I had a fantastic night out when I went with a group of friends to see the first of two performances by The Bad Plus Joshua Redman at the Wexner Center on Tuesday the 20th. I was eagerly anticipating a Columbus visit from this quartet of modern jazz masters, and I was not disappointed! The eight song set started with the contemplative “Love is the Answer,” and the spirit and admiration generated by this collaboration was immediately apparent. Drummer Dave King employed his brushes with pure joy, bassist Reid Anderson played a deep and resonant solo, pianist Ethan Iverson contributed a mesmerizing lead passage, and tenor saxophonist Redman unfurled a breathless solo that ascended back to the chorus. King’s clockwork rhythm on “As This Moment Slips Away” set the table for a stately melody, with Iverson’s piercing piano work a particular highlight. Anderson’s “People Like You” was slow and thoughtful, with King playing the drums with one brush and one bare hand, before a transcendent Redman took the tune to unforeseen heights. A moment of unexpected hilarity occurred before the climactic finale of King’s “Beauty Has It Hard” – In front of a chipper backdrop, Anderson began singing…a song informing the audience that the band had CDs for sale! This was a display of world-class musicians at the top of their craft having a great deal of fun, and I’m thankful to have been a witness.
Shows To See This Week
Friday, October 30th (7:30 – 10:30pm): Goodwin Hines & Royalty with Rene Goodwin at Denovo Bistro. The reinvigorated and robust schedule of jazz and blues at this downtown restaurant heads into Halloween weekend with this trio of local jazz veterans. Keyboardist Mark Goodwin, bassist Roger Hines, and drummer Ted Royalty will be joined by vocalist Rene Goodwin for a soulful evening. Goodwin gave me a deeper look into the night:
We will play 70% vocal standards with influences of Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Carla Cook. We pepper those with some soulful, jazzy takes on Sting, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and even some Beatles. Rene has a rich alto tone and an explorative style that makes each tune unique. The band is versatile and skilled and we weave this variety of tunes together into a musically satisfying performance.
This looks a great time to venture downtown for dinner! If you can’t make it this weekend, the trio returns to Denovo on Saturday, November 14th.
Sunday, November 1st (3 – 5pm): Richard Lopez: Jazz Master Sessions – A Sinatra Celebration at the Columbus Museum of Art. The newly remodeled and reopened art museum has brought back pianist Lopez to renew his series of Sunday afternoon jazz concerts. This installment will pay tribute to the “Chairman of the Board” with local legend Dwight Lenox in the starring role. Lopez will be joined by the stalwart rhythm section of Terry Douds on bass and Guy Remonko on drums. Tickets ($20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $7 for students, with discounts for CMA members) will be available at the admission desk. Call (614) 629-0312 for more info.
Monday, November 2nd (8:30 – 10:30pm): Spectrum (Capital University Faculty Jazz Ensemble) Presents: The Music of Mark Flugge at Huntington Recital Hall, Capital University. This supergroup of some of Columbus’ finest musicians and educators will be paying tribute to their dearly departed colleague and friend Flugge by exploring his deep catalog of original compositions. The band’s lineup includes Michael Cox (saxophones), Rob Parton (trumpet), Stan Smith (guitar), Roger Hines (bass), Bob Breithaupt (drums), Ryan Hamilton (trombone), and Erik Augis (piano). This free show is open to the public and highly recommended for fans of Flugge and top-notch small ensemble jazz.
Have a great week!