As I work to emerge very soon from schedule-induced live jazz hibernation, I would like to take a moment to congratulate all of the jazz musicians graduating from college over the next two weekends. There are some great players receiving undergraduate degrees this year, including Robert Mason and John Allen at Ohio State, Zakk Jones and Ryan Folger from Capital (see below) and others. We here at JazzColumbus wish all graduates good luck in your future endeavors, whether in Columbus (a selfish hope for the jazz scene) or beyond!
Shows To See This Week
Saturday, May 2nd (7 – 9pm): Mark Lomax and Eddie Bayard Duo at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 30 West Woodruff Avenue. This community-oriented performance is the first of three in May for the duo where they will perform their album #BLACKLIVESMATTER in its entirety. Local poets will open the show, and the night will wrap up with Q&A with the performers. In lights of events in the national news this week, this powerful piece continues to be very relevant to the community at large, and this presentation is sure to provoke further thought and dialogue. Suggested donation is $5.
Saturday, May 2nd: Zakk Jones Graduation Bash at Dick’s Den. After a busy spring that included the release of his group Screeching Owl’s first EP, guitarist Jones has put together a party to celebrate his and Ryan Folger’s graduation from Capital earlier Saturday afternoon. The lineup for this shindig is Justin Dickson on saxophones, Danny Bauer on keyboards, John Allen on bass, Folger on drums and cymbals, and Jones on guitar. Jones kindly took a moment to share a few more details:
This Saturday is going to be a lot of fun, both myself and the drummer Ryan Folger will be graduating from Capital University with degrees in Jazz Studies. I’m putting together a healthy mix of standards we love to play, along with originals and arrangements of contemporary music from folks like Alex Sipiagin, Chris Potter, Jeff Coffin and others. We will be playing material from my group Screeching Owl as well, with copies of our recent EP for sale! It will be an all around FUN night of music making, come celebrate!
Wednesday, May 6th: James Gaiters’ Soul Revival at Brothers Drake. After their resounding debut at Natalie’s in March, drummer Gaiters brings his new quartet south on North High Street for their first Jazz Wednesday appearance. The veteran quartet of Gaiters, tenor saxophonist Eddie Bayard, organist Jon Eshelman, and guitarist Craig “Superfly” McMullen have already declared themselves a force to be reckoned with using their gutsier take on soul jazz, so this free show should be another smoldering display of passion and finesse.
Have a great week!