If you are looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with great live jazz and are up for a bit of a road trip, there is an exciting option on our calendar. Hosted by Ashland University’s jazz program, the 2017 Maplerock Jazz Festival headlining concert will be held in the Hugo Young Theatre, 401 College Avenue in Ashland, Ohio, on Friday, March 17th, at 7:30pm. This concert will feature a number of guest musicians including Wayne Bergeron, trumpet; Dan Pugach, drums; (Columbus’ own) Jay Miglia, saxophone; and Chris Anderson, trombone, with the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra. Acclaimed trumpeter Bergeron rose to prominence in the mid-1980’s with Maynard Ferguson’s band, and his screaming horn can be heard on hundreds of albums and soundtracks along with his own releases, including 2016’s Full Circle featuring an all-star big band. More info and tickets are available here, and if you’re in the area earlier in the day, there are also free performances by eight area high school jazz ensembles starting at 11:30am. A night of great jazz is just a short drive north on I-71 away!
Shows To See This Week
Friday, March 17th (10pm – 1am): Hatcher/Kirshner Duo & Ryan Jewell Quintet at Ethel’s (Short North Stage). This Short North bar continues its hot streak with another compelling night of improvised music. The duo of Gerrit Hatcher (reeds) and Julian Kirshner (drums) is a pair of highly-regarded Chicago-based musicians who will kick off the bill with their heavy free jazz improvisations. Rounding out the night is drummer/composer Jewell’s quintet with John Allen (bass), Alex Burgoyne (alto sax), Aditya Jayanthi (guitar), and Caleb Miller (keys) performing nuanced melodies with room for explosive expression. The suggested donation is $5 to $10 for a Friday night of two high powered acts!
Tuesday, March 21st (7:30 – 10pm): Gabrielle Stravelli Quartet at Bungalow Jazz. After a quiet March so far, this NYC-based quartet will get Becky Ogden’s bungalow swinging with a lively house show. Vocalist Stravelli will be joined on stage by bassist Pat O’Leary, drummer Eric Halvorson, and pianist David Cook, a Columbus native who is now based in New York City and who has returned to town in recent years for shows with his wife, vocalist Shayna Steele. Stravelli’s quartet will play tunes from their brand new album Dream Ago along with pop tunes in fresh arrangements. Stravelli and Cook travel to Azerbaijan in April, so help them get ready for their trip! Suggested donation is $20, all of which goes to the performing musicians.
Wednesday, March 22nd (7 – 8pm): Mark Lomax – Sticks and Words at Short North Stage. As part of the New Music at Short North Stage free concert series, this performance in the Garden Theatre’s Green Room will combine rhythm and poetry “to remind us of the hope we can always find in our collective humanity.” Led by composer and drummer Lomax, the program will pair his percussion with poets Scott Woods, Dionne Custer-Edwards, Carnell Willoughby, and Barbara Fant, where “messages of balance, power and unity will be reclaimed and channeled through the voice of the drum.” This multi-disciplinary event looks to be a powerful take on African traditions through music and poetry.
Have a great week! Here’s a taste of the artists featured this week: