Happy 2019 jazz fans! I hope you had a festive and restful holiday season, and are ready for more live jazz in the new year! First up on our list of Shows To See This Week is Columbus trio Not By Design making its local debut. Consisting of Bobby Lucas on piano, Alex McLaughlin on bass, and Seth Alexander on drums, the band plays intimate Old North Columbus listening room Kafe Kerouac on Saturday, January 5th at 9pm. Cover is a mere $2! The evening will feature “original and improvised music” and should be a fun and relaxed look at an intriguing new act on the scene. See below for Not By Design audio, and keep reading for more options for the week ahead!
Saturday, January 5th (10pm – 2am): Brett Burleson Birthday Show at Dick’s Den. Veteran guitarist Burleson returns to his stomping grounds for his annual birthday celebration, which is always a treat – here’s my review of the 2015 installment. For 2019, he will be joined by an all-star quartet of Randy Mather on tenor sax, Doug Richeson on bass and Antoine Fatout on drums, and they will tackle a mix of originals and select standards. Cover is $5 for a high-powered night at “The One and Only.”
Sunday, January 6th (2:30 – 4:30pm): Gospel Soul Brunch: Debra James Tucker with Paisha Thomas and Nikki D: Tribute to Mahalia Jackson & Sister Rosetta Tharpe at Natalie’s. The Natalie’s Soul Sunday series continues into 2019 with a great triple bill, starting with the Derek DiCenzo Trio playing brunch at 11am and live hip-hop band Mistar Anderson hitting at 8pm. But in between, Tucker’s monthly Gospel Soul Brunch series continues with a special program. Tucker will be joined by Columbus folk+ vocalist Paisha Thomas and Toledo gospel vocalist Nikki D for a tribute to the legendary Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The vocalists will be backed by David Swank on keyboards, Reggie Jackson on drums, and Roger Hines on bass. This should be a soul-stirring way to kick off the new year – get your tickets here while they last.
Have a great week! Check out Not By Design’s take on Miles Davis’ “Nardis” below:
https://soundcloud.com/notbydesignmusic/nardis