I had an early Jazz Night Out when I finally checked out the Saturday Jazz Jam at Lincoln Cafe (formerly Zanzibar Brews) on the 13th. The house band for this jam session is a quartet of local greats – guitarist Don Hales, keyboardist Ed Moed, bassist Chris Ciampa, and drummer Wally Mitchel. Jokingly (?) dubbed “The Late Bloomers” by Hales, the band hit a comfortable yet agile groove from the start, rendering standards powered by Mitchel’s effortless swing. The bossa nova feel of “How Insensitive” featured a smoking solo from Hales, and Ken Messer joined on soprano sax for the next tune, as he covered a wide range on “Stella By Starlight.” A talented vocalist took the lead on the next two songs – soulful renditions of “Good Morning Heartache” and “What A Difference A Day Makes.” The excellent drummer Roger Myers was in the house and was a force to be reckoned with in his stint, including a take on Kenny Dorham’s “Blue Bossa” that also featured a burning solo from Moed. “Freddie Freeloader” was my first time seeing guitarist Bobby Payton in action, and he contributed a smooth yet nuanced lead. I had a great time seeing the action in the middle of a warm and responsive crowd, and hope to return soon!
Shows To See This Week
Thursday, March 17th (9pm – 1am): Jazz/Noise Collaborative Orchestra (JNCO) at Cafe Bourbon Street. Among a plethora of jazz entertainment options this St. Patrick’s Day, this show should be the weirdest. This is the second monthly installment of JNCO, an “open stage, free association jam open to any and all.” The collaborative brainchild of keyboardist Caleb Miller, trombonist Nick Weckman, and multi-instrumentalist Rich Meara, the founding of this free jazz/noise jam was inspired by similar events in Madison, WI, and Kent, Ohio, that the founders participated in previously. Last month’s kickoff garnered some interesting results, as you can hear here, so this drinking holiday version should be no different. No cover. Instruments will be provided to attendees that want to participate, but also feel free to bring your own.
Friday, March 18th (8:30 – 10:30pm): Philip Catherine and Martin Wind Duo at Andrews House, 39 W. Winter Street, Delaware. This old fraternity house turned community center will play host to two master musicians on the penultimate date of a Midwest tour. Guitarist Catherine, born in London in 1942, has been a renowned force in the European jazz scene since the 1960s. He has served as leader for 20 recordings and has recorded hundreds more as a session musician, including albums with Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Carla Bley, and Charles Mingus. German bassist Wind has released 10 albums as a leader and is also in demand as a session musician, featured in groups led by Bill Mays, Ted Rosenthal, and Matt Wilson. The suggested donation at the door is $15, which is a bargain for this intimate pairing of world-class talents.
Saturday, March 19th (10pm – 2am): Brett Burleson/Paul Brown Quartet at Dick’s Den. This is the second show for this new group of talented locals, which is still deciding on a name. The lineup includes Burleson and Brown on guitar, Jeff Bass on bass, and Shane Willis on drums. The music for the evening will feature original tunes by Burleson and Brown. Should be a thought-provoking evening of new music for a mere $4. If you can’t make it Saturday, worry not – the band returns to Dick’s on Saturday, April 16th.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here’s a video of Catherine and Wind in concert: