COMEDY | Ed Blaze 

Ed Blaze has quickly made a name for himself in the past few years by opening for acts like Ralphie May, Jim Gaffigan, and Dave Chappelle. With a sharp-witted observational brand of humor — heavily inspired by Richard Pryor and George Carlin — Blaze finds his niche in comparing American life to growing up in a poor Tanzanian village and finding humor in the cultural chasms between the two. Blaze delves into the worlds of relationships, race, politics, and pop culture, all bound together with his unique, fresh perspective. This perspective is captured in Blaze's 2015 book, "World Peace is Comedy," which features both Blaze's standard repertoire, as well as philosophical notions on the healing, unifying nature of comedy.

Part of the 65-city Ed Blaze and Friends Tour, Blaze will perform at the RIT Inn and Conference Center (5257 West Henrietta Road), on Saturday, June 27, 8 p.m., with comedians Angela Cobb and Frank Vignola. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit edblaze.com.