Before roundups of Outdoor Jazz and your strong indoor and outdoor 4th of July jazz options plus the return of Kelly Delaveris, there is news of a new Columbus jazz jam session getting started in July! Saxophonist Korey Black and The Brewtet, with Will Ash on drums, Julian Dittmer on piano, and Paul Baker on bass, will be hosting Jazz Jam Sessions at Zaftig Brewing Co. in Worthington on Thursdays from 7 to 9pm on Thursdays in July, with no jam on the second Thursday of the month. The kickoff on July 5th will feature esteemed trombonist Matt Ellis. Each week, the host band will play the first set and the event will open up for “jazz musicians, both pro and amateur, to test their chops and play with real players on the second set.” As Black added, “We aim to provide a fun and comfortable environment for people to sit in with us to boost performer confidence.” Event details here. Help get a new jam session established, enjoy tasty local beer, and jam with the band!
Outdoor Jazz
(All shows are free unless otherwise noted.) On Friday, June 29th, Mansfield’s Just Jazz Live Duo of vocalist Kelly Knowlton and guitarist Britt Reed return to the patio at Cimi’s Bistro in Grove City at 6pm. On another patio on another corner of town, pianist Robert Mason plays a solo gig at The Powell Village Winery & Tasting Room at 7pm – more details here. As we highlighted Tuesday, on Saturday, June 30th, international sax star Kim Waters and Columbus powerhouse Urban Jazz Coalition kick off the 2018 Westerville Jazz At The Amp Concert Series at the Alum Creek Park Amphitheater at 6:30pm. And on Sunday, July 1st at 7pm, the Hilliard Summer Concert Series presents Swings the Thing Big Band at the Gazebo on Norwich Street in Hilliard – more details here.
4th of July Jazz
There is a surprisingly robust schedule of live jazz on and around the 4th of July. On Tuesday, July 3rd at 5pm, the William Brady Project Band is playing the 1st Annual Fourth of July Wine & Jazz Outdoor Event at the corner of East Main and Champion, with proceeds benefiting its local mental illness charity – more details here. The Creative Strings Festival offers a variety of Music Hop events around town on Tuesday, click here for details. And if you’re down at Red, White and Boom, the John Householder Jazz Trio regular Tuesday gig continues with two sets, at 8pm and 10pm, at the Blind Lady Tavern on East Mound, and the Tony Monaco Trio returns to Rumba Cafe at 9pm for those heading north.
On Wednesday, the 4th of July, the schedule kicks off at 5pm with Independence Day at the MAC, where the Liz Woolley Band and Innervision entertain at a beer garden outside the McConnell Arts Center before the Worthington fireworks. At 6pm, virtuoso guitarist Tom Carroll’s Speakeasy Jazz on the Patio series continues at the Granville Inn. NiNi Love JazzySide brings its soulful, sultry and jazzy sound to a party at Mock Park on the Northeast Side at 7pm. At 8pm, Craig Robinson (guitarist for Lakeside) plays a mix of smooth jazz and R&B with his local group Renegade, which also features keyboardist Geoff Cameron (Luxury Brown), at The Idle-A-While Supper Club (East Side). Also at 8pm, Jazz Wednesdays continue at Brothers Drake with a Danny Bauer Quartet 4th of July Jazz Explosion – more details here! And finally at 10pm, Ben “Silky” Johnson’s July residency at Dick’s Den gets underway with his Johnson Family Funk project – more details here and stay tuned for our coverage Monday!
Kelly Delaveris in Columbus
Beloved vocalist Kelly Delaveris returns home to Columbus from Pennsylvania this weekend for a bevy of great appearances over the next two weeks! On Sunday, July 1st, at 6pm, Delaveris will be the featured guest at the Bobby Floyd Showcase at Notes. Floyd will be in Louisville for Jamey Aebersold’s Jazz Camp, so keyboardist Erik Augis will lead the night’s trio with Reggie Jackson on drums and Derek DiCenzo on bass. On Monday, July 2nd at 7:30pm, Delaveris will be the special guest of Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra at their weekly gig at the Clintonville Woman’s Club for what will certainly be a swinging occasion! On Thursday, July 5th at 7pm, Delaveris will take on the role of Flora Purim and join forces with FLIPPO for a tribute to Chick Corea for the Upper Arlington Music in the Parks series at the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park – more details here. On Saturday, July 7th at 7:30pm, Delaveris will lead a trio also featuring Mark Rubinstein at Black Point, and finally, she will reunite with her bandmates in Brasileira at Natalie’s on Thursday, July 12th, at 9pm – tickets and more details are available here. Welcome back Kelly!
Have a great week and a great 4th of July holiday!