Brothers Drake, the Short North meadery recognized as one of the city’s top venues for live jazz (and a variety of other great live music), has put together a great lineup in celebration of this weekend’s Jazz and Rib Festival. Starting Wednesday, the bar will host shows on five consecutive nights that land in the realms of jazz and soul, including three weekend shows that all feature touring bands that are also playing the Festival itself. Whether you are looking for another stop before heading home from a day at the festival or wanting to enjoy great live jazz in a more intimate and intoxicating setting, each night is recommended for fans of live music. Keep reading for a rundown of the bands and show details:
Wednesday, July 15th (8pm – 11pm, No Cover): Radarhill. This run of shows starts with a Jazz Wednesday performance by the local “Midwestern Eclectic” quintet that made their live debut at a Jazz Wednesday just over a year ago. Their January 2015 release The Yeilds is on my short list of albums of the year – Click here to read my review, and here to sample and purchase the album. The band is preparing to record a new double-album in August, and apparently has many new tunes to share at this week’s show.
Thursday, July 16th (9pm start, $5): Pauly and the Foundations. With the Huntertones back in town (see below), some of its members are also taking the opportunity to reunite their old party band from their time in Columbus. Led by vocalist Paul Selner, the band for the evening also includes Jon Lampley on trumpet, Dan White on saxophone, Chris Ott on trombone, John Auker on guitar, Adam DeAscentis on bass, and Nathan Parker on drums. The band promises “a great night of old school soul, funk, and R&B…..plus some Pauly and the Foundations originals,” so get ready to boogie!
Friday, July 17th (10pm start, $7): Huntertones. The band formerly known as the Dan White Sextet moved from Columbus to Brooklyn in February 2014, and has since been tearing up NYC and the nation with their unique melding of “jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, gospel, R&B, and rock” and their incendiary live shows. The band has proven that their affinity for the town they once called home will not fade anytime soon, with their frequent touring bringing them through often, and a total of three shows on this stop will give us every chance to return the love. Visit the band’s Facebook page to see their #Quicktones series of quick live videos.
Saturday, July 18th (10pm start, $5): The Rad Trads. This NYC-based melting pot of every danceable and soulful strain of the American Songbook is a frequently returning favorite at Brothers Drake, and their live shows always turn into a joyously sweaty mess. Expect no different Saturday, as their continuously evolving setlist contains more and more originals that draw from the best domestic musical traditions and turn them into something new. Check out their recently released single here, and stay tuned for a new full-length album that will be recorded in the fall.
Sunday, July 19th (8pm – 11pm, $5): The Admirables. This Akron-based instrumental soul outfit has been turning heads lately with regional touring, and its stops at the Jazz & Rib Fest and Brothers Drake should continue to establish that momentum locally. Led by Nathan-Paul Davis on alto saxophone, the band’s lineup also boasts jazz heavyweight Chris Coles on tenor saxophone as well as Steven A. Miller on keyboards, Matthew DeRubertis on electric bass, Ashanti Allison on drum set, and Dan Fernandez on percussion. When their two-set performance hits a fevered pitch, you will certainly understand that “Soul is not a genre, it’s a feeling!”
Here are a few videos to get you ready: