90.9 WGUC 10:00am and 5:00pm and online.
https://wguc.org/cincinnati-jazz-girls-day-returns-this-saturday/

04/02/2026

Highlighting our clinicians for 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day.

Jordan Pollard is a jazz pianist, composer and educator originally from Minnesota, currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jordan earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of MN-Duluth and a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from UC's College-Conservatory of Music. After completing an undergraduate degree in her hometown of Duluth, she moved to San Antonio TX where she performed and taught from 2006-2012. Personal projects in these years included an original works group called the San Antonio Jazz Workshop as well as the King William Jazz Collective. In 2012 Jordan relocated to Cincinnati OH to pursue graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati. During grad school she had the chance to work with an onslaught of guest artists, from local legends Clyde Brown and Matt Harris, to the eclectically creative Matt Wilson, to a run of shows and recording with the imitable Fareed Haque among others. As of late she can be seen regularly at the historic Netherland Plaza, The Härth Room, Schwartz’s Point Jazz & Acoustic Club, and Caffe Vivace.

Jazz Alive presents 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day. A day camp for clinics, masterclasses, connection, mentorship, and jam session. The day is open to all girls ages 10-18 who sing or play an instrument. No prior jazz experience is required. The day is also open to women college students and women music educators. Featuring professional women jazz camp clinicians from the greater Cincinnati and special guest clinicians.
Saturday, April 11th 2026 9am-4pm with lunch break 12noon-1pm. Lunch will be provided.
The cost of attendance is $10.00 and should paid in cash upon arrival.
Walnut Hills High School Music Lyceum
3250 Victory Pkwy Cincinnati, OH 45207
Parking/drop off in Lot D
Bring your instrument. Drums, mics, and amps provided.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, April 10th 2026 5pm EST
UPDATES WILL BE POSTED ON THE JAZZ ALIVE FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/jazzalivecinci/
Questions?
Contact
Laura Ann Gentry, president, Jazz Alive
[email protected]
Phone (513) 521-2437

03/31/2026

On the last day of Women's History Month, sharing that Jazz Alive, in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, women in jazz, and our 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day, present the We Create Jazz Ensemble at Caffe Vivace. Tickets still available for both 7pm and 9pm sets.

https://tickets.caffevivace.com/shows/10499/?date=2026-04-10&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_event&fbclid=IwY2xjawQ44sNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjVEppWnZGeEVKRnd1S01tc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHre5l9RIGf-YyVJotXUo0RNDfBY9wPnhjPNu1J3zDifn0doyQrqA3l_svMER_aem_m8tBatdQv-X8CLzbns5pDA

03/30/2026

Highlighting our clinicians for 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day.

Angie Coyle is a jazz musician, composer, and educator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. She currently has one album out under her name entitled "Far From Home," that is made up entirely of her original compositions. Her music is emotive, heart-centered, and melody-driven. She has a deep connection with nature, and often writes music that evokes the natural world. Angie performs with various different groups in the Cincinnati area, but her primary project is her jazz quartet that she leads and composes for.
Angie graduated from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2018 with her Master's degree in Jazz Studies. Prior to that, she received her Bachelor's degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, where she studied classical and jazz saxophone, as well as classical flute and clarinet. Besides being a performer, Angie is also an in-demand private instructor. She is a woodwind instructor for the Cincinnati Public Schools Jazz Academy program and additionally teaches out of her home studio in Covington, KY.

Jazz Alive presents 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day. A day camp for clinics, masterclasses, connection, mentorship, and jam session. The day is open to all girls ages 10-18 who sing or play an instrument. No prior jazz experience is required. The day is also open to women college students and women music educators. Featuring professional women jazz camp clinicians from the greater Cincinnati and special guest clinicians.
Saturday, April 11th 2026 9am-4pm with lunch break 12noon-1pm. Lunch will be provided.
The cost of attendance is $10.00 and should paid in cash upon arrival.
Walnut Hills High School Music Lyceum
3250 Victory Pkwy Cincinnati, OH 45207
Parking/drop off in Lot D
Bring your instrument. Drums, mics, and amps provided.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, April 10th 2026 5pm EST
UPDATES WILL BE POSTED ON THE JAZZ ALIVE FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/jazzalivecinci/
Questions?
Contact
Laura Ann Gentry, president, Jazz Alive
[email protected]
Phone (513) 521-2437

03/17/2026

Highlighting our clinicians for 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day.

Lexi Hamner, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and versatile producer, hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she began her music studies at SCPA. Lexi has 17 years of experience playing soulful trombone and has been singing since the age of 4. Writing and composing music have been part of her journey since she was 12 years old. Lexi graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music as a Presidential Scholar and Sarah Vaughn scholarship recipient with a B.A. in Songwriting. During her studies at Berklee, she was instructed by Tia Fuller, the world-renowned jazz saxophonist & composer, who taught her to step outside of her comfort zone & stand in her own power. After graduating, Lexi was chosen as one of the inaugural Next Jazz Legacy awardees (2022) with New Music USA, where she was mentored by Terri Lynne Carrington, Bobby McFerrin, and Tia Fuller. When Lexi is home in Cincinnati, she holds the 2nd chair trombonist position in the Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra, which she has participated in since 2021. She teaches as an adjunct educator in conjunction with Cincinnati Public Schools for ‘Black Music of America’, which is an educational program for 4th-6th graders. Lexi also instructs jazz trombone at the Cincinnati Jazz Academy. Lexi has toured with Janelle Monaé as the lead trombonist. Lexi currently studies under Distinguished Fellowship at Michigan State University for her Master's Degree in Jazz Studies under the guidance of Michael Dease & Rodney Whitaker. As Lexi continues to grow in her artistry, she hopes to be so genuine that she inspires people to explore beyond the mundane traditions of music through her sound.

Jazz Alive presents 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day. A day camp for clinics, masterclasses, connection, mentorship, and jam session. The day is open to all girls ages 10-18 who sing or play an instrument. No prior jazz experience is required. The day is also open to women college students and women music educators. Featuring professional women jazz camp clinicians from the greater Cincinnati and special guest clinicians.
Saturday, April 11th 2026 9am-4pm with lunch break 12noon-1pm. Lunch will be provided.
The cost of attendance is $10.00 and should paid in cash upon arrival.
Walnut Hills High School Music Lyceum
3250 Victory Pkwy Cincinnati, OH 45207
Parking/drop off in Lot D
Bring your instrument. Drums, mics, and amps provided.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, April 10th 2026 5pm EST
UPDATES WILL BE POSTED ON THE JAZZ ALIVE FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/jazzalivecinci/

Questions?
Contact
Laura Ann Gentry, president, Jazz Alive
[email protected]
Phone (513) 521-2437

03/10/2026

Highlighting our clinicians for 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day

Katie Carson is a vibrant young trumpet player and educator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. She performs regularly across Ohio and northern Kentucky, focusing on jazz, contemporary, and Afro-Latin music. She is the brass teaching artist and family communications coordinator at MYCincinnati, a free, high-quality, El Sistema inspired, after school music program for students living or attending school in Cincinnati’s Price Hill neighborhood. Katie holds a bachelor’s in music education with a concentration in jazz trumpet from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, from which she graduated cm laude in 2021. The relationship between performance and education has always been important to Katie as she continues to hone her skills as a professional musician and educator.

Jazz Alive presents 2026 Cincinnati Jazz Girls Day. A day camp for clinics, masterclasses, connection, mentorship, and jam session. The day is open to all girls ages 10-18 who sing or play an instrument. No prior jazz experience is required. The day is also open to women college students and women music educators. Featuring professional women jazz camp clinicians from the greater Cincinnati and special guest clinicians.
Saturday, April 11th 2026 9am-4pm with lunch break 12noon-1pm. Lunch will be provided.
The cost of attendance is $10.00 and should paid in cash upon arrival.
Walnut Hills High School Music Lyceum
3250 Victory Pkwy Cincinnati, OH 45207
Parking/drop off in Lot D
Bring your instrument. Drums, mics, and amps provided.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, April 10th 2026 5pm EST
UPDATES WILL BE POSTED ON THE JAZZ ALIVE FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/jazzalivecinci/

Questions?
Contact
Laura Ann Gentry, president, Jazz Alive
[email protected]
Phone (513) 521-2437