Here’s hoping everyone had a great 4th of July! Before getting into a handful of some of the other great shows this weekend, we have details on an Outdoor Jazz schedule that is swinging mightily (All events free unless otherwise noted). One new addition to the lineup for Thursday, July 5th: After a delay for the holiday, the Reeb-Hosack/Steelton Village Neighborhood FAT Tuesdays season gets going with South Side native vocalist Kenny Latham and his band at 6:30pm at Southeast Lions Park, with the next concert (performer TBD) on July 10th. Friday, July 6th: The monthly Jazz Academy Summer Jam Sessions continue at State Auto’s Pike Park Downtown at noon – more details on this youth-oriented event here. Also Friday, the Upper Arlington Music in the Parks series presents a Swing Dance on the Green at Kingsdale at 7pm as the Charlie Foxtrot Quintet shares their brand of classic small-band swing featuring saxophone soloist Will England along with swing dance instruction by long-time central Ohio dance instructor, Don Ewell. More details here. Keep reading for more great options for your weekend!
While the Rick Brunetto Big Band will NOT be performing their normal weekly Thursday gig at the 94th Aero Squadron on the 5th, their first of two weekend gigs kicks off Saturday, July 7th at 11am at the Columbus Zoo with a “Welcome Home Vets” performance featuring vocalists Tia Harris, Michael Phillips and Gary Emmitt – Details and ticket info here. Also Saturday, the Jazz in the Park series at Maloney Park in Linden gets underway with NiNi Love JazzySide at 6pm, and the 2018 Westerville Jazz at the Amp Concert Series continues with smooth jazz guitarist Nick Colionne at the Alum Creek Park Amphitheater at 6:30pm. On Sunday, July 8th, two mainstay community music series offer great ways to end your weekend in style. The Whitehall Music in the Park Series presents the funky New Orleans stylings of the New Basics Brass Band at John Bishop Park at 6pm, and both the Rick Brunetto Big Band and the Alum Creek Amphitheater swing for the second day in a row when the RBBB plays the Sounds of Summer Concert Series at 6:30pm – more details here. Finally, on Thursday, July 12th at 6pm, the mighty Urban Jazz Coalition starts the King Arts Complex’s 20th Annual Heritage Music Festival at Mayme Moore Park – more details here. Enjoy some great jazz in the sunshine!
Shows To See This Week
Friday, July 6th (8 – 11pm): “Like 88 Tuned Drums” – Cecil Taylor Tribute Concert at Filament at the Vanderelli Room, Franklinton. Filament will “convene local and regional improvising musicians to pay homage to the late great Cecil Taylor, whose percussive, relentless piano playing was famously described as being ‘like 88 tuned drums.'” Pianists Aaron Putnam, Lisa Bella Donna, Dale Johnson, Chris Haas and Gerard Cox will each take turns at the piano to honor Taylor in the way they see fit. An ensemble that includes Mario Bosca on bass, Hasan Abdur-Razzaq on saxophones and Akron’s Don Volenik on trumpet will play for the second half of the concert. More details here on a great event to remember a true jazz titan with performances by some of Ohio’s finest musicians.
Saturday, July 7th (10pm – 2am): TD Quartet at Dick’s Den. Guitarist Tom Davis continues to lead and contribute to great bands in myriad styles around the area. On Saturday evening, he brings a top-flight quartet to “The One and Only,” as he’ll be joined by longtime collaborators Jon Eshelman (piano), Bradley Mellen (bass) and Maxwell Button (drums). As always, cover is a mere $5 and drinks are cheap, so this should be a relaxed atmosphere for a night of swinging straight-ahead jazz.
Sunday, July 8th (6 – 8pm): Bobby Floyd Showcase: Michael Shirtz Blue Skies Project at Notes. Floyd will be out of town for the second week of Jamey Aebersold’s Jazz Camp, so he has again selected a former Columbus resident as the special guest for his weekly showcase. Capital grad and vocalist Michael Shirtz recently released Blue Skies, “a collection of Jazz and American standards that pay tribute to the composers of Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Cole Porter, and others, as well as share songs that brought joy into Michael’s life.” Shirtz will be backed by the band that recorded the project, with Danny Bauer on piano, Doug Neel on guitar, Dwight Bailey on bass, and Reggie Jackson on drums. As usual, the showcase will end with a jam session. Tickets are available here to experience a classic-minded jazz album with strong local ties in living color!
Have a great week!