Music is a regular part of the Akron Art Museum’s program calendar, with Downtown at Dusk and the Family Concert in the summer and Midwinter Blues and Other Tunes in February. This year, we’ve had to enjoy music in new digital ways. Explore some of the ways we’re enjoying music now.
Many of our artworks connect to music:
In Revery by Thelma Frazier Winter, a young woman is lost in the song she plays. What do you think she’s performing?
Pablo Picasso’s Femme Couchée et Guitariste shows a reclining woman strumming away. Playing music for fun is a great way to relax.
Herman Leonard photographed many musicians, including James Moody. Imagine what sounds will come out of the saxophone, when he puts it to his lips.
Many of us are missing seeing live music. Pictures like Leonard’s of the Royal Festival Hall remind us why we’re isolating and what we have to look forward to.
This year has meant the performances had to go digital. While we missed the chance to be together, it does mean you can enjoy these tunes whenever and wherever.
Downtown at Dusk: Sammy DeLeon brings us music that gets us on our feet and ready to dance. As one of Northeast Ohio’s most recognized bandleaders, DeLeon and sextet perform Latin Jazz sounds like you’ve never heard them before.
Downtown at Dusk: Curtis Taylor’s lyrical and improvisational style demands attention. This award-winning trumpeter and Bedford native brings us feel-good jazz music for any occasion.
Downtown at Dusk: Timi Funk is an Akron native, a songstress, and frontwoman for many different music projects. She brings us an impressive vocal range and Neo-Soul/Blues beats that are sure to set the mood for a good evening.
Downtown at Dusk: The 15 60 75 Numbers Band has been praised by almost every national music publication and several international publications. Expect nothing short of excellent from this group’s performance.
The music will continue throughout the winter.
Missile Toe is said to be the best Christmas band ever. You get two chances to enjoy them in December, in AAM After Work: The Holiday Variety Show on December 16, and the Holiday Concert with Missile Toe on December 19. Both events will be streamed on the Museum’s Facebook page and YouTube channel from 6:30–8:00pm.
Join us for Midwinter Blues and Other Tunes in February. The Akron Art Museum’s annual winter concert series, Midwinter Blues & Other Tunes showcases local talents in music, visual art, and organizations in Northeast Ohio. Each of the last 3 weeks in February will feature a community partner, a visual artist, and two musical acts surrounding a theme. The Museum has partnered with Akron Recording Company to pre-record 6 musical performances in the Haslinger Galleries—giving you a taste of the Museum wherever you may be! Midwinter Blues will be streamed on the Museum’s YouTube and social media pages.