A Labor of Love

Contributed

Local art gallery and venue space City Gallery will kick off their latest series of Harmony and Blessings concerts with Kelly's World, a local group that features reimagined jazz standards, original songs, and innovative arrangements of African folk songs.

CONTINUING SUNDAY, APR. 27

Stephen Trohoske, co-owner of City Gallery, says when he was in his "late teens and early 20s and playing bass in multiple bands around town, I could not have imagined that my lake town would have been hotbed for some of the greatest jazz, blues, avant garde, folk, and creative music acts in the world."

Trohoske was inspired by his early work with John Vanco's Erie Art Museum Concert Series and Erie's Blues and Jazz Festival. "I started meeting and actually collaborating musically with some of these people, forming long friendships that would be an invaluable part of not only getting the Harmony and Blessings Series off the ground but keeping it going," Trohoske reflects.

In 2015 Trohoske and his wife, artist Lena Logvina, opened Artlore Studio, expanding to bring in national and international acts, and eventually moving into their current location at City Gallery at 1503 State St. Trohoske recalls, "The phone started ringing and friends and musicians were spreading the word. I was shocked by some of the calls I was getting. We had no real plan, no grants, no bank loans — just a date, time, price, and prayers that there were enough people in my community that we could keep it going."

When the unfortunate decision was made to cancel Blues and Jazz Fest in 2023 for the first time in 30 years, Trohoske and Logvina were able to host the headliners at City Gallery via the Harmony and Blessings Festival, which has morphed into its current iteration: the Harmony and Blessings Concert Series.

The next concert in the series is scheduled for Sunday, April 27 with Kelly's World (led by local musician Kelly Armor) playing reimagined jazz standards, original songs, and innovative arrangements of African folk songs. Other upcoming events include Joe Gonda's Bass Odyssey on June 20, Spin Cycle on June 21, and David Murray and Kahil El'Zabar on June 22.

Trohoske adds, "Every year I say this is it, every year it changes so much, but something keeps me going, something much deeper than my love for music or creating. This feels truly like life's purpose." 

4 p.m. // City Gallery, 1503 State St. // For tickets and info: facebook.com/citygalleryerie