First up in our list of Shows To See This Week is the return of a Columbus favorite supported by an all-star cast. On Friday, April 19th at 9pm, the Pharez Whitted Group and Algorhythmic will perform at Notes. Tickets and more info are available here. Trumpet virtuoso Whitted served as a professor in the OSU music department in the 1990’s before moving on to Chicago, where he is the Director of Jazz Studies at Chicago State University and Chicago’s Youth Symphony Orchestra Jazz Director. He is coming back to town in a major way, as he will be joined onstage by Eddie Bayard on sax, Kevin Turner on guitar, Bobby Floyd on organ, and Greg Bandy on drums. Columbus fusion project Algorhythmic, which features an excellent cast including Danny Bauer on keyboards, opens the show. Make your plans now for a big Friday night! Keep reading for details on the Bobby Floyd Showcase Easter Celebration and Brian Auger at Natalie’s!
Sunday, April 21st (6 – 8pm): Bobby Floyd Showcase Easter Celebration: Roslyn Pratt with The Bobby Floyd Trio at Notes. Another big show at Notes this weekend is your best bet for festive Easter jazz. For the second Easter in a row, Floyd’s weekly showcase and jam session will feature Canton gospel/R&B vocalist Pratt for an impassioned take on great traditional tunes. With Floyd on piano and organ, Reggie Jackson on drums, and Derek DiCenzo on bass and guitar, this will be a holiday performance to remember! Each week’s showcase ends with a jam session – admission is free for musicians that sit in. Otherwise, advance tickets are available here.
Wednesday, April 24 (9 – 11pm): Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express with Frank Gambale at Natalie’s. British Hammond B3 organ and Fender Rhodes maestro Brian Auger returns to Columbus for a very rare American concert. Auger’s 50+ year career has seen him play a role as an innovator on the Hammond and a star in the emergence of jazz/rock fusion. Auger will be joined by a supercharged band including acclaimed Australian fusion guitarist Frank Gambale as well as Lilliana De Los Reyes (vocals & percussion), Les King (bass) and Karma Auger (drums & backing vocals). Having seen him at the Thirsty Ear roughly 15 years ago, I can highly recommend catching this legend in action! Get your tickets here NOW!
Have a great week! Prepare for these excellent events with video from the artists: