Before a roundup of a swinging weekend and what’s next at Brothers Drake, there are details of a fun Jazz Road Trip this weekend. The Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra, which announced its inaugural season this summer, presents “Big Band Royalty – The Count Meets The Duke” on Saturday, November 2nd at 7:30pm in the John Legend Theater in Springfield. Tickets are available here. From the Orchestra: “The premier performance will feature the music of the two most influential band leaders in jazz history – Count Basie and Duke Ellington. The SSJO is composed of some of the finest jazz musicians in the region. Our special guest soloist is 22-year old pianist Isaiah J. Thompson, a native of Newark, NJ and Juilliard graduate who is fresh off an international tour with jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. SSJO featured soloists include tenor saxophone powerhouse Eddie Bayard, a central Ohio legend with a national reputation for fire and soul; former OSU jazz faculty member Pharez Whitted on trumpet; southwest Ohio’s inimitable Hal Melia on tenor saxophone and clarinet; and 19-year old vocal prodigy Christopher McDole.” Head out to Springfield for high-powered swing!
Shows To See This Week
Friday, November 1st (7:30 – 10pm): Tony Hagood Presents: Broadway Jazz at McConnell Arts Center. The second concert in Hagood’s 2019-2020 Jazz at the MAC season shines a jazz light on classic Broadway tunes. In collaboration with Otterbein University’s Department of Musical Theatre, Hagood’s amazing band will be joined by four up-and-coming Otterbein vocal talents. Songs will be included from these musicals: Porgy and Bess, Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Lion King, On The Town, Cabaret, Hairspray, Chicago, Avenue Q, Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, My Fair Lady and more. Limited tickets are available here, lineup details follow:
Isabel Billinghurst – Soprano Voice
Emma Shine – Alto Voice
Christian Heinemann – Tenor Voice
Colin Robertson – Baritone Voice
Jim Powell – Trumpet
Michael Cox – Reeds
Ryan Hamilton – Trombone
Tony Hagood – Piano
Bradley Mellen – Bass
Reggie Jackson – Drums
Sunday, November 3rd (5 – 8pm): Jeanette Williams Jam Session Benefit at The Savoy Club, East Side. Vicki Saunders shared details of a night of great music for a great cause: “I am helping coordinate a Jeanette Williams Jam Session Benefit with her dear friends Mary McClendon and Lady Nikki. Jeanette has suffered some health setbacks and we are asking her music community of friends to participate in jam session, Nov. 3 at The Savoy Club, 1904 Lake Club Dr, 43232, 5p – 8p. The host for the event will be Lady Nikki with The Legends Band. All musicians and singers are invited to participate. 100% of the donations will go to support Jeanette In her recovery. This event is free and open to the public. All donations accepted.” This event will also mark the start of a monthly First Sundays Jam, so come back in future months as well.
Sunday, November 3rd (6:30 – 8:30pm): Columbus Jewish Film Festival: “It Must Schwing! The Blue Note Story” at Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, New Albany. The 2019 Columbus Jewish Film Festival kicks off with the story of a crucial chapter in jazz history: “This film is a must-see love letter to Blue Note Records, the most iconic label in the history of jazz. Produced by Wim Wenders, It Must Schwing features beautiful animation, interviews, sublime jazz images and a swinging soundtrack.” The film is presented in partnership with the Jazz Arts Group – Byron Stripling, Columbus Jazz Orchestra Artistic Director, will take part in a post-film discussion. Visit the festival website for tickets and more details, and learn more about the film here.
This Week at Brothers Drake – Wednesday, November 6th
Alex Burgoyne: “This week at Brothers Drake, Paul Strawser is bringing a quartet of excellent Columbus songwriters for a night of original music and some non-standard, standards.
Featuring Pete Mills on saxophone, Will Strickler on bass, and Ryan Folger on the drums, Paul says, ‘We’re gonna do originals by members of the band, as well as my arrangements of standards and more obscure tunes by Wayne Shorter, Frank Zappa, and others.’
The only member of this quartet whose music I don’t know very well is Paul’s, but if his music is anything like his playing, it’ll be interesting and thoughtful, and always surprising! I’m looking forward to hearing what he’s got going on, and what this great band is going to sound like doing a great book of tunes.
Jazz Wednesday at Brothers Drake. 8:00-11:00PM. Free as always. You mead it.”