I hope everyone had a festive Mardi Gras and a lovely Valentine’s Day! First on our list of Shows To See This Week is the kickoff of a jazzy week at OSU. On Friday, February 16th at 8pm, The OSU Jazz Ensemble Presents “Basically Basie” at Weigel Hall. In celebration of Black History Month, this concert honors legendary African American composer, pianist and band leader, “The Count of Swing,” William “Count” Basie. Guest vocalist Laura Camara will be featured on selections from Ella & Basie, and the band will play “compositions written by Count Basie, members of his legendary orchestra, and the many world-class composers/arrangers—including Neal Hefti, Sammy Nestico, Quincy Jones and Benny Carter—who worked with the ensemble over its long performance history.” Admission is free and open to the public – no ticket required. There’s plenty more to see at OSU this week: After the Marine Corps Jazz Combo visits Hughes Hall on Sunday, The OSU Jazz Lab Ensemble Presents “Love Tones for Thad Jones” on Monday, February 19th at 8pm at Weigel Hall, and The OSU Jazz Workshop Ensemble performs at Weigel on Wednesday, February 21st at 8pm. Swing onto campus for great live jazz from up-and-coming talents!
More Shows To See This Week
Sunday, February 18th (3 – 5pm): Chase Potter’s Old Boys at Used Kids Records (Old North Columbus). This longstanding destination (over multiple locations) for new and used music in Columbus is serving as the jump-off point for a neighborhood tour by the Old Boys. Multi-instrumentalist and Columbus native Potter is visiting this week from Brooklyn, and it worked out that his housemate Tony Solis is also in town, so Potter assembled a band of old friends and collaborators to record some fusion-leaning material and play some shows. Potter will play violin and guitar, with Danny Bauer on keys, Matthiessen Nisch Quan on drums, and Solis on bass. More details on Sunday’s free matinee performance are here. The quartet also plays Dick’s Den on Monday, February 19th at 10pm, and Rambling House on Wednesday, February 21st at 9pm. Check out a talented new outfit in some cozy spaces!
Sunday, February 18th (7 – 9pm): Richard Lopez with Strings at Grace Lutheran Church, Westerville. Pianist Lopez will be featured with The Otterbein University String Orchestra for a special performance of material blending jazz and classical. The event is free and open to the public. More details here and below from the Otterbein Department of Music:
The Otterbein University String Orchestra will collaborate with jazz pianist, Richard Lopez for an evening of music that embraces a wide swath of jazz history. Dr. Lopez will premiere a new work for strings and jazz piano by composer, Christian Berg, who would be familiar to Columbus audiences as the bassist for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Herbie Hancock’s release of Gershwin’s World in 2000 included a reimagining of his “Lullaby for Strings” performed with The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Lopez will deliver his interpretation of that inspired collaboration. Two of Morton Gould’s sumptuous spirituals for strings, a couple of swing era standards and some jazz genre pieces will round out the program.
Thursday, February 21st (7 – 9pm): Backstage At The Lincoln: Copacetic at Lincoln Theatre. While this winter’s schedule of the Backstage series of intimate performances is mostly focused on local art of other forms, the slate does feature one high-powered band for a night of great smooth jazz. The trio of Ed Hill (saxophones), David Jordan (keyboards), and Derek Brown (guitars), who released their excellent self-titled debut EP last year, “will perform jazz standards and instrumental versions of classic soul.” Tickets are available here while they last!
Have a great week! Check out a preview of “Basically Basie” from OSU: