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The Charlottesville Jazz Society, Unity of Charlottesville and WTJU
Welcome Cellist Janel Leppin and Ensemble Volcanic Ash

The Charlottesville Jazz Society, Unity of Charlottesville and WTJU welcome cellist/composer Janel Leppin and her group Ensemble Volcanic Ash for a 7:30 pm concert on April 24th at Unity.

Janel was last seen in Charlottesville with her husband, guitarist Anthony Pirog and the group Skullcap, at a very well received concert at Belmont Arts. Now at the peak of her powers as both a bandleader and a solo performer, she’s released two new projects of staggering beauty as well as vast personal and political insight. Pluto in Aquarius features her longstanding avant-jazz chamber unit, Ensemble Volcanic Ash, with a lineup of her most trusted collaborators including Pirog, bassist Luke Stewart, saxophonist Brian Settles and drummer Larry Ferguson. Slowly Melting is a riveting solo program that puts Leppin’s fuzz-saturated cello at the fore. She also contributes her accompaniment, crafting expansive soundscapes through guitar, bass, piano and synthesizer.

Janel will open the concert in Charlottesville with a solo set playing material from Slowly Melting, followed by a set from the whole Ensemble.

Pluto in Aquarius, like all of Leppin’s music, is a deeply personal work, and it’s also intensely political. Leppin wrote about half of the music in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, and the remaining half after the inauguration that followed. “So you’ll hear a lot of hopefulness here,” Leppin says, “as well as, of course, a lot of tension.”

Tickets to see Janel Leppin and Ensemble Volcanic Ash are available online. General Admission is $25, $22 for paid supporters of The Charlottesville Jazz Society. For more information visit Cvillejazz.org, or call 434-249-6191.

The CJS is thrilled to announce that we are planning the first annual Charlottesville Jazz Festival, to take place June 4th-6th, 2026. Jazz vocalist and Charlottesville native Veronica Swift has agreed to return home to headline! We are beginning a fundraising initiative for this expensive endeavor. Tax deductible donations may be made online, with a notation of “festival.” Checks may be mailed to CJS, 1004 Grove Street, Charlottesville, VA  22903.

We are looking for volunteers to help with fundraising and organizing at this time.  As we get closer there will be many opportunities to help at the festival itself. If interested, please email Gary at info@cvillejazz.org


Upcoming events: (can also be viewed at the CJS website)

Please check our Facebook page for updates and more events!

Note: Consider calling ahead before traveling as events can sometimes be canceled or postponed last-minute.

  • Friday April 17: Royce Campbell Trio, The Batesville Market, 7pm
  • Saturday April 18: Cville Jazz Congregation, Greg Weaver/sax, Nathan Hittle/keys, Albemarle CIderworks, 2:30-4:30pm
  • Sunday April 19: Cville Jazz Congregation, Greg Weaver/sax, Michael McNulty/guitar, Ryan Gilchrist/bass, Stephan LaRue/drums, Stinson Vineyards, 1-4pm
  • Sunday April 19: vocalist Paulien, with Michael Elswick/sax, Bill Edmonds/guitar, Bob Bowen/bass, Kardinal Hall, 5:15-7:15pm
  • Tuesday April 21: Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari, with special guest Stephanie Nakasian on vocals and piano, Karl Kimmel/bass, Pat Hayes/drums, Rapture, 6:30pm
  • Friday April 24: Janel Leppin and Ensemble Volcanic Ash, Unity of Charlottesville, 7:30pm, details above
  • Saturday April 25: Robert Jospé Trio, with David Sun/keyboards and Joseph Nichols/bass, Glass House Winery, 5-8pm
  • Sunday April 26: The Michael Elswick Gathering, Michael/saxes, Bill Edmonds/guitar & vocals, Eric Franzen/keyboard & vocals, David Drubin/drums, Chisholm Vineyards, 1-4pm
  • Sunday April 26: GootGenuG, Jeff Young/sax & flute, Pablo Delaloza/keys, Hartwell Gary/bass, Ethan Walker/drums, Miller’s Downtown, 6:00-9:00pm
  • Tuesday April 28: Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari, with Karl Kimmel/bass , Dave Drubin/drums, Liz Barnes/keys, Rapture, 6:30pm
  • Saturday May 2: Robert Jospé Quartet, with Daniel Clark/piano, Jeff Massanari/guitar and Paul Langosch/bass, Révéler (Richmond)
  • Sunday May 3: David Sun Trio, Kardinal Hall
  • Tuesday May 5: Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari, with Liz Barnes/keys, Pat Hayes/drums, Bob Bowen/bass, Rapture, 6:30pm
  • Sunday May 10: vocalist Paulien, with Michael Elswick/sax, Bill Edmonds/guitar, Jacob Minks/bass, Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard, 1-4pm
  • Sunday May 10: GootGenuG, Jeff Young/sax & flute, Pablo Delaloza/keys, Hartwell Gary/bass, Ethan Walker/drums, Pro Re Nata, 2:00-5:00pm
  • Tuesday May 12: Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari, with special guest Randy Johnston/guitar (former New York heavy hitter and Cville resident), Karl Tietze/drums, Bob Bowen/bass, Rapture, 6:30pm
  • Tuesday May 19: Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari, with classic organ trio style band; Eric Franzen/keys Dave Drubin/drums, Rapture, 6:30pm
  • Saturday May 23: GootGenuG, Jeff Young/sax & flute, Pablo Delaloza/keys, Hartwell Gary/bass, Ethan Walker/drums, SuperFly Brewing Co., 7:00-10:00pm
  • Sunday May 24: Robert Jospé Trio, with Jeff Massanari/guitar and Joseph Nichols/bass, Stinson Vineyards
  • Tuesday May 26: Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari, with special guest Stephanie Nakasian/voice & piano (one of the finest jazz vocalists around), Karl Kimmel/bass, Keith Willingham/drums, Rapture, 6:30pm
  • Sunday May 31: vocalist Paulien, with Trevor Williams/vibraphone, Bill Edmonds/guitar, Ryan Gilchrist/bass, Kardinal Hall, 1-4pm
  • Sunday May 31: Robert Jospé Quartet, with Jeff Massanari/guitar, David Sun/keyboards, and Bob Bowen/bass, Chisholm Vineyards, 1-4pm
  • Tuesday June 23: Rhythm and Grace: A Tribute to Queens of Soul and R&B, hosted by the DEI Committee at The Center, featuring Richelle Claiborne, Ivan Orr and Band, 6-7:30pm

The Charlottesville Jazz Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Charlottesville Jazz Society, Inc.
1004 Grove St| Charlottesville, VA 22903 | 434.249.6191
info@cvillejazz.org | www.cvillejazz.org