Happy Thanksgiving jazz fans! Coming to you a day early to provide our annual Thanksgiving Jazz Guide. There are several great options for starting your celebrations on Wednesday, November 21st. 6pm choices include piano entertainer Dave Powers’ weekly gig, accompanied by tasty Italian food and drink, at Vittoria Ristorante in Powell (info here) and Thanksgiving Eve with the festive sounds of the Tony Monaco Trio presented by Rhinegeist at Woodlands Tavern (info here). At 7pm, bassist Phil Maneri’s Phil @ Filament series at Filament at The Vanderelli Room in Franklinton continues with a duo featuring Maneri and Lebanese drummer Ayman Abi Kheir (info here). Brothers Drake’s weekly Jazz Wednesday show is always a popular hang to start the holidays, and the classic drummerless quartet swing of guitarist Tom Davis’ Ohio Swingtet will keep that tradition alive starting at 8pm (info here). Finally, drummer Aaron Scott’s November Dick’s Den Residency continues with the rocking soul and jazz of Phil Clark & THE SOUL at 10pm – read our interview about the residency with Scott here. Keep reading for more ideas for a jazz-filled Turkey Day!
On Thanksgiving itself, Thursday, November 22nd, there is one jazz show we know of in the area, courtesy of the dependable source for holiday jazz in Columbus. The Jazz Pilgrims, consisting of Jim Maneri on keyboards, Roger Hines on bass, The Governor on drums and Randy Mather on saxophones, will play at Dick’s Den from about 9pm to 1am. This will be a swinging and relaxed gathering to help you get through the holiday in style! There is no cover, but tips for the band are greatly appreciated! Info here.
After shopping or relaxing on Black Friday, November 23rd, get out for some live jazz and perhaps a great meal. Following their successful Thursday night shows with Robert Mason, Two Truths bar and restaurant in the Short North now offers a second weekly jazz night. Catch saxophonist Anthony Jackson and collaborators for happy hour starting at 6pm. Strong jazz and dining pairings include smooth saxophonist Andrew Waters at Vittoria Ristorante at 6pm, more piano-driven good times with Dave Powers at Hyde Park Arlington at 6:30pm, world-class piano jazz with the Erik Augis Trio at Black Point at 7pm, and the soulful stylings of R Lawrence Project at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse (Downtown) at 8:30pm. Fun opportunities for nightlife include the jazz/soul fusion of the Jerry Powell Quartet at The Savoy Club (East Side) at 9pm, energetic swing-pop worthy of dancing courtesy of Whirlybirds at Rambling House in Old North Columbus at 9pm (info here), and the groove-forward power trio formation of fo/mo/deep at Natalie’s at 10pm – at press time, table seating is already sold out but general admission tickets remain, get yours now!
If you are still hungry, there are more tantalizing choices on Saturday, November 24th. Acclaimed NYC vocalist Shenel Johns performs a Dinner Music Series show at The Refectory at 6pm – seating is likely limited, call (614) 451-9774 for reservations (info here). Other places to enjoy tempting food and jazz include the evergreen weekly gig for the Dave DeWitt TRio at Hyde Park Arlington at 7pm, the soulful Rene Goodwin Trio at Black Point at 7:30pm, and the Dan Rowan Quartet at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse at 9pm. Columbus’ own “eclectic Cabaret Jazz and Bohemian Torch Swing Duo” The Velvet Sirens continue their monthly residency in the intimate environs of Club Diversity at 9:30pm. Also at 9:30, Blues Force featuring Tony Monaco, Rick Collura, and Tony McClung return to Natalie’s (info here). And two of Columbus’ finest talents, vocalist Phil Clark and drummer Jimmy Castoe, entertain at Dick’s Den at 10pm.
The slate for Sunday, November 25th gets underway with the area’s two dependable Sunday jazz brunch choices at 11:30am: The Erik Augis Trio at Third and Hollywood in Grandview, and guitarist Doug Neel at the Giant Eagle Market District Kitchen & Bar in Bexley. The holiday season is indeed upon us, as the House Jazz Concert Series presents its Annual Holiday Concert with the Dave Powers Trio, featuring Dave DeWitt on bass, at Clintonville Woman’s Club at 5:30pm (info here). The long-running weekly dinner music show at Barcelona continues with the straight-ahead sounds of the Jacob Reed Trio at 6pm. And the holiday weekend of jazz ends the way it has most weeks for years now: the Wally Mitchel Jazztet plays Dick’s Den at 8pm, and the veteran soul extravaganza that is the Hoo Doo Soul Band plays Rumba Cafe at 10pm.
Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!