I had a brief but power-packed Jazz Night Out when I saw the first set of the Robert Dove 4tet’s show at Dick’s Den on Monday the 25th. Now based in San Diego, Columbus native and Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra alum Dove was in town for the CYJO’s 25th Anniversary show on Saturday, and was able to pair that with a relaxed gig at a favorite local haunt. The tenor saxophonist was joined by an all-star cast of pianist Danny Bauer, bassist Greg Wolfram, and drummer Ryan Folger, a lineup which I saw exhibit their skills on a varied slate of standards. After a sound check which developed into an electric take on “Footprints,” the band then set out for a Sunday stroll on “On The Sunny Side Of The Street,” with Bauer’s solo melding the down home and the experimental, and Dove’s solo spreading sax magic over a wide range of tones. “Giant Steps” opened with a blazing unaccompanied intro from Wolfram, and the rest of the band followed suit with their own explosive passages. The set ended with “C Jam Blues,” which developed into a full on swingin’ blowout, led by Dove’s fiery tenor. This was a great show that I wish I could have seen more of – Dove promises to return soon, so stay tuned!
Shows To See This Week
Saturday, April 30th (8am – 9:30am): International Jazz Day Celebration at 750 E. Long Street. International Jazz Day celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2016, as towns, cities and villages in over 190 countries on all 7 continents celebrate and learn about jazz through performances and programs. Our local celebration will entail a morning outdoor jazz jam outside of the Lincoln Café, with confirmed musicians including Carl Sally, Vernon Hairston, Dwight Bailey, James “Smooth” Elliott, James Davenport and many others. Beyond the international jazz spirit, this event will also honor the jazz legacy of the historic King-Lincoln District. This free event is sponsored by SCAT Musicians Outreach and the Lincoln Cafe.
Saturday, April 30th (7pm – 9pm): Dominick Farinacci at Bungalow Jazz. Between his international travels as Global Ambassador to Jazz at Lincoln Center, trumpeter and Cleveland native Farinacci is still managing to maintain his own world-class performing chops. His Mack Avenue Records debut Short Stories, scheduled for release on June 10th, will bring together songs from Tom Waits, Horace Silver, Dianne Reeves, and The Gypsy Kings as well as original compositions, all recorded by a great cast including Christian McBride, Steve Gadd, Larry Goldings, Jacob Collier, Jamey Haddad and Gil Goldstein. For this intimate stop in Columbus, Farinacci will be joined by a rhythm section of Cleveland musicians.
Sunday, May 1st (3pm – 5pm): The Lady Sings the Blues: A Billie Holiday Celebration with Quinn Griffin and Richard Lopez and Friends at Columbus Museum of Art. The season finale of Lopez’s Jazz Master Sessions series at the museum will feature vocalist Griffin in tribute to one of the preeminent jazz vocalists. A 2010 graduate of Denison University, Griffin has performed with Pete Mills, Bobby Floyd and John Householder. She will be joined by Lopez on piano, Colin Lazarski on guitar, Doug Richeson on bass and Seth Rogers on drums. Enjoy a reverent homage to one of the greats by a top-notch cast – tickets are available here or at the museum’s admission desk.
Have a great week! Learn more about Short Stories: