I enjoyed A Jazz Night Out at Brothers Drake on Wednesday, March 12th. I met up with friends and family to see local legends Honk, Wail & Moan play their second show of 2014 (and second in a week). Though I usually manage to hear some of their tunes every summer at Comfest, this was the first full night of HWM that I had seen in some time. After a fall/winter hiatus for recording, the band sounded back in the swing of things for spring. They hit all of their bases, with some new originals, old originals, and renditions of some of the material that has influenced them, including a take on Sun Ra’s “Space Is The Place” with lovely vocals courtesy of Tammy Perakis Wallace. As of now, HWM’s next performance is their 20th annual tribute to Ra, on Sunday, May 25th at Dicks Den.
Shows To See This Week
Thursday, March 20th: Matt Wilson Quartet at Bungalow Jazz. The NYC-based quartet is celebrating the release of Gathering Call, their new Palmetto Records album which features John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood) on piano. Drummer Wilson (you may begin to notice a trend in this week’s listings!), who also recorded with Pete Mills on his new album Sweet Shadow, is joined by Chris Lightcap on bass, Kirk Knuffke on cornet and Jeff Lederer on tenor saxophone and clarinet, who I hear is a dynamo.
Thursday, March 20th: Maxwell Button’s Michael Brecker Tribute at Dick’s Den. Drummer Button renews his monthly tribute series at Dick’s with a program honoring the legendary saxophonist. Michael Cox and Randy Mather will hold down sax duties, and Button will be assisted in the rhythm section by keyboardist Joey Skoch and bassist Jeff Bass.
Saturday, March 22nd: Daniel Zwelling at Dick’s Den. Drummer Zwelling is throwing himself a birthday bash at the venerable jazz haunt. He will be accompanied by guitarist Stan Smith and bassist Adam DeAscentis. Prepare for surprise special guests!
Sunday, March 23rd: John Suntken Senior Recital at Brothers Drake. Suntken, drummer for the Dan White Sextet, will be presenting his senior recital for his Jazz Studies degree at The Ohio State University. He will be joined on stage by Dan Wilson (guitar), Theron Brown (piano), Adam DeAscentis, also of DW6 (bass), and Stephen Fowler (vocals). Should be a lively wrap-up for Suntken’s studies.