If you missed the news, I (Andrew Patton) am now managing JazzColumbus. I would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming outpouring of support on Facebook – I really appreciate it! I look forward to keeping this community resource active and valuable for everyone interested in the local jazz scene. My fellow writer Richard Sanford and I have some exciting ideas for future content on the site, so stay tuned. If you are reading this and would like to contribute by writing or in other ways, I’d be happy to hear from you! One unfortunate bit of news this week: the long-running weekly Saturday night Louise Salvador Quartet gig at Haiku has ended. Hopefully Salvador and the band will find another home venue! Continuing from last week, there are more great holiday shows on this week’s calendar. On Thursday the 10th at 7:30pm, the Jazz Brew Concert Series presents its first annual Holiday Jazz Fundraiser at Whitehall-Yearling High School with a star-studded lineup that includes Bobby Floyd Trio, Dwight Lenox Trio, Priscilla Woodson and Mary McClendon – ticket info can be found here. On Friday the 11th at 10pm, Phil Clark & The SOUL present their annual Holiday Soul show at Natalie’s, where their lineup of some of Central Ohio’s best musicians put a jazzy R&B twist on some favorite holiday tunes. Tickets (while they last!) are available here.
Shows To See This Week
Saturday, December 12th (9pm – 12:30am): Brian Michael Smith and the John Vermeulen Big Band at Hollywood Casino. Smith, one of the area’s greatest classic-styled crooners, will be backed by Vermeulen (Famous Jazz Orchestra) and his band for a centennial tribute to Frank Sinatra. There will be two performances (9pm and 11pm), so there will be plenty of time for “Luck [to] Be A Lady” at the gaming tables as well. These free shows (21+) will pay tribute to the legend like only the best in classic big band jazz can.
Sunday, December 13th (5 – 7pm): Bill Dobbins Trio at Bungalow Jazz. Dobbins, an internationally-recognized pianist and Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music, is making his annual tour through town to play great live jazz with some of the area’s best. Continuing a strong run of piano jazz at the Bungalow for the holidays, this show will pair Dobbins with bassist Andy Woodson, and drummer Chris Baker (son of Chas Baker of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra) for some scintillating classic jazz and probably a few holiday favorites. Dobbins will also play with Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra at Clintonville Woman’s Club the next night (Monday, December 14th, 7:30 – 10pm), so you will have another chance to catch his brand of piano magic.
Wednesday, December 16th (8 – 11pm) Radarhill at Brothers Drake. As mentioned on the site recently by saxophonist Jordan Reed, this stop at Jazz Wednesday is part of the sextet’s first tour, the “Tiny Tour” that includes six other dates in Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin. As the group recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign for the release of a new double album entitled Any Given Day and is in the midst of serious preparation for recording and touring, this should be a great time to catch the group at high spirits and at the top of its game.
Have a great week! Here’s a recent Radarhill video to get you ready: