The fifth year of the Dick’s Den Wednesday Residency program continues with an outstanding November slate courtesy of drummer Aaron Scott. One of the area’s finest (and busiest) musicians, Scott is regularly heard with his TRio jazz group featuring Dave DeWitt and Derek DiCenzo, as well as R&B band Phil Clark & THE SOUL, From The Five Jazztet, The Caribbean Jazz Quartet, The Columbus Jazz Quartet and with numerous other outfits. He has also taught percussion in Central Ohio for over 30 years. For his residency, Scott will present a mix of some of these groups as well as new and rarely heard projects, filled with a mix of his talented collaborators. Each Wednesday’s show will start around 10pm, and cover is $5. Scott was kind enough to provide details on each week’s show – keep reading to learn more and swing by Dick’s on a Wednesday in November for top-flight jazz and more!
Aaron Scott: “Wednesday, November 7th: The first week I feature my longtime friend and colleague Joe Hunter in from Cleveland. Joe spent 10 years in Columbus in the 90s. He and I had a trio with Doug Richeson on bass, and later Dave DeWitt on bass. It was the first regular working band of our own. He was playing with Vince Andrews at the time and I had spent many years playing with my dad, pianist Bob Allen, as well as sideman work with many other musicians. We had a jam session every Tuesday night at Hyde Park that lasted almost 10 years. Joe was also a founding member of the Latin jazz group Yumbambe. He currently plays throughout Cleveland and Northeast Ohio along with teaching at Tri-C. Another longtime friend Roger Hines (Ray Charles, Diane Schuur, Madrugada) joins us on bass. Roger and I played regularly together in Madrugada for many years, a group that was co-led by Roger and Stan Smith. He also was in the Bob Allen Trio. We continue to play regularly together.
November 14th: This week I’m trying something new. I’m featuring guitarist Josh Hill (Huntertones, HooDoo Soul Band, Popgun, Birdshack). Josh is featured on the new Huntertones recording, and tours regularly with the group. He is now working on some new projects. We’ll do a mix of jazz standards and a few originals. Also on the date, my current right hand collaborator on many projects, multi-instrumentalist Dave DeWitt (Dave DeWitt TRio, HooDoo Soul, Hadden Sayers) on keyboards and bassist Jeff Ciampa (HooDoo Soul, Vinyl, Popgun, Zero 1, Birdshack).
November 21st: On Thanksgiving Eve I have Phil Clark & THE SOUL. My dear friend and colleague guitarist John Boerstler and I wanted to start a new project after many years doing Tony Monaco & The Grinders. This lineup, which started in June 2009 with a steady gig at the former Bexley Monk, is a mix of blues, rock, R&B, rockabilly and country. It’s an opportunity for John and I to bring each of our own musical identities and meet somewhere in the middle. Blue eyed soul man Phil Clark fronts the band with his infectious, born in the church vocals. Dave DeWitt on organ and keyboards is truly the linchpin of the band. Jeff Ciampa and I round out the rhythm section. We’ll feature covers from artists including Ray Charles, Dr. John, Joe Cocker, Al Green, Bob Dylan, Elton John, BB King, Joe Simon, Van Morrison and maybe a little Elvis thrown in.
November 28th: The final week I have From The Five Jazztet. This quintet, modeled after the classic 1950s Blue Note groups of Miles Davis, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and Horace Silver is a labor of love. This group was originally conceived and co-led by pianist/composer Mark Flugge and myself as a vehicle to showcase Flugge’s original compositions, along with classic tunes from some of our favorite artists of this era. On this date, we’ll feature Detroit trumpeter Dwight Adams (Stevie Wonder, Marcus Belgrave, James Carter, Columbus Jazz Orchestra). Rounding out the lineup is Randy Mather on tenor sax, Danny Bauer on piano, and Derek DiCenzo on bass.”