Cleveland Jazz Orchestra

When artistic director Sean Jones takes the stage tonight with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, he’ll be in the presence of a living legend: composer, arranger, and saxophonist Jimmy Heath. We asked CJO board member and Cleveland jazz authority Bobby Jackson to tell us more about the 86-year-old Heath, and we got an earful. “Oh, my goodness,” replied Jackson. “The man is a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. That’s the highest award you can bestow on a living musician. But he’s not only a great musician, he’s been a great mentor to the generations that followed. Even Wynton Marsalis took composition lessons from him. The man isn’t just a national treasure: He’s a world treasure!” Jackson will be hosting a pre-show talk with Heath at 7:30 p.m. in the Ohio Theatre. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $45 by phone, online, or at the box office. Learn more at clevelandjazz.org.