I had an excellent Jazz Night Out when friends and I saw “The Compositions and Arrangements of Will England” as part of John Allen’s Dick’s Den Residency on the 12th. The all-star octet brought a full, classic sound to a swinging first set. The opening arrangement of Frank Loesser’s “I Hear Music” established the broad, warm sound of the horn section from the jump, with the low end of Mark Donavan on baritone sax a particular delight, and both trombonist Ben Crowder and tenor saxophonist Pete Mills contributed lively solos. England’s transcription of “That’s No Joke” by a North Carolina band was burning, and the solos of trumpeter Anthony Stanco, Crowder, and Donavan were appropriately fiery, with the latter part of a climactic finale! Keep reading for more thoughts on the show and previews of another fun week ahead, including the return of Huntertones!
“Big World,” an England original, was appropriately global in sound and scope. England’s clarinet lead made for a pleasant opening and keyboardist Erik Augis was featured on a beautifully pastoral middle section before a funky, electric big band return highlighting Stanco and a muscular Zach Compston drum workout marked a dramatic end. Standard “All of Me” straddled a variety of eras, with opening modern horn parts giving way to a Dixieland-style take on the chorus by Stanco. Before we left, we caught the Latin tinge of Duke Ellington’s “Tell Me About My Baby,” which was another soaring take by the ensemble with a growling Stanco and a sleek chorus by bassist Allen. I wish I could have heard more, but this relaxed gathering of top-notch players and skillful arranging was an exceptional midweek treat – let’s hope they reassemble soon!
Shows To See This Week
Saturday, September 22nd (9pm – midnight): Huntertones Pre-Release Party with Parker Louis at Rumba Cafe. Columbus-founded, NYC-based modern fusion sextet Huntertones returns home on their pre-release tour for a festive Saturday night party! The band’s new album Passport, inspired by the band’s extensive travels around the world, will be released on October 5th and is available for pre-order now. Get your first chance to hear some of their new tunes live, and maybe you’ll also catch some classics! Soulful vocalist Parker Louis (Forest & The Evergreens) opens. Tickets are going fast, grab yours now!
Saturday, September 22nd (9pm – 1am): DeJai Washington & The NuSoul Revolution at Brothers Drake. Formerly known as Doni Jai, Washington returns to the meadery, the site of some previous epic performances, with his new band, the NuSoul Revolution. Washington will be featured on lead vocals and will also split time between guitar and his sultry Fender Rhodes keyboard. The band will mix rock, funk, soul and jazz for what should be a showstopping Saturday night. Washington recently announced that this will be his last club performance, so catch him in an intimate setting while you can! Cover is $5, more details here.
Sunday, September 23rd (8 – 11pm): John Coltrane Birthday Tribute and Celebration with The Hasan Abdur-Razzaq Trio & Alex Burgoyne’s “I Love Coltrane” at Filament at the Vanderelli Room, Franklinton. Filament wraps up a busy weekend with a loving birthday tribute to an all-time great on what would be his 92nd birthday. The Hasan Abdur-Razzaq Trio features Columbus legend Abdur-Razzaq on reeds with Mario Bosca on bass and Gerard Cox on drums, while the “I Love Coltrane” project is led by Burgoyne on saxophones with Zakk Jones on guitar, Danny Bauer on piano, John Allen on bass, and Ryan Folger on drums. The night will also include a Coltrane trivia contest offering some recordings and books as prizes. Admission is $5 – $10 on a sliding scale. Enjoy a community celebration of a jazz titan with some of the area’s finest musicians!
Have a great week! Prepare for the Huntertones show and album with video: