Jazz Arts Group (check out the new website!) recently announced its 2016-2017 season, filled with great events for jazz fans of all ages. Byron Stripling and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s Swingin’ with the CJO series returns for another season at the beautiful Southern Theatre, with a variety of programs and a range of guests including Carmen Bradford, Warren Wolf, Jamison Ross, Carly Thomas Smith, Marva Hicks, Columbus’ own Dave Powers, and more. The new Jazz Arts Group Presents series will focus on smaller ensembles and intimate performances, bringing Wycliffe Gordon with the Bobby Floyd Trio, the Matt Wilson Quartet, and John Ellis & Double Wide to Notes, as well as two special shows to the Lincoln Theatre. Dates and details have also been announced for the PBJ & Jazz Concert Series for kids, the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra, and the Off-Stage At The Jazz Academy series of interactive workshops. Keep reading for full details from JAG and get ready for a busy season!
JAZZ ARTS GROUP ANNOUNCES ITS 2016-2017 SEASON
Schedule Includes Byron Stripling and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Performances by Notable Guest Artists, The Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra, The PBJ & Jazz Series for Kids & Families, Free Events, and a Live Concert Webcast on WOSU Public Media
Events on Jazz Arts Group’s 44th Season Take Place at The Southern Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, Copious-Notes & Lincoln Theatre Ballroom
Columbus, OH — The Jazz Arts Group (JAG), America’s premier not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to producing, performing and promoting jazz, has announced the lineup for its 44th season. Ranging in styles from New Orleans jazz, to classic soul and big band, the 2016-2017 season features performances by JAG’s flagship performing ensemble, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, along with appearances by renowned guest artists, concerts by the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra, the much-loved PBJ & Jazz Concert Series for kids and families, and special events that are free and open to the public.
The Jazz Arts Group programs are made possible in part by the generous support of The Columbus Foundation, The Greater Columbus Arts Council and The Ohio Arts Council. Additional support is provided by Cardinal Health, Bob Evans, Grange Insurance, Highpoint on Columbus Commons, Ann & Tom Hoaglin, L Brands, Plante-Moran, The Reinberger Foundation, Sequent, State Auto Insurance Companies, Fahn & Denny Tishkoff, U.S. Bank and The Westin Columbus. Past media partners have included City Scene Magazine, The Columbus Dispatch, The Columbus Radio Group, WCBE Radio, WMNI Radio and WOSU Public Media.
SWINGIN’ WITH THE CJO featuring Byron Stripling and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra at the Southern Theatre
Trumpet virtuoso and Columbus Jazz Orchestra Artistic Director, Byron Stripling, leads the high-powered 16-piece CJO in five programs on the “Swingin’ with the CJO” Subscription Series at the historic Southern Theatre (21 East Main Street, Columbus) during the 2016-2017 season.
“New Orleans on Parade” | Thursday, October 20 – Sunday, October 23, 2016
· Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
· The Southern Theatre (21 East Main Street, Columbus)
· Guest artists: Evan Christopher (clarinetist) and Jamison Ross (drummer/vocalist)
· Tickets: $58/$48/$25 | $15 Students
· Tickets available in advance at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street), all Ticketmaster Outlets including Kroger Stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Any remaining tickets day-of will be available at the Southern Theatre Box Office starting two hours before show-time.
The “Swingin’ with the CJO” series kicks off with a musical journey through the birthplace of jazz featuring acclaimed clarinetist Evan Christopher and Grammy Award-nominated drummer/ vocalist Jamison Ross.
Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “one of the world’s major clarinetists,” California-born and New Orleans-based Evan Christopher is the heir apparent to the great Sidney Bechet. His playing is characterized by deep musicianship, alluring tone and fluid phrasing. And according to Offbeat Magazine, “His rare multi-dimensional comprehension of the music’s history – along with his all-star chops and rich, lyrical tone – allow him to position the New Orleans clarinet as its own musical language.”
Drummer/vocalist Jamison Ross was the 2012 recipient of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. The win afforded the young musician the opportunity to record, and his self-titled “Jamison” earned a 2015 Grammy nomination. Ross was singled-out in a recent Vanity Fair feature story by Michael Katsobashvili as one of today’s “sensational, emerging young jazz players.” Since bursting onto the scene, Ross has collaborated with a host of both emerging and established jazz luminaries including Stephen Colbert bandleader, Jon Batiste, pianist Henry Butler, Dr. John, Jimmy Heath, Ramsey Lewis, Ellis and Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Cecile McLorin Salvant and Snarky Puppy.
“Home for the Holidays” | Thursday, December 1 – Sunday, December 4, 2016
· Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
· Southern Theatre (21 East Main Street, Columbus)
· Guest artist: Carly Thomas Smith (vocalist)
· Tickets: $58/$48/$25 | $15 Students
· Tickets available in advance at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street), all Ticketmaster Outlets including Kroger Stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Any remaining tickets day-of will be available at the Southern Theatre Box Office starting two hours before show-time.
Hollywood and Broadway siren Carly Thomas Smith appeared on Broadway in Rent, Smokey Joe’s Café and Jersey Boys, on such television series as “Friends,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “Desperate Housewives,” and in concert with Taylor Swift. She made her Columbus Jazz Orchestra debut in 2014 in a program titled “A Night at the Movies,” singing classic hits of Hollywood. She returns to Columbus for “Home for the Holidays” to enchant audiences with performances of beloved standards and holiday favorites, gift-wrapped in the splendor of the beautiful Southern Theatre.
The Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concerts are among the city’s most treasured holiday traditions, and this year’s performances will be shared with the rest of the world via a live webcast on WOSU Public Media on Saturday, December 3. This will mark the second live webcast collaboration between the Jazz Arts Group and WOSU Public Media. Last year’s season opener, “Redefining Tradition: Ellington, Basie & Beyond,” was seen by jazz lovers inAustralia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Haiti, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, The United Kingdom and The United States.
“Ella Fitzgerald & The Great Ladies of Swing” | February 2 – 5, 2017
· Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
· Southern Theatre (21 East Main Street, Columbus)
· Guest artists: Marva Hicks (vocalist) and Nicki Parrott (bassist/vocalist)
· Tickets: $58/$48/$25 | $15 Students
· Tickets available in advance at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street), all Ticketmaster Outlets including Kroger Stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Any remaining tickets day-of will be available at the Southern Theatre Box Office starting two hours before show-time.
2017 marks the centenary of America’s “First Lady of Song” – the incomparable Miss Ella Fitzgerald. With this program, the CJO honors Ella’s remarkable legacy, and those of her tuneful contemporaries, with stand-out performances by guest vocalist Marva Hicks and vocalist/bassist Nicki Parrott.
Singer/actress Marva Hicks achieved success in the early ‘80s on the R&B charts with the hit single, “Never Been in Love Before,” from her self-titled debut album. She subsequently toured with Whitney Houston, James Ingram, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, between stints on Broadway in The Lion King, Caroline, or Change and Motown The Musical. Ms. Hicks has also appeared in film and television including “Daredevil,” “Labor Day,” and “House of Cards.”
Award-winning vocalist/bassist Nicki Parrott hails from Australia where she first studied piano and flute before switching to the double bass. She had already established herself as a first rate musician by the time she moved to New York to study with noted bassist and educator Rufus Reid. While in the Big Apple, Ms. Parrott came to the attention of legendary guitarist and inventor Les Paul, who invited her to join his trio in a long-standing gig at New York’s famed Iridium jazz club.
Since then, she has performed with such notables as Harry Allen, Randy Brecker, Ann Hampton Calloway, Larry Carlton, Jose Feliciano, Scott Hamilton, Dick Hyman, Patti Labelle, Michel Legrand, Warren Vache and many others at prestigious jazz festivals around the world including the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, The Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz in July at the 92nd Street Y, The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and The Bern Jazz Festival. As well, Ms. Parrott has performed in the orchestras of several Broadway shows including Avenue Q, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Summer of 42 and Jekyll and Hyde.
“Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton & The Big Band Explosion” | March 16 – 19, 2017
· Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
· Southern Theatre (21 East Main Street, Columbus)
· Guest artists: Harry Allen (saxophonist) and Warren Wolf (vibraphonist)
· Tickets: $58/$48/$25 | $15 Students
· Tickets available in advance at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street), all Ticketmaster Outlets including Kroger Stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Any remaining tickets day-of will be available at the Southern Theatre Box Office starting two hours before show-time.
In this concert, Byron Stripling and the outstanding musicians of the CJO offer classic melodies associated with the storied bands of Cab Calloway and Lionel Hampton. Expect performances bursting with spontaneous, raucous, red-hot solos.
Tenor saxophonist/composer Harry Allen’s resume reads like a who’s who of jazz. He has performed with Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Kenny Burrell, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Herb Ellis, Hank Jones, Johnny Mandel, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Warren Vache, and pop singers Cheryl Crow and James Taylor, to name a few. And his frequent guest appearances at the world’s top jazz festivals continue to earn him the respect of fellow musicians and audiences.
The vibraphone is just one of the instruments mastered by Warren Wolf, who also plays piano, drums and marimba. He is a frequent guest and collaborator with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and is a member of the San Francisco Jazz Collective, an all-star ensemble comprised of eight of the finest performer/composers at work in jazz today that includes alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon, tenor saxophonist David Sanchez, trumpeter Sean Jones, trombonist Robin Eubanks, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire.
“Soul Session: From Ray Charles to Whitney Houston | April 6 – 9, 2017
· Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.
· Southern Theatre (21 East Main Street, Columbus)
· Guest artists: Carmen Bradford (vocalist), Mykal Kilgore (vocalist) & Dave Powers (pianist/vocalist)
· Tickets: $58/$48/$25 | $15 Students
· Tickets available in advance at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street), all Ticketmaster Outlets including Kroger Stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Any remaining tickets day-of will be available at the Southern Theatre Box Office starting two hours before show-time.
Former Count Basie Orchestra vocalist Carmen Bradford returns to perform with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra following her crowd-pleasing appearance in last season’s “Standards & Strings” concerts. She is joined by Columbus’ own “Piano Man,” Dave Powers, and vocal sensation Mykal Kilgore, who has been accumulating fans and accolades through his performances on Broadway, at the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, and on YouTube’s Postmodern Jukebox.
Subscriptions for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s “Swingin’ with the CJO” Series at the Southern Theatre and on-sale now. Subscriptions range in price from $75 to $350 and may be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Office, 39 East State Street next to the Ohio Theatre, or by calling the CAPA Ticket Office at (614) 469-0939.
Single tickets for all Jazz Arts Group events, including the CJO’s “Swingin’ with the CJO” Series, “Jazz Arts Group Presents” Series and “PBJ & Jazz” Interactive Concert Series for Kids and Families, go on-sale Monday, August 15.
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New “JAZZ ARTS GROUP PRESENTS” Series Brings Notable Guest Artists to Columbus Concert Stages
Our new “Jazz Arts Group Presents” series will focus on smaller ensembles, up-and-coming musicians, intimate performances and educational opportunities that reach into the community. Performances will take place at the Lincoln Theatre in the King-Lincoln District and at Copious-Notes in the Brewery District.
“Wycliffe Gordon & The Bobby Floyd Trio” | Thursday, September 15, 2016
· 7 & 9 p.m.
· Copious-Notes, 520 South High Street
· $25 per person
· Tickets available in advance through Eventbrite.com. Any remaining tickets day-of will be at the door one hour before show-time.
“Whether Wycliffe Gordon was singing, talking, joking, playing trombone or trumpet, he conveyed the ebullient manner and larger-than-life persona we associate with the great Louis Armstrong” (The Chicago Tribune).Trombonist/composer W
ycliffe Gordon’s skill and versatility have made him one of the most celebrated and respected instrumentalists performing today. And the same could be said of keyboardist Bobby Floyd who, along with his trio, will join Gordon in the intimate setting of Copious-Notes, Columbus’ own New York style club and one of the most recent additions to the city’s burgeoning jazz music scene. “Swingin’ in the New Year with Byron Stripling” | Thursday, December 29, 2016
· 8 p.m.
· The Lincoln Theatre, 769 East Long Street
· Tickets: $25 per person | $15 Students
· Tickets available in advance at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street), all Ticketmaster Outlets including Kroger Stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Any remaining tickets day-of will be available at the Lincoln Theatre Box Office two hours before show-time.
Byron Stripling leads a select ensemble of top flight musicians in this year-end revelry at the beautifully restored, historic Lincoln Theatre.
“The Matt Wilson Quartet” | Thursday, January 19, 2017
· 7 & 9 p.m.
· Copious-Notes, 520 South High Street
· Tickets: $25 per person
· Tickets available in advance through Eventbrite.com. Any remaining tickets day-of will be at the door one hour before show-time.
“The energetic drummer is one of the most welcome faces to see on any bandstand, whether he’s leading the group or merely empowering it with the upbeat, euphoric charisma that characterizes his percussion as well as his personality, and the same Monkish sense of humor that distinguishes his compositions” (The New York Times). The Matt Wilson Quartet is made up of Chris Lightcap on bass, Jeff Lederer on tenor sax and clarinet, and Kirk Knuffke on cornet.
“Ladies Sing the Blues: Songs & Sounds of The Harlem Renaissance” | Saturday, February 18, 2017
· 8 p.m.
· The Lincoln Theatre, 769 East Long Street
· Tickets: $25 per person | $15 Students
· Tickets available in advance at the CAPA Ticket Office (39 East State Street), all Ticketmaster Outlets including Kroger Stores, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Any remaining tickets day-of will be available at the Lincoln Theatre Box Office two hours before show-time.
A top notch lineup of some of the city’s most respected musicians sets the tone and tempo for an evening celebrating the style, sass and songs of the Harlem Renaissance. Featured will be a roster of local jazz and blues songstresses, show-stopping cameos by Columbus Jazz Orchestra members and a special appearance by the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. From big band tunes reminiscent of the great Harlem Renaissance band leaders, Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson, to the intimate refrains made famous by the era’s vocal icons, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters, the Harlem Renaissance is reborn.
“John Ellis & Double Wide” | Friday, April 21, 2017
· 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
· Copious-Notes, 520 South High Street
· Tickets: $25 per person
· Tickets available in advance through Eventbrite.com. Any remaining tickets day-of will be at the door one hour before show-time.
“A saxophonist and clarinetist fond of blending modern-jazz erudition with street-level grooves” (The New York Times). Band leader, composer and sax man John Ellis has a taste for southern soul that’s as deep and rich as the tones he produces on his tenor sax. His band, Double Wide, conjures the spirit of New Orleans with each performance and makes even the most complicated textures, time signatures and modes sound down to earth and downright fun.
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PBJ & JAZZ CONCERT SERIES — One-Hour Interactive Concerts for Kids & Families
· 10 & 11:30 a.m.
· The Lincoln Theatre Ballroom (769 East Long Street, 2nd Floor)
· Tickets: $5 per person | $20 maximum for families of four or more
· Tickets available through Eventbrite.com and at the door of the Lincoln Theatre Ballroom
Sponsored by Bob Evans Farms® and created especially for kids and families, PBJ & Jazz introduces jazz and American music to the next generation in a relaxed, fun environment. Kids can singalong, dance-a-long and enjoy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, juice and cookies during these one-hour interactive concerts.
Past PBJ & Jazz performers include the Caribbean Jazz Quintet, the New Basics Brass Band, the Bobby Floyd Trio, Cedric Easton & Circle of Friends, the Aaron Scott Quartet with Liz Woolley, Kelly McLennan and the Sean Carney Band.
Performance Schedule:
· Saturday, November 12, 2016
· Saturday, December 17, 2016
· Saturday, January 14, 2017
· Saturday, February 11, 2017
· Saturday, March 25, 2017
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THE COLUMBUS YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA Sundays at the Southern
Fresh from their triumphant New York City debut at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the talented youngsters of the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra take over the stage of the Southern Theatre every Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. to offer a ½-hour set of classic big band music prior to the start of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra performance at 3 p.m. The ½-hour CYJO pre-show concert is FREE with the CJO concert admission.
· Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 2 p.m.
· Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 2 p.m.
· Sunday, February 5, 2017 at 2 p.m.
· Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 2 p.m.
· Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 2 p.m.
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FREEBIES & EXTRAS
Each season the Jazz Arts Group offers a number of free events and the 2016-2017 season is no exception.
OFF-STAGE AT THE JAZZ ACADEMY
This series of FREE events offer audiences the chance to engage with guest artists, share their thoughts and ask questions in the relaxed setting of the Jazz Arts Group’s Jazz Academy (769 East Long Street, Columbus).
· Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 2 p.m.
CJO Guest Artists Evan Christopher & Jamison Ross
· Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 2 p.m.
CJO Guest Artist Carly Thomas Smith
· Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 2 p.m.
CJO Guest Artists Marva Hicks & Nicki Parrott
· Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 2 p.m.
CJO Guest Artists Harry Allen & Warren Wolf
· Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 2 p.m.
CJO Guest Artists Carmen Bradford, Mykal Kilgore and Dave Powers
While these events are free and open to the public, capacity is limited and RSVPs through Eventbrite.com are encouraged to guarantee a seat.
FRIDAY NIGHT POST-SHOW JAM SESSIONS AT THE WESTIN
Following each of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s Friday night performances at the Southern Theatre, the audience is invited to the lobby of the adjoining Westin Columbus Hotel for a free jam session featuring members of the CJO and its guest artists. Audience members get to chat with some of their favorite CJO band members, enjoy beverages and listen to an impromptu set of great jazz music. A wonderful musical send-off.
Friday, October 21 (following the concert at approximately 10 p.m.)
Friday, December 2 (following the concert at approximately 10 p.m.)
Friday, February 3 (following the concert at approximately 10 p.m.)
Friday, March 17 (following the concert at approximately 10 p.m.)
Friday, April 7 (following the concert at approximately 10 p.m.)
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Subscriptions for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s “Swingin’ with the CJO” Series at the Southern Theatre and on-sale now. Subscriptions range in price from $75 to $350 and may be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Office, 39 East State Street next to the Ohio Theatre, or by calling the CAPA Ticket Office at (614) 469-0939.
Single tickets for all Jazz Arts Group events, including the CJO’s “Swingin’ with the CJO” Series, “Jazz Arts Group Presents” Series and “PBJ & Jazz” Interactive Concert Series for Kids and Families, go on-sale Monday, August 15.