We’ve reached the end of another great year of Columbus jazz! As always, thanks for reading my thoughts on the scene. Hopefully you’ve gotten to witness some of the bounty of great live and recorded jazz in town this year. In thinking back about the year, I’m reminded of many great nights of local and national jazz, highlighted by shows by From The Five Jazztet, Charlie Hunter & Scott Amendola, Rebellum, knots, Brandon Coleman Quartet, and James Gaiters Quartet, among many others. There was also an abundance of great local jazz albums released in 2014, including favorites by DW6 (now Huntertones), Collective Reaction, Mark Lomax Trio, James Gaiters’ MUV-Ment, and Tom Davis. Here’s to many more great shows and albums in 2015! But before we move on, here’s a guide to live jazz on New Year’s Eve and the last weekend of the holidays.
New Year’s Week Live Jazz Guide:
New Year’s Eve (Wednesday, December 31st): There is a strong selection of shows and parties with which to swing into 2015 in style. If you are looking for some classy jazz before parties take you elsewhere, the Derek DiCenzo Trio will kickoff the evening at Local Roots (Powell) with a dinnertime performance that runs from 6 to 9pm, while big band In Full Swing will play in the lush setting of the Franklin Park Conservatory from 7 to 9pm. For full evenings of jazz, food, fun and midnight celebrations, try the Latin jazz and groove of the Clave Sonic Trio at Barcelona (7pm start), a NYE Dinner Dance by long-running swing band Rick Brunetto Big Band at the 94th Aero Squadron (7:30pm, call 237-8887 for reservations), or the festive standards of the Dave DeWitt Trio at Hyde Park in Upper Arlington (8pm). Finally, for late-night parties, there are two strong options. Smooth jazz and funky R&B juggernaut Urban Jazz Coalition will be jamming in the new year at Shadowbox Live in the Brewery District starting at 9:30pm, while pianist Dave Powers, along with DiCenzo on guitar and Louis Tsamous on drums, will helm a cheery get-together at Lindey’s in German Village at 10pm.
New Year’s Day (Thursday, January 1st): The Franklin Park Conservatory will continue their New Year’s festivities with a performance by the Erik Augis/Lisa Clark Duo at 7pm. At Dicks Den, the always dependable source of jazz on holidays in Columbus, The Governor will entertain with his warm soul jazz stylings, starting around 10pm.
Friday, January 2nd: From 6 to 8pm, the always-busy Dave DeWitt TRio will kickoff their 2015 weekly gig at the Brewer’s Yard Kroger Tap Room. If you’re in the market for great food with your jazz, live jazz will return to Worthington Inn after a December break as the Rorschach Trio plays from 7 to 10pm. For a rowdier show, check out jazz jam band Hubbard Stew at Brothers Drake, starting at 10pm.
Saturday, January 3rd: There’s still more great dinner jazz in the offing, as the Dave DeWitt TRio continues their weekly gig at Hyde Park in Upper Arlington at 7pm, while the Louise Salvador Quartet plays their first weekly show of 2015 at Haiku in the Short North at 7:30pm. For some tasty club jazz, the Quartet formation of the Rorschach Trio plays Dick’s Den, starting around 10pm.
Sunday, January 4th: If you need some brunch to round out your holidays, guitarist Alex Schrock will play his monthly gig at Lomonico’s in Pickerington, starting at 11am. For those who just can’t let the weekend end, close it in style with veteran soulful party-starters Hoo Doo Soul Band at Rumba Cafe, starting around 10pm.
See you next year! In the meantime, enjoy some fresh sounds from guitarist Zakk Jones and his school ensemble at Capital University:
https://soundcloud.com/the_emptier/sets/consort-fa-2014