Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, known in music circles as the land of funk, Jesse Thompson couldn’t help but be influenced by the city’s great R&B pioneers – including Slave, Ohio Players, Lakeside and Zapp featuring Roger Troutman. For the past 20 years, the multi-talented composer, pianist and keyboardist manifested these inspirations – and helped bring the legacies of these legendary bands forward – as a former member of the popular and prolific, constantly gigging Columbus-based R&B/jazz ensemble NexLevel.

In addition to releasing two full length albums and multiple singles, the band has performed and shared stages with everyone from Boys II Men, Fourplay and Spyro Gyra to Mindi Abair, Warren Hill, Tim Bowman and late greats Jeff Golub and Wayman Tisdale. Thompson’s success with NexLevel has led to a multitude of opportunities to perform and tour regularly with genre greats Eric Darius, Adam Hawley, Althea Rene, Paul Taylor and the late Nick Colionne. He also appears on saxophonist Jeanette Harris’ latest album Saxathrone.

About the venue:

134 S Main St. Dayton, Oh 45402 (across from the Dayton Convention Center)

All concerts in the 2024 Eichelberger Concert Season are free and open to the public, no ticket or RSVP necessary.

All concerts begin at 7PM* with exception of select dates.

• You can bring in lawn chairs or blankets as well as outside food and beverage – including alcohol (glass prohibited).
• Lawn chair rental available for a $5 donation.
• Food and beverage vendors are onsite.

Levitt Dayton is a non-profit organization that fosters a sense of community by providing free outdoor concerts. The organization believes music can bridge cultural divides and bring people together. Levitt Dayton offers a unique and enriching experience that is accessible to all. Through their efforts, Levitt Dayton creates a vibrant and inclusive cultural scene in downtown Dayton.