Coming to you early this week with our 4th of July Jazz Guide! On Wednesday, July 3rd, there are several options to get your holiday weekend started with jazz. The Anna & the Consequences Duo, featuring vocalist Anna Paolucci and keyboardist Paul Strawser provide jazzy torch blues to aid your shopping at the Upper Arlington Farmers’ Market at 4pm (details here). Dinner options include guitarist Tom Carroll’s weekly summer patio gig at the historic Granville Inn in Granville at 6pm and the classic sounds of the John Householder Trio will fill Rishi Sushi Kitchen & Bar Downtown at 6:30pm if you’ll be at or around Red, White & Boom. Jazz Wednesday continues at Brothers Drake at 8pm with the Will Strickler DIP Trio, featuring bassist Strickler with Danny Bauer on keyboards and Max Marsillo on drums (details here). And guitarist Zakk Jones, with his trio of bassist John Allen and drummer Ryan Folger, kicks off his July Residency at Dick’s Den with the Release Show for debut album Mise-en-scène at 9:30pm – learn more from Jones via our review/preview here. Keep reading for more options for the rest of the holiday week!
Thursday, July 4th: There is a strong batch of shows we’re aware of for reveling or winding down after holiday celebrations. At 7pm, the annual Creative Strings Festival presents its annual Columbus Highlight Concert, “Dealing With Diversity,” with Cedric Easton & Circle of Friends at United Methodist Church For All People on the South Side. A free meal is provided at 6pm – learn more about this community event here. Soulful swinging duo Hot Tonic kicks off a busy week with a performance at North City Tavern (Far North Side) at 8pm. And dependable source of holiday jazz Dick’s Den does not disappoint, as the power trio of Tony Monaco, Randy Mather and Louis Tsamous hits the stage around 10pm – $5 cover.
Friday, July 5th: Fun early options for your drinking and/or dining pleasure include the monthly James Elliott Project Band 1st Friday Happy Hour at Lincoln Cafe at 5pm and weekly shows by saxophonist Anthony Jackson – this time with Richard Hennacey on guitar and Taequan Mitchell on drums – at Two Truths at 6pm and the evergreen Richard Lopez Trio at Black Point at 6:30pm. The full Hot Tonic Orchestra lineup, featuring some of Columbus’ finest musicians, comes alive at Rambling House (Old North Columbus) at 9pm (details here). Al Son del Iya’s monthly salsa dance party at Brothers Drake transforms into a “Red, White and Blue Independence Day Celebration” – band starts at 10pm, info here. And Dick’s Den keeps rolling with guitarist Joshua Hill’s worldly La Fête project at 10pm.
Saturday, July 6th: The Newark Jazz & Ribs Fest returns to Canal Market District in Newark from Noon to 8pm, featuring tasty ribs and a strong lineup of J London & The Band of Friends (Noon), TruTone (2pm), Full Count Band (4pm), and The Heisey Wind Ensemble Big Band (6pm) – more info here. The Jazz at Market District series continues with a trio of Bradley Mellen, Greg Wolfram, and Alex Schrock at Market District Kitchen & Bar in Bexley at 6pm. The “beer garden” patio at Local Roots in Powell will be the setting for a strong and soulful quintet at 7pm, with Rene Goodwin on vocals, Mark Goodwin on keyboards, Brett Burleson on guitar, Roger Hines on bass and Ted Royalty on drums. Hyde Park restaurants continue to provide top-notch straight-ahead jazz entertainment on Saturdays, with the inimitable Dave DeWitt TRio at Hyde Park Arlington and the swingin’ Kelly McLennan Trio at Black Point, both at 7pm. Soulful powerhouse J London & The Band Of Friends plays its second show of the day at The Savoy Club (East Side) at 9pm, which is also when beautyofmyland, featuring vocalist Dairdre Scriven, entertains the Gallery Hop crowd at Brothers Drake (info here). Finally, drummer Joe Nelson leads 2 Horn Offense, featuring Lee Savory on trumpet, Randy Mather on saxophone, David Swank on keys and Roger Hines on bass through sets of lesser known jazz classics at Dick’s Den at 10pm.
Sunday, July 7th: A strong jazz brunch lineup includes the monthly Soul Sunday appearance by the Derek DiCenzo Trio at Natalie’s at 11am, the weekly Erik Augis Trio show at Third and Hollywood at 11:30am, and guitarist Doug Neel’s weekly duo rotation features the great Chris Buzzelli at Market District Kitchen & Bar, also at 11:30am. The strong schedule at Natalie’s continues with Gospel Soul Brunch at 2:30pm, this month featuring Old Landmark: Traditional Gospel, which enlists the talents of renowned Columbus vocalists Tia Harris, Vicki Saunders and Debra James Tucker – ticket info here. Tony Monaco subs in for Bobby Floyd at Floyd’s new weekly gig at Snowden Gray Mansion (Downtown) at 6pm for a blockbuster with DiCenzo and Reggie Jackson (BYOB, $12 donation)! There are two great outdoor options at 7pm: Concerts on the Green features “Tony Hagood Presents: Movie & TV Themes Reimagined” with an all-star lineup on the Worthington Village Green (info here) and the Hilliard Summer Concert Series brings in the swing-pop of Whirlybirds at the Norwich Street Gazebo. Soul Sunday at Natalie’s wraps up for the month with a headline performance by Dara Tucker at 8pm – learn more via our interview. Of course, the Wally Mitchel Jazztet makes its weekly appearance at Dick’s Den at 8pm for another great way to end your weekend in style – no cover!
Have a fun and safe 4th of July!