Jazz @ the Civic presents "The Stingers"

The Stingers have been creating and performing their style of smooth jazz for over 25 years. Northeast Ohio is the neighborhood where they have hung their hats and established their sound. Stinger’s songs created, at the time, to highlight and celebrate additions to young families; have grown, matured and evolved into familiar melodies and smooth samba grooves that are now staple characteristics of their sound and style. Is “Jumpin Jeremy” really that old? I love that song!

Akron’s efforts and opportunities to support live music have been good fits for The Stingers. Over the years, The Stingers have performed for several First Night New Year’s Eve Celebrations. They have performed at the popular Lock 3 venue in downtown Akron. The Stingers also have enjoyed performing in the more intimate Lock 4 setting.

The music of Carlos Santana, Marc Antoine and Akron’s Jeff Golub are formats for The Stingers to explore their perspective of smooth jazz when they feature their guitarist Greg Cutlip. Spyro Gyra, Grover Washington and David Sanborn creations provide a canvas for seasoned sax great Jim Witherspoon to work his stuff. Original music and grooves formed and presented by keyboardist Bill Moriarty often draw on the bands’ attraction to Latin type grooves and feels. “After The Storm” and “Mosquito Bite” get their push from the creative bass stylings of Bill Brauning, while Jim Yarnell on drums and Rafael “Ray” Guzman on percussion team up to keep the Stingers moving forward while swaying side to side.

It feels good.