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About the Modern Warrior LIVE Touring ProductionCreated by internationally acclaimed jazz artist Dominick Farinacci, Modern Warrior LIVE brings a highly emotional musical performance together with the harrowing story of U.S. combat veteran Jaymes Poling’s experiences in war and his deeply personal process of transitioning back to civilian life. Narrated by Poling himself, who served three tours in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division, his story is brought to life through a moving collaboration with a cast of renowned musicians led by Farinacci - tracing the path from the battlefield to civilian life, highlighting the challenges of reintegration and the search for renewed purpose. Modern Warrior LIVE speaks to the universal themes of resilience, healing, and our human ability to overcome.
Quote from Dominick Farinacci
“The musical score I wrote seamlessly weaves throughout Jaymes’ story, evolving with his journey. I
wanted to present this deeply personal story of trauma and resilience in a unique way that can
empower those who need to hear that growth is possible. It’s an inspiring message for anyone who has
experienced trauma in their lives.”
Quote from Jaymes Poling
“This performance deepens awareness of the psychological toll of war, the challenges veterans face
upon returning home and the potential for healing and growth. We hope the audience leaves inspired to
advocate for increased resources for our veterans.”
Learn more about the Modern Warrior LIVE Touring Production HERE.
About the Modern Warrior LIVE Nonprofit
Together, Farinacci and Poling formed a national nonprofit that is dedicated to amplifying the voices of individuals by sharing their stories of resilience and transformation to empower, inform, connect and activate communities to take an active role in their mental well-being and that of others. Realizing the impact their primary production has had on communities, they built the Modern Warrior EXPERIENCE program that offers participants a platform to process and share their individual experiences using the unique storytelling model we created, weaving together personal narratives, music, and film. Each storyteller is supported by our Modern Warrior artistic team led by Dominick Farinacci, and culminates in live performances and studio recording sessions.
As of 2025, Modern Warrior LIVE programs have reached more than 40,000 individuals, have established dozens of partnerships with mental health and veteran organizations, and have connected more than 4,000 people in need to mental health resources. 75% of surveyed attendees and EXPERIENCE participants have said they are more likely to seek mental health support following a Modern Warrior LIVE event.
Learn more about the Modern Warrior LIVE Nonprofit HERE.
About the Creators
Dominick Farinacci
Dominick Farinacci ranks among the most acclaimed trumpeters and educators of his generation, with a list of
career achievements that push beyond the conventional notions of recognition for a jazz musician. Born and raised
in Cleveland, he was just 17 when one of his most important mentors, Wynton Marsalis, chose him to perform in a
special program for PBS. While still a student in Juilliard’s inaugural class of jazz-studies majors, he hit the ground
running as a recording artist and bandleader — first in Japan, where he released eight albums in short order, and
later globally.
At Marsalis’ request, Farinacci spearheaded an outpost of Jazz at Lincoln Center in Doha, Qatar, from 2012 to 2016.
His star-filled 2016 album, Short Stories, was developed with music-industry legend and producer Tommy LiPuma.
Six years later, Farinacci received the Cleveland Arts Prize, arguably his hometown’s most prestigious honor.
But for the New York-based trumpeter, achievement isn’t the point, and his most powerful works underscore a
profound compassion for humanity. In 2011, in response to his mother’s cancer diagnosis, he crafted a serene
melody called “A Prayer for You,” which inspired a lauded TED Talk that Farinacci gave at the Kennedy Center in
2014. A decade later, he was finally able to record his composition for the debut project by his group TRIAD.
Farinacci’s interest in addressing trauma through art also informed Modern Warrior LIVE, a multidisciplinary
touring work that combines first-person storytelling with film and the trumpeter’s innovative musical direction.
Developed with U.S. Army veteran Jaymes Poling, who provides original narration, Modern Warrior LIVE chronicles
the journey of the contemporary American veteran through multiple deployments and the complex process of
readjusting to civilian life. General Jim Mattis called the project a “necessary and worthy mission paying our
respects to all veterans and, by extension, to the Gold Star families.”
Farinacci also continues to serve as the director of the Tri-C JazzFest Academy in Cleveland. There, he strives to
honor jazz history while also breaking new ground through teachings that address the realities of the music
business — part of his honest, earnest wish to help young artists find happiness and good health in music. As with
all his endeavors, Farinacci’s efforts as an educator are rooted in empathy.
Jaymes Poling
Jaymes Poling brings to Modern Warrior LIVE the fully immersed experience of a three-tour warrior with the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan. Dealing with the memories of war, the loss of friends, and the isolation a combat veteran finds when leaving the military, Jaymes began to find through narrative arts and dynamic public speaking that the potential for growth can indeed follow adversity.
Through education, writing, and public speaking, and now with the added layer of music, Jaymes came to recognize the universality of his journey which has evolved into a mission to bring to other veterans. He has engaged and interacted with military communities more than 120 times with Modern Warrior Live performances in schools, performing art centers, universities and even in a renowned prison, and now in a one-hour cinematic version. He’s also spoken about mental health challenges at home and at the front with thousands of active-duty soldiers in Afghanistan, through visits there with the Troops First Foundation.
He says he wants to share his journey from isolation to healing, whether one-on-one, in a cohort of five veterans or in a concert hall seating 4,000.
Jaymes grew up in Warren, Ohio, and enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina as an infantryman. During his eight years with the division, he spent three years fighting in Afghanistan as a Machine Gunner and Squad Leader. He earned a finance degree at John Carroll University in May 2018; he draws upon that knowledge and his armed forces experience in managing Modern Warrior’s nonprofit operations and business planning.
His focus now: sharing his journey with members of the military community and partnering with organizations to help veterans find their own peace after war.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
160 E. Market St., Warren, OH, United States, Ohio 44481
Tickets
