As spring hurtles toward summer here in Columbus, it’s time for our first Outdoor Jazz roundup of 2018! This semi-weekly segment will provide details on all of your options (to the best of our knowledge) to see live jazz outside in the warmer months. Saturday, May 19th brings the first annual Columbus Taco Fest to Genoa Park Downtown. Kicking off a diverse daylong music schedule to supplement the delicious tacos are two jazzy outfits: High-powered salsa jazz project Al Son Del Iya plays at 11:30am and party-starting jazz interpreters of popular song The Big Badd follow at 2pm. Visit the festival website for full details. And on Sunday, May 20th at 6pm, the Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association’s annual series of monthly free Music in the Garden concerts gets underway at the Community Garden (775 Oak Street) with vocalist Anna Paolucci leading a trio of pianist Jacob Campbell and upright bass player Dwight Bailey for a family-friendly set of sassy torch blues. Enjoy the weather and great live jazz! Keep reading for great indoor options for the week ahead.
Shows To See This Week
Friday, May 18th (8pm – midnight): Hosea’s State Of Mind at The Idle-A-While, East Side. This popular neighborhood entertainment destination presents a Supper Club Experience featuring great live music, a full menu of American cuisine, great drinks and much more. Friday’s event will feature Hosea’s State Of Mind playing their brand of high energy and exciting Groove Jazz. The core of the band – funky bassist Hosea Hooks, drummer Rejj Hooks, and jazzy guitarist Tony Cooper – will be joined Friday by vocalist Freda Knapper, a keyboardist, and a horn section for a groovy good time. Admission is free, but reservations are strongly recommended via OpenTable.com. Visit the band’s website for news and future dates, including a Father’s Day Special on June 17th at King Avenue Five.
Saturday, May 19th (9pm – midnight): Saturday Night Swing with Red Light Roxy at Awaken Church, Victorian Village. SwingColumbus is presenting a full day of swing dance instruction and celebration Saturday, with The Quick Stop 1-day Lindy Workshop running all day before wrapping up the festivities with a big party! This installment of their Saturday Night Swing dance party brings Red Light Roxy down from Cleveland with a dance-ready songbook of standards, boogie-woogie, jump blues, Great American Songbook tunes and much more. Admission is $20 for the general public, with discounts for college students and SwingColumbus members. Click here for full details.
Monday, May 21st (9pm – midnight): Tony Monaco Trio at Woodlands Tavern. Between international concerts, college organ summits, and a busy family life, Columbus’ own interstellar organ maestro Monaco still finds time to maintain an active schedule at Columbus clubs. The next installment of his monthly FREE Monday Funday concerts at Woodlands sees Monaco take the tavern stage with longtime collaborators Derek DiCenzo on guitar and Louis Tsamous on drums for a selection of soulful and sultry grooves. More details here. And if you need more, Monaco’s next local stop is the new Side Stage at The Walrus on Thursday the 24th.
Have a great week! Enjoy video of the featured artists to get ready: