After a successful initial run in 2018, the Bexley Jazz in the Park Series returns this weekend to start its second season of monthly outdoor concerts for the summer. Held at Havenwood Park (2425 Havenwood Dr S in Bexley) on Memorial Day and the fourth Sunday of each month June through August, this series brings great live jazz and food trucks to the east side neighborhood through the efforts of the city of Bexley and residents Dara Schwartz and Mark Subel. The series starts on Monday, May 27th at 4:30pm with the acclaimed Tony Monaco Trio and a Food Truck Festival, and continues with performances by the Pete Mills Sextet, Waves De Aché, and High Street Stompers. Keep reading for full details from the series, and come out to Bexley this summer for a fun community jazz event.
Bexley Jazz in the Park Series Returns with Four Shows in 2019
Bexley, OH — The 2nd season of the Bexley Jazz in the Park Series will commence on Monday May 27th from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in Bexley’s Havenwood Park. The 2019 summer season will host four concerts on the fourth Sunday of each month through August (with the exception of the first concert, which will be on Memorial Day).
The Jazz in the Park series at Havenwood has quickly become a community favorite. This year we’re building on the success with exciting musical acts, and a prompter start time. Havenwood is the perfect setting for a Sunday afternoon community picnic with live jazz under the shade of the Bexley Arboretum. We can’t wait to kick off the season!” – Mayor Ben Kessler
The series was inspired by Bexley residents Dara Schwartz and Mark Subel, who also co-founded the Harrison West Jazz Stage, a successful neighborhood jazz series now in its 7th season in the Harrison West neighborhood of Columbus.
“We feel very fortunate to be in a community where city leaders provide support for events like the Jazz in the Park Series, which brings residents together and fosters community comradery. The lineup this year features some of the best musical talent in Columbus amongst the backdrop of the beautiful Havenwood Park,” said Mark Subel.
To celebrate the second season of the Bexley Jazz in the Park Series, the Bexley Chamber of Commerce will host an accompanying Food Truck Festival at the May 27th kick-off date. The first 100 people in attendance are eligible to receive food-discounted vouchers at the Chamber’s tent. “We wanted to bring a community-focused food truck event to Bexley and this is a natural partnership for us,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Elaine Pelz. “Providing discount vouchers for food truck items makes the event accessible to all residents. We hope the community will come out and enjoy the picnic-like atmosphere.”
The series kicks off on Memorial Day with world-renowned and local jazz Hammond B3 organ virtuoso, Tony Monaco and his trio. (https://b3monaco.com/)
The lineup also includes acclaimed saxophonist and Columbus Jazz Orchestra member Pete Mills (http://www.petemills.com/) and his modern jazz sextet; Waves De Aché (http://www.willstricklermusic.com/waves-de-ache/), a Cuban jazz/American music fusion project led by Capital University grads Will Strickler and Max Marsillo; and the High Street Stompers Dixieland Band (http://www.highstreetstompers.com/), featuring the traditional Dixieland instrumentation of Banjo, Trumpet, Clarinet, Trombone, Drums, and Bass.
Each concert is free to the public and will feature at least one food truck at each performance, as well as affordable kid-friendly grilled food courtesy of the Bexley Cookout Crew. The Bexley Jazz in the Park Series is being organized by Bexley’s Main Event Committee of the Bexley Celebrations and Events Team, which is funded through a variety of corporate sponsorships, donations from the community, and through the support of the Bexley Community Foundation.
In keeping with the City’s commitment to sustainability, this community event will be one of the first to roll out the City’s zero waste event sign up, with compostable single use containers, and onsite food waste and traditional recycling facilities.
May 27th – Tony Monaco Trio
June 23rd – Pete Mills Sextet
July 28th – Waves De Aché – Cuban Jazz/American Fusion
August 25th – High Street Stompers Dixieland Band
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/bexleyjazzseries or http://gobexley.com/main/